Temporary Accountant

The Park District is currently recruiting for one (1) Temporary Accountant at Peralta Oaks, in Oakland, CA. This temporary assignment will serve no more than six (6) months. 

DEPARTMENT

The Finance Department is committed to maintaining fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the financial integrity of the District. We ensure financial stability, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of financial management. Our team actively oversees internal controls, enhances operational efficiency, and closely monitors both revenues and expenditures to ensure alignment with the District’s goals


WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

The Park District is seeking a temporary Accountant to join our Finance & Management Services Division. In this key role, you will play an integral part in the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, helping the District streamline its financial processes. This position will support a range of accounting functions, including Payroll, Accounts Payable, and General Ledger/Accounting, ensuring compliance with governmental accounting standards.

ABOUT US:

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our Mission and Vision,History, and our contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

OUR MISSION:

EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education.  An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

•  Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
•  Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
•  Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
•  Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
•  Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?
 

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Devises and maintains systems to provide accurate accounting data; performs internal audits. 
• Prepares and completes audit work papers, financial statements, disclosures, and preliminary or draft audit finding and recommendation reports. 
• Works with external auditors; determines methodology and responsible for advancement of assignments or projects. 
• Assists or performs accounting work for audits and the ACFR, including maintenance of capital asset schedules. 
• Reviews, analyzes, and responds to inquiries regarding transactions and account balances; prepares and distributes financial reports; prepares bank deposit coding; audits, imports, and posts various deposits. 
• Performs accounts receivable duties, including invoicing, reconciling accounts receivable aging, generating monthly aging reports, and assisting in the collection of payments. 
• Prepares and posts journal entries; reviews and records outstanding checks and issues notices of stale dated checks. 
• Evaluates compliance with policies and procedures and external laws and regulations; performs revenue and compliance audits of the Park District’s concessionaires. 
• Reviews cash handling activities, land acquisition and capital projects, and audits activities of contractual agreements; reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations regarding departmental accounting and recordkeeping practices, procedures, and internal controls. 
• Assists in preparing audit programs including determining the scope and risk assessments.
• Performs follow-up reviews of previous audits; completes special projects. 
• Serves as a resource for identifying and resolving accounting issues to other staff; and performs related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). 
• Principles and practices of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). 
• Principles and practices of generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS).
• Principles and practices of financial reporting and internal controls. 
• Statistical sampling methods; and office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 

Ability to: 

• Interpret and apply standards, rules and regulations regarding GAAP, GASB and GAAS. 
• Develop proficiency with the Park District’s accounting software. 
• Apply analytical skills; work independently; make arithmetic calculations. 
• Analyze and evaluate financial transactions, procedures, internal operations and controls. 
• Document and audit observations and findings. 
• Exercise independent judgment in recommending more efficient methods, systems and reporting formats. 
• Interpret contract and agreement terms, provisions, and conditions. 
• Arrive at logical conclusions and recommendations in performing comparative analyses of financial data and reports. 
• Stay abreast of changes in accounting and auditing pronouncements and the impacts of technology. 
• Exercise flexibility, prioritize tasks and adapt to changes. 
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting or a related field, 

AND

Experience: Three years of recent professional auditing, accounting, or financial statement preparation experience. Experience in fund accounting and within a governmental or public agency is desirable.

Substitution: Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or a Master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Must pass Level 2 Background Check.

Depending on work location and assignment, possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.