Accountant - Grant Funded

City of Sunnyvale; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sunnyvale, through NOVAworks, is seeking an Accountant to support the NOVA Workforce Services department that serves northern Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. This role focuses on general ledger, budgeting, and financial reporting within a government accounting framework in a full-time capacity.

The ideal candidate has at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting and one year of professional experience, with strong knowledge of GASB standards and CAFR preparation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting required.
• Minimum one year of professional accounting experience.
• Knowledge of government accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Participates in posting, balancing and reconciling the general ledger and subsidiary accounts.
• Assists in preparing revenues, expenditures and fund balance analyses.
• Maintains GASB-compliant financial reporting.
• Prepares annual CAFR components and audit spreadsheets.
• Provides information to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

General ledger

Reconciliation

Financial reporting

Budgeting

GASB knowledge

Supervisory

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

The final filing date is Monday, November 9, 2026 by 5:00 pm or after receiving 100 qualified applications, whichever is first.

We are seeking to fill the grant-funded, full-time position of Accountant in the City's NOVA Workforce Services (NOVAworks) department. NOVAworks is an award-winning, employment services department hosted by the City of Sunnyvale, and is the regional workforce board for northern Santa Clara County and all of San Mateo County. We prioritize equity and access and the highest levels of customer service to our job seeking customers and the employers who are seeking talent. We have a workforce culture of life/work balance, kindness, and fun. NOVAworks is overseen by a federally mandated Workforce Development Board composed of leaders from Business, Labor, Education and State Agencies.

Under direction of an assigned supervisor or manager, performs a variety of professional accounting tasks; may provide technical and functional supervision over assigned technical staff; coordinates with other divisions or departments to complete routine and non-routine functions associated with area of assignment; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The position of Accountant is a fully qualified journey-level professional classification in the Accountant series. Incumbents assigned to this classification are responsible for the completion of accounting functions required by existing laws, regulations, policies, and procedures as well as for identifying, troubleshooting, and recommending solutions for problems that may arise in existing processes and for developing new procedures to meet the requirements created by new regulations, policies, or customer needs. This classification differs from the lower-level classification of Senior Accounting Technician which performs accounting tasks that are technical in nature.

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Participates in the posting, balancing and reconciliation of the general ledger and subsidiary accounts; reviews and posts utility billing journal entries and reconciles related revenue.
• Assists in the preparation, analysis and review of estimated revenues, reimbursements, expenditures, fund balances or other proprietary and budgetary accounts.
• Assigns and reviews the work of assigned technical accounting staff; trains staff in systems and procedures related to area of assignment.
• Maintains and updates records for the City's fixed asset group of accounts in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) valuation, quality assessment, and reporting requirements.
• Prepares monthly or quarterly billings for full-cost entitlement projects and specific plans; reviews and corrects developer deposit errors; prepares a variety of fee payments and oversees leases and service agreements as assigned.
• Assists in the preparation of annual financial reports; prepares graphics and statistical data for the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR); reviews, reconciles, and prepares annual audit spreadsheets, reports and journal entries.
• Examines accounting transactions to ensure accuracy; corrects financial records as necessary; analyzes, verifies, and prepares various financial reports and statements; assists in monitoring various accounts and verifies availability of funds and accurate coding and classification of expenditures; researches and analyzes transactions to resolve problems.
• Recommends or implements changes in accounting and auditing systems and procedures; participates in operating a variety of automated office and computerized financial information systems and tests various budgetary accounting programs.
• Answers questions and provides information to the public and City departments; researches requested information and makes recommendations appropriate to resolving inquiries and/or complaints.
• Responsible for grants accounting and reporting.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper, and documents weighing up to 50 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Education and Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting or a related field, AND

One year of professional accounting experience.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of governmental accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, rules and regulations, especially as related to accounting, auditing and payroll.
• Generally accepted accounting principles as related to governmental procedures.
• Principles and practices of cost accounting.
• Sampling techniques.
• State and Federal financial reporting requirements.
• Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.

Ability to:

• Research and interpret tax, grant, and other regulations.
• Estimate the relative financial return of alternative courses of action.
• Identify weaknesses in internal financial controls.
• Identify and reconcile differences between conflicting balances in an account.
• Assign and review the activities of assigned technical staff.
• Compile financial reports by integrating information from a variety of sources.
• Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, public officials and the public.
• Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties.
• Work independently and as a team member; recognize and set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.

Willingness to:

Work irregular hours as necessary to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.

Licenses/Certificates:

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority and a safe driving record.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in public sector accounting.

EXAM PROCESS

Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position.Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2026. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources.)

SELECTION PROCESS

Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in a selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled for the week of December 7, 2026.

Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION

Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).

A candidate with education obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense to determine its equivalency in the United States. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search 'education equivalency verification' or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA).

For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:

• How to Apply for a City of Sunnyvale Job - YouTube (5:13)

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

The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state, or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail].