Accounting Manager

The City of Cupertino’s Finance Department is currently seeking an Accounting (Finance) Manager to lead the City's Accounting Division, providing strategic oversight of the City's accounting function while actively participating in complex accounting and financial reporting. The Accounting Manager will also play a significant leadership role in the implementation of the City's new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Tyler EERP (formerly Tyler Munis), helping modernize financial processes, optimize system functionality, and enhance operational efficiency.

Under general direction, plans, organizes, and oversees the City’s accounting operations and financial reporting activities. Performs advanced professional accounting work requiring extensive knowledge of governmental accounting principles, financial reporting, internal controls, treasury management, and regulatory compliance. Oversees the preparation of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Comprehensive State and Federal reports, annual audit, cash management, investments, and accounting functions including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and fixed assets. Provides leadership for financial systems, accounting policies, and process improvements, including ERP implementation and optimization. Serves as a principal advisor to the Director of Finance on accounting, financial reporting, audit, and treasury matters, and performs related duties as required., 

Class Characteristics

This is a management classification responsible for directing the City's accounting and financial reporting functions. The incumbent organizes and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Accounting Division while actively performing diverse, specialized, and complex professional accounting work requiring significant technical expertise, independent judgment, accountability, and decision-making responsibility.  

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from the Director of Finance. Exercises direct and general supervision over professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the Accounting Division, including preparing, monitoring, forecasting, and analyzing financial information, financial processing, reporting, and record-keeping.

Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the division; recommends within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.

Develops and administers the Accounting Division operating budget.

Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and makes recommendations to the Administrative Services Director.

Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees on performance issues; recommends discipline to the Director of Finance.

Manages and participates in all activities related to the City’s accounting function, including the accounting system, accounts payable, accounts receivable, processing and issuance of checks and warrants, and cash receipts.

Maintains and reconciles a variety of ledgers, reports, and accounting records; examines accounting transactions to ensure accuracy; approves journal vouchers to post transactions to accounting records; performs month-end, fiscal year-end, and calendar year-end accounting system processing. 

Prepares and analyzes a variety of complex financial reports, statements, and schedules; prepares new-year, mid-year, year-end and special reports, including the State Controller’s Report and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

Assists in managing and monitoring the City’s investment and cash flow for all funds.

Manages annual independent audit; schedules, provides information and reporting for audits; provides assistance with the Transit Occupancy tax audits. 

Provides accounting support and financial analysis during development of the City's operating and capital budgets, including historical trend analysis, fund balance projections, beginning balances, and accounting guidance.

Develops the Accounting Division work plan, performance objectives, and annual operating budget.

Assist in the preparation of agenda items for City Council review. 

Participates in the development, revision, and maintenance of policy and procedure manuals governing fiscal matters; monitors financial procedures of all City departments, including internal audits and checks and balances; ensures that necessary corrective actions are taken. 

Provides highly complex staff assistance to the Director of Finance; develops and reviews staff reports and other necessary correspondence related to assigned activities and services; presents reports to various commissions, committees, and boards.

Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public agency finance and accounting; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to City needs.

Receives, investigates, and responds to difficult and sensitive problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

Government Accounting Standards (GASB) GAAP, and GFOA best practices.

Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management.

Principles and practices of public agency finance, including general and governmental accounting, auditing and reporting functions.

Principles and practices of public agency budget development and administration and sound financial management policies and procedures.

Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.

Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to municipal financial operations.

Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs and operational needs of the assigned division.

Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned division.

Record-keeping principles and procedures. 

Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.

English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. 

Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.

Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

Recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient services.

Manage and monitor complex projects, on-time and within budget.

Plan, organize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of staff; train staff in work procedures.

Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.

Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.

Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.

Analyze, interpret, summarize and present technical information and data in an effective manner.

Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.

Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.

Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.

Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.

Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.

Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.

Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.

Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Education and Experience

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

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of management and/or administrative accounting experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience. Designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or possession of a Master’s degree in Public/Business Administration degree is highly desirable. 

Licenses and Certifications

None.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. 

Environmental Elements

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. 

Working Conditions

May be required to attend Commission/Committee meetings outside of regular work hours. 

Application and Selection Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your City of Cupertino employment application to Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m., September 3, 2026. Applications must be filled out completely. Failure to complete the supplemental application will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process. Failure to list work experience or stating “See Resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application and subject to rejection. Resumes may be attached separately. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City’s employment page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cupertino , or application materials may be submitted to: Human Resources, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this job announcement. Applicants possessing the most desirable qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which may include a written examination and/or panel interview.  An eligible list will be established as a result of this process and will remain in effect for 3 months from the date established.

Additional Information

The City of Cupertino is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of a person’s race, religion, color, sex (including gender and pregnancy), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics, and physical or mental disability. Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise City of Cupertino Human Resources upon submittal of application.  Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request.  

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.