ACCOUNTANT

City of Montebello; Montebello (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Montebello in the Finance Department's Accounting Division seeks an experienced accountant to perform diverse public agency accounting, financial reporting, year-end close, and grant tracking. The role supports ACFR preparation, budget-to-actual analysis, bank reconciliations, payroll updates, and reporting for state and federal programs.

This position offers collaboration across departments and opportunities to train staff.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, or a closely related field.
• Three years of progressively responsible, varied professional experience in accounting and data processing.
• Public Agency experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the City’s general ledger system and supporting journals.
• Reconcile monthly bank statements with ledger accounts.
• Prepare financial reports and statements for City management and other City staff.
• Assist with ACFR, Single Audit, and grant reporting.
• Research special financial information for resolving financial problems.
• Coordinates and communicates with other City departments on finance-related issues.

Skills

Accounting

Financial reporting

Budget analysis

Audits

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

Job description

EXAM

Practical Exam will be administered as part of the application screening process.

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision, to perform a variety of technical, general, public agency accounting work and financial reporting assignments related to the preparation, processing, and maintenance of financial records, year-end close, grant accounting, budget to actuals tracking, revenue projections, review of purchase requests and contracts, accounts receivable aging and collections; bank reconciliation and to perform related work as required. The current opening is in the Finance Department’s Accounting Division. The incumbent will assist with: preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and associated financial schedules and reports; year-end closing duties such as accrual of revenue and expenses and rollover of open purchase orders/encumbrances; budget to actuals analysis, tracking of local, state and federal grant expenditures and revenue reimbursement; bank reconciliation including posting of pooled cash income and assistance with treasury duties, posting of various journal entries; and other general accounting tasks.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Maintains the City's general ledger system and supporting journals.
• Reconciles monthly bank statements with ledger accounts.
• Identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Prepares special and regular fiscal reports and statements for City management and other City staff.
• Research special financial information for the resolving of financial problems.
• Retrieves financial data as directed.
• May provide general assistance in the budget development and administration processes.
• Maintains and updates monthly cash receipt comparisons.
• insures full completion and analysis of journal entries across all funds.
• Performs annual closing of ledgers and required reconciliations and accruals.
• May provide some training in accounting principles and techniques for support staff.
• Updates payroll software for changes in bargaining agreements, benefits, deductions and taxes.
• Compiles and maintains spreadsheet for balancing and reconciling quarterly taxes.
• Prepares a variety of Federal and State financial reports.
• Reconciles payroll accounts to the general ledger for year-end closing
• Prepares memos and letters for both internal and external correspondence.
• Coordinates and communicates with other City departments on finance-related issues and performs other related duties as required.
• Updates spreadsheets and prepares reports for PERS retirement and deferred compensation accounts.
• Prepares vouchers and issues payments.
• May represent assigned areas of Department functions with citizens, community organizations, and other government agencies as delegated.
• Reconcile the City's hotel financial statements.

Training and Experience

Any combination of training 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

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, or a closely related field.

Work Background

Three years of progressively responsible, varied professional experience in accounting and data processing. Public Agency experience is highly desirable.

Knowledge of

• Modern principles, practices, and techniques of financial administration, accounting, auditing, and financial recordkeeping.
• Basic knowledge of the use of financial, payroll, and data processing systems and software.
• Financial analysis and research.
• Financial statement preparation and financial reporting.
• Financial budgets and concepts.
• Audit preparation including ACFR, Single Audit, and special audits of State and Federally funded programs.

Ability to

• Perform a wide variety of professional accounting and ledger assignments.
• Analyze and evaluate accounting and ledger problems, researching and gathering appropriate data to resolve problems.
• Ensure the accuracy of postings to accounting journals and ledgers.
• Prepare financial reports and statements, including all necessary back-up for annual financial audits (i.e., ACFR, Single Audit, etc.).
• Research, collect, and analyze information related to finance and accounts.
• Interpret employee association Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) related to payroll.
• Provide information to others concerning financial and accounting records.
• Provide training for technical and office support personnel.
• Effectively represent the accounting functions of the Department with concerned individuals, community organizations, and other governmental agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

The City of Montebello is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws in its employment actions, decisions, policies and practices.