DEFINITION

Maintains and monitors accounts for City funds and facilities; records and reports financial transactions for assigned funds and City departments; maintains the general ledger; balances subsidiary accounts and reconciles General Ledger; reviews and approves various invoices and requests for payment; prepares tax filings, profit and loss statements and other financial statements, analyses and reports; performs other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Accountant/Auditor performs the full range of professional accounting work for the City. The incumbent is expected to have a thorough knowledge of accounting practices, systems and procedures and the ability to exercise judgment in applying these concepts to the City's financial transactions and records. The incumbent must organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines and operational needs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED

Direction is provided by the Finance Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Sets up, maintains and monitors accounts for City funds and facilities, such as the Sports Center, Performing Arts Center, deferred compensation plans, refundable deposits and Utility Enterprise Fund; reviews, approves and processes invoices and payments; processes journal entries; reconciles accounts and balances with General Ledger; investigates and resolves discrepancies; makes necessary adjustments; prepares profit and loss statements for City facilities and funds; gathers data required for tax returns, such as fuel used or hazardous materials generated, calculates taxes owed and prepares tax filings, such as sales taxes, hazardous waste tax returns, fuel tax returns and filings for any non profits associated with the City; processes check requisitions for contract payments and refunds; reviews and approves utility billing and recreation refunds; prepares and edits a variety of financial statements and reports such as cash reports, project reports, quarterly dental program report, annual insurance report; reviews and records investment actions by Finance Director; audits exemptions claimed on hotel tax returns and collects taxes on inadmissible claims; assists outside auditors with annual audit; assists others in Finance Department in solving accounting problems.

OTHER DUTIES

Attends meetings regarding legislation that could affect the City; does other duties and special projects assigned by Finance Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience/Education/Training

Sufficient experience, education and training to perform professional accounting and auditing work in a City finance department. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications is to have the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with at least twelve semester or equivalent quarter units in accounting or business administration; or possession of a Certified Public Accountant Certificate recognized by the California Board of Accountancy and two years of responsible professional level accounting work. Experience in a public sector is desirable.

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting and Auditing Standards, fund accounting and reporting; of standard financial office procedures, machines, manual and automated data storage, processing and retrieval systems; thorough knowledge of IRS regulations, procedures and forms and of the laws, codes and regulations governing the financial operations of the City; general knowledge of the procedures of a city government. Ability to apply accounting principles and practices to a wide variety of standard and non standard transactions; set up, maintain and reconcile financial transaction records; prepare a variety of financial statements, reports and analyses with supporting statistics and data; analyze complex financial data and arrive at logical conclusions, perform complex mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy; use spreadsheets and other computer applications related to financial operations; organize and prioritize a high volume of work in order to meet recurring deadlines; gather and analyze information to make independent decisions and solve practical operational problems; communicate effectively both verbally and in written form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, contractors and general public.

Working Conditions

Position requires prolonged sitting in the performance of daily duties and frequent repetitive keyboarding motion for inputting data and preparing reports and other documents. The position also requires walking, standing, stooping, some pushing, dragging, light and heavy lifting while obtaining and returning journals, printouts or boxes of paper and documents.