Accountant - Promotional

Hercules & Hercules, Inc.; Hercules (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Hercules is seeking a full-time Accountant in the Finance Department as an internal promotional opportunity for City employees.

The role covers general ledger, accounts payable, revenue accounting, budgeting support, and annual close activities, with supervision by the Finance Director.

Qualifications

• Four years of professional accounting experience with lead responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Experience in governmental/public agency accounting is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger and financial reporting.
• Ability to supervise staff and manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the City’s general ledger and special funds; prepare monthly journal entries.
• Provide backup for accounts payable, revenue accounting, and receivables.
• Participate in annual close and audit activities.
• Prepare financial reports and budgets for City Council and management.
• Maintain fixed assets, inventory, and reporting for special districts.
• Support internal controls and citywide accounting procedures.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Lead staff supervision

Financial analysis

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Database software

Job description

Accountant

This is an internal promotional recruitment, only open to City of Hercules employees.

The City of Hercules is currently seeking to fill a Full‑Time Accountant. The application window closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026.

The City of Hercules blends its rich history with thoughtful planning to create a vibrant, transit‑oriented community. Ideally located between San Francisco and Napa, Hercules offers safe neighborhoods, scenic biking and walking trails, and a thriving, multicultural waterfront. With a population of over 26,000, the city embraces smart growth principles, ensuring development aligns with the Central Hercules Plan while maintaining the charm and quality that residents value.

Strategically positioned at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 4, Hercules provides convenient access to the entire Bay Area. Emerging technology and knowledge‑based industries are recognizing its potential, contributing to local employment growth.

The city boasts excellent public safety, recreational, and educational services within a welcoming environment of attractive homes, inviting neighborhoods, and expanding retail districts.

Finance Department

The Finance Department is responsible for providing the City, and its agencies, with the fiscal oversight and controls necessary to ensure sound financial management. The Finance Department oversees budgeting, accounting, revenue collection, and protection of city‑wide assets. The Finance Department is responsible for managing the City’s fiscal resources in a prudent and effective manner and undergoes an external audit every year. The Finance Department also provides internal support for all city departments and reporting services to enhance accountability and assist with strategic planning and decision‑making. The Finance Department is committed to providing financial information in a timely manner and to providing positive customer service to both external and internal customers.

Accountant - Promotional

Under general supervision, participates in performing professional accounting duties in the analysis, preparation, and maintenance of financial records and reports; performs payroll functions and reporting; provides lead support for accounts payable, business licenses, cash deposits, revenue accounting, and receivables; participates in accounting for special funds; maintains fixed asset records; performs difficult and detailed accounting analyses; contributes to the development of and monitors performance against the annual citywide budget; participates in developing, implementing and evaluating plans, work processes, systems and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives and work standards; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Finance Director. Provides training and is a back‑up to technical and clerical staff.

Essential Functions

• Participates in maintaining the City’s general ledger and special funds, including setting up accounts and preparing and processing standard monthly and special journal entries; reviews entries for accuracy of account numbers and answering staff and department questions about appropriate accounts for charges of expenses; analyzes, verifies and reconciles accounts and records and processes adjusting entries; performs the reconciliation of City bank accounts and the resolution of discrepancies.
• Provides backup for accounts payable, business licenses, cash deposits, revenue accounting and receivables; reviews and approves all source documents to ensure accuracy of account numbers, authorizations, and adequate account balances; participates in the resolution of any accounting and operational problems, as necessary.
• May provide backup for payroll processing functions and reporting.
• Participates in the annual close of the City’s financial records; reviews and analyzes relevant spreadsheets and the accuracy and appropriateness of adjusting and closing entries; assists during the annual audit by the City’s outside auditors.
• Assists in the preparation of all City required financial reports; prepares statements and schedules; participates in preparation of the State Controller’s Reports.
• Assists in the development and preparation of all Citywide budgets, providing information, projecting budget expenditures, and performing financial analyses; publishes the approved budget and distributes to City Council, City Manager, Departments, and the general public.
• Participates in accounting for the City’s special assessment bonds, including the preparation of all appropriate tax roll billings, monitoring of receipts and delinquencies, calculation of amortization, accruals for payment of principal, interest and supporting fees and the reconciliation of accounts.
• Provides support in maintaining and ensuring Citywide adherence to internal control procedures and accounting standards.
• Processes and maintains Citywide Developer deposits on a regular and timely basis; identifies and reports any negative balance conditions to the appropriate department for resolution; follows up and reports on status of resolution efforts.
• Performs and maintains the accounting and financial reporting for the Citywide lighting and landscape, and all special districts.
• Performs and maintains inventory on all City fixed assets and the systems and reports connected with fixed assets.
• Provides information and assistance to departments on accounting and financial reporting issues.
• Assists in the resolution of computer and systems related problems.
• Prepares a variety of special financial reports as needed and performs research studies, account analysis and special projects as assigned by management.
• Provides training to lower level staff.
• Maintains citywide purchasing cards and fleet fuel cards.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of general, fund, and governmental accounting including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting.
• Principles and practices of cost accounting.
• Internal control and audit principles and practices.
• Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of public agencies.
• City functions, including assessment and maintenance districts, grant‑supported programs and capital improvement projects, and associated financial management and reporting issues.
• Principles and practices of information technology related to the processing of accounting and financial information.
• The operations, requirements and codes of the City’s general ledger system.
• City personnel rules, policies and labor contract provisions.
• Principles and practices of the CalPERS reporting system.
• Principles and practices of effective supervision.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to

• Act as lead to direct and coordinate the work of lower level staff.
• Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex financial data and operations.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply City, State, and Federal laws regulating City financial accounting, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Understand and accurately use the City’s Chart of Accounts system of accounting for special districts and funds and oversee the maintenance and reconciliation of all general ledger accounts.
• Develop and implement financial procedures and controls.
• Perform complicated mathematical calculations and analyses.
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive financial statements, reports and written materials.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Function appropriately during stressful situations.
• Complete assignments in an accurate and timely manner.
• Plan and evaluate financial procedures and systems and make sound recommendations for improvement.
• Understand and interpret MOUs and personnel and CalPERS rules.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience And Education/Training Guidelines

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

Experience

Four years of professional accounting experience including two years of administrative and lead responsibility. Some experience in a public agency or governmental entity is desirable.

Education/Training

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field.

Additional Information

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental Conditions

Office environment; exposure to computer screens.

Physical Conditions

Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; perform data entry functions.

For information regarding the City’s applicable benefits package for this position, please contact the Human Resources Division at [e-mail].