Finance Analyst

City of Victorville; Victorville (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Victorville seeks a Finance Analyst under the supervision of a senior official to plan, organize, and supervise staff engaged in budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting for city programs. The role includes developing annual budgets, monitoring performance, performing variance analyses, preparing journal entries, and coordinating external audits.

Knowledge of grants, CIP budgets, and city codes is valued, as is ability to communicate complex financial information clearly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Three years of government accounting, budgeting, and/or grant administration.
• One year of supervisory experience.
• Master's degree or CPA desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct daily finance activities including accounts payable, utility billing, and cash receipts.
• Review and approve work of staff and manage performance.
• Develop and prepare annual city budget and five-year CIP budgets.
• Monitor budget performance and perform variance analyses.
• Prepare complex journal entries and reconcile ledgers.
• Coordinate financial reporting and assist external auditors.
• Respond to public records requests and provide analyses to departments.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Three years of government accounting/budgeting/grant administration

One year supervisory experience

Master's degree or CPA desirable

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

Under the direction of the assigned supervisor, the Finance Analyst plans, organizes, coordinates, and supervises staff engaged in various financial activities of the City, which include budgeting, forecasting, and the development and preparation of the annual budget; monitoring budget performance and variance analysis; the preparation of accurate financial data and reports; and providing administrative support through research, analysis, report writing, and recommendations; and performs other related duties as required.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs subordinate staff in the daily operations of various finance activities, including, but not limited to, accounts payable, utility billing, and cash receipts.
• Reviews and approves the work of subordinate staff.
• Supervises subordinate staff, sets work priorities, creates work schedules, provides training, conducts performance evaluations, and recommends rewards and/or disciplinary actions of employees.
• Maintains fixed asset accounting and other special projects.
• Reviews the proper classification of expenditures and accounting transactions.
• Compiles, and reviews the monthly bank reconciliation.
• Reviews, analyzes, and prepares schedules for grants, cash forecasts, and account analyses.
• Participates in and/or manages the development of the annual budget, the City’s annual operating and five (5)-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets, revenue and expenditure forecasts and implements adjustments (if needed).
• Meets with staff to identify and resolve problems and maintain effective communication.
• Drafts and recommends administrative policies and procedures.
• Performs financial system functions, including entering user-defined codes and settings, inputting and posting transactions, importing third-party system files, initiating and verifying system processes, researching data, and processing reports.
• Initiates support cases and works with system support representatives to resolve financial system issues.
• Reconciles general ledger accounts and subsidiary ledgers.
• Prepares complex journal entries.
• Reviews and approves financial transactions and journal entries.
• Reviews, reports on, and ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Resolves banking issues related to assigned finance functions.
• Prepares year-end entries, reconciliations, and reports; works with external auditors.
• Retrieves and prepares documents for response to public records requests.
• Investigates, resolves, addresses, and/or responds to issues, complaints, or inquiries from external entities or within the City.
• Provides assistance to department management, other City personnel, and the public regarding administrative, fiscal, or operational issues, policies, and procedures.
• Provides staff with strategic direction.
• Assists in external audits and in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report by gathering information, providing financial reports, preparing detailed reconciliations, updating related notes, and responding to questions from auditors; including analytical review and internal control review.
• Prepares staff reports, agenda items, and resolutions, as needed.
• Prepares special correspondence and reports.
• Attends various department-related meetings, workshops, and other regulatory meetings.
• Attends City Council meetings, as necessary.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in government accounting, budgeting, and/or grant administration. One (1) year of supervisory experience is required. A master’s degree or possession of an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is highly desirable.

Knowledge of:

• City policies, procedures, and municipal codes
• Concepts, theories, principles, methods, and practices of organizational and municipal government administration
• Report preparation and presentation methods
• Research and statistical methods
• Principles and practices of public administration
• Principles and practices of effective employee supervision
• Principles and practices of administrative management
• Principles and practices of public finance
• Principles and practices of project management
• Principles and practices of strategic planning
• Grant writing and application procedures
• Legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct for public sector employees
• Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including software and database programs
• English usage, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic mathematical principles

Skill and ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct professional accounting and financial analysis activities
• Prioritize work and exercise independent judgment, wisdom, common sense, and initiative within established procedures, guidelines, and rules
• Work independently or as part of a team to organize and complete detailed assignments with minimal direction
• Thoroughly carry out oral and written instructions
• Exercise discretion when dealing with the public and employees on sensitive or confidential matters
• Define problems, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Report information in clear, complete and logical form
• Conduct organizational and procedural studies and prepare comprehensive reports
• Recommend and implement goals and objectives for providing effective services
• Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies
• Plan and present clear, concise, and effective presentations to executive management and the public using non-technical language
• Organize and maintain accurate records of activities and projects
• Prepare and administer an operating budget
• Simultaneously direct various work activities consistent with goals and priorities
• Evaluate programs and services from an operational and productivity standpoint
• Manage situations requiring diplomacy, fairness, firmness, and sound judgment
• Interpret and apply City, State, and Federal policies, laws, and regulations
• Supervise staff, delegate tasks and authority, and evaluate staff performance
• Build effective teams and provide efficient customer service
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Operate a personal computer and various software applications
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including City and other government officials, community groups, and the general public
• Apply safe work practices
• Lead, support, and provide guidance to staff to keep the department running smoothly

This position works primarily in an indoor office environment and in close proximity to other workers. Incumbents shall be exposed to those conditions normally encountered in a business office environment. Positions in this class typically require balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions with or without reasonable accommodation. Medium Work: Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of workday), and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of workday), and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly (2/3 or more of workday) to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. Incumbents must be able to see and hear in the normal range, with or without correction, communicate verbally and in written form with great facility and must be able to be understood. Incumbents must have the stamina to work long hours and overtime, if assigned, and must be willing to work an irregular schedule which may include weekends, evenings, and/or varying shifts.