Principal Accountant

**Promotional Recruitment: Only current City of Menifee employees are eligible to apply.**

THE POSITION

Under general direction, supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing accounting and fiscal services for assigned sections including accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget, grants, financial reporting, capital asset, inventory, auditing, general ledger, payroll, purchasing, and special districts.  Ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; performs advanced level accounting work and supervises the preparation of complex reports and staff’s work involving the fiscal activities of several City departments.  Assists in the management of various functional units within the Finance Department; and performs related work as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Finance Manager, Deputy Finance Director, or their designee.  Exercises direct supervision of professional, technical, and administrative support staff. 

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the technical/supervisory level class in the professional Accountant series.  Incumbents perform supervisory activities such as assigning work, preparing performance evaluations, assisting in personnel actions, supervising projects/assignments progress, and providing technical assistance and training to other professional and technical staff.    The Principal Accountant classification can be distinguished from lower-level accounting classes by performance of the most complex accounting tasks requiring a high degree of knowledge related to all areas of accounting and the direct full-scope supervision of professional, technical, and administrative support staff.  

(Illustrative Only)

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, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, coordinates and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing accounting and fiscal services within the assigned section.
• Establishes schedules and methods for providing accounting and fiscal services; identifies resource needs; reviews need with appropriate management staff; and allocates resources accordingly.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Participates in the selection of accounting staff; provides or coordinates staff training and provide technical guidance and direction; evaluates staff and works with staff to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of the assigned budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures; administers the capital improvement program budget.
• Performs the accounting administration and management of the City’s various existing and newly formed special districts; writes, reviews, and approves related agreements and City Council agenda reports.
• Responds to questions and inquiries from the general public, other agencies, and City staff regarding budget and accounting matters; investigates complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Establishes positive working relationships with representatives of State/local agencies and associations, City management and staff, and the public.
• Coordinates activities with other City departments, outside agencies, and organizations and confers with and advise department and other officials on a variety of accounting, fiscal and budgetary matters.
• Supervises and participates in the development and maintenance of systems and forms for fiscal transactions, recordkeeping and budgetary controls; supervises and performs analysis of complex fiscal recordkeeping systems and procedures.
• Reviews, interprets, explains, and applies general and governmental accounting/auditing principles and procedures, laws, and regulations affecting the financial operations of municipal government and recommends changes where appropriate.  
• Research, interpret and apply Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and other professional accounting standards.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions, and reviews publications to remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in the field of accounting.
• Provides responsible professional and technical assistance in the administration and implementation of the City's financial and accounting systems; performs a variety of detailed accounting, statistical and/or narrative financial statements or reports requiring analysis and interpretation of source data.
• Conducts and/or coordinates internal/external audits of financial records; examines, analyzes and verifies documents to ensure adherence to established internal controls and accepted professional standards.
• Analyzes and reconciles general ledger and subsidiary accounts related to postings from purchasing, payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts, and accounts receivable; makes complex and difficult adjusting entries affecting several subsystems of the accounting system.  Prepares monthly financial statements and reports.
• Prepares and assists with monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports including preparation of year-end audit schedules, and reports.  This includes assisting independent auditors by collecting and providing client-prepared schedules, answering variance analysis questions, and helping in the preparation and verification of financial statements and information.
• Evaluate, develop, recommend, and coordinate implementation of computer applications, new or revised accounting systems, procedures and records. 
• Ensures staff compliance with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles and practices of accounting and financial record keeping.
• Pertinent policies and procedures related to financial recordkeeping, specialized accounting and cost accounting.
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
• Principles of business management and office methods and procedures.
• The principles and techniques of supervision and performance evaluations.
• Occupational hazards and safety measures appropriate to work performed.
• The theory, principles, and practices of general and governmental accounting, budgeting, and auditing.
• State and local codes, rules, and regulations influencing County fiscal operations.
• Data processing systems and their application to accounting operations.
• Methods of developing systems, forms for various types of accounting records and reports.
• Principles, methods, and techniques of public administration, personnel, and business office management. 
• Specialized accounting and report writing software.
• Leadership and training techniques.
• Principles and practices of complex project management and administration.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to innovations and trends in accounting. 
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work, such as Accounting Information systems.  
• 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 

• Apply critical thinking to complex projects and interpret detailed requirements.
• Coordinate and direct complex accounting and auditing research projects, analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing accounting, budget, and financial reporting services. 
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations, technical written material, and City accounting and finance policies and procedures.
• Perform mathematical and accounting computations with precision. 
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, legal descriptions, and other written materials.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• 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.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Operate office equipment and computer applications related to the work.
• 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. 
• Plan, organize, and direct a complex accounting or auditing program; evaluate and supervise the work of subordinate staff; apply legal and administrative accounting policies to general County accounting systems; analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and recommend effective courses of action.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report writing, preparation and presentation.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation.
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality of information.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

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 four (4) years of professional accounting experience, and two (2) years of full-scope supervisory or three (3) years of lead supervisory experience.  

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS 

• Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.
• Possession of, and ability to maintain a valid Certified Public Accountant’s License (CPA) is highly desirable.
• Active membership in Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) Association is highly desirable.