FINANCE ANALYST II

City of Shafter, CA; Shafter (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package (CalPERS)

Medical, Dental, & Vision coverage

Vacation & Holidays

Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Employee Assistance Program

Bereavement Leave

Longevity Pay

Job summary

City of Shafter, CA is seeking a Finance Analyst II to perform professional financial analyses, support budgeting and reporting, and back-up critical finance functions. Responsibilities include grants, CIP budgets, journal entries, and financial reconciliations.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in finance or related field and 3 years of experience in financial analysis; Government sector experience preferred. This is a full-time, on-site position at City Hall, Shafter, CA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience in performing financial analysis, budgeting, or accounting. Government sector experience preferred.
• Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Perform tasks in support of the City's financial management operations; prepare analyses of revenue, expenditures, variances, and personnel costs.
• Prepare and/or assist in the preparation of financial reports including CAFR and budget-to-actual comparisons.
• Conduct analysis of proposals and assist with development of scenarios to improve service levels and reduce costs.
• Explain accounting guidelines to staff and ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Participate in CIP plan and budget preparation and monitor budget adjustments.

Skills

Advanced database skills

Advanced spreadsheet skills

Effective communication

Project management

Analytical thinking

Budgeting

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Salary : $80,574.00 - $125,138.00 Annually

Location : City Hall, Shafter, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 26/14

Department: Finance

Opening Date: 08/27/2026

Closing Date: 9/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Objective

Under general direction, perform a variety of professional-level financial analyses to support the City's financial management operations. Prepare a diverse range of financial reports. Reconcile complex financial transactions.. Responsibilities include financial reporting and analysis, reviewing payroll and accounts payable, reconciling bank accounts and balance sheet accounts, preparing journal entries, and supporting both operating and capital budgets. The position serves as a backup for critical finance functions such as utility billing, payroll, accounts payable, and budget preparation. This position also requires active participation in state and federal grant programs (e.g., Section 5311, LCTOP, TDA), cost allocation, and capital project accounting. Perform related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Finance Analyst II is an experienced journey-level classification within the Finance Analyst series. Incumbents are expected to independently perform the full scope of fiscal analysis, program, and policy research related to the administration of public finance functions. Advancement to the "II" level is at the discretion of the department head, provided the minimum qualifications for the classification are met, and proficiency in performing the full scope of assigned duties is demonstrated through a performance evaluation.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

• Perform tasks in support of the City's financial management operations; prepare a variety of analyses such as revenue and expenditures, variances, personnel costs, and related fiscal documents.
• Prepare and/or assist in the preparation of a diverse range of financial reports, including expenditure/revenue budget-to-actual comparisons, monthly fiscal reports, the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), and other periodic financial reports.
• Conduct analysis of proposals; identify issues and opportunities; assist with the development of alternative scenarios to improve service levels and lower costs.
• Explain relevant accounting guidelines to departmental staff and participate in the review and evaluation of requests to ensure compliance with City policies, procedures, and established guidelines. Respond to questions and provide information and support to departments.
• Participate in the preparation, review, evaluation, and monitoring of capital improvement program (CIP) plans and budgets; monitor and update operating and capital budget adjustments and funding changes; review CIP requests for financial compliance.
• Review and perform financial analysis of various federal, state, and county grant financial reporting; prepare periodic and ad-hoc financial reports as assigned.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliations for complex accounting transactions such as debt issuance and refunding, capital assets acquisition, and related transactions; review and approve expenditures within budget guidelines.
• Assist department management, other City staff, and the public regarding fiscal or operational issues, policies, or procedures.
• Participate in or direct and monitor assigned projects related to debt management, treasury management, and investments; perform research and statistical analysis; prepare and present reports of findings and recommend appropriate action.
• Assist in enhancing the City's core financial system, including implementing new modules and reconfiguring existing applications.
• Compile information and collaborate with external parties and outside agencies on various program financial audits.
• May prepare cost estimates for labor relations as needed.
• May supervise the work of staff in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Perform duties of a disaster services worker in the event of an emergency.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field; and
• Three (3) years of experience in performing financial analysis, budgeting, or accounting. Government sector experience is preferred.
• Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of municipal financial management including, but not limited to, budget development and administration, debt management, treasury management, investments, auditing, and general and governmental accounting.
• Project and/or program management, analytical processes, and report preparation techniques.
• Methods and techniques of administering sound financial management policies and procedures.
• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Research and financial reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure smooth teamwork.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service and effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment, including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Skilled in:

• Setting priorities and meeting assignment deadlines.
• Good judgment, dependability, and adaptability.
• Effective communication to convey ideas, both written and oral.
• Advanced Database skills, including the ability to sort and retrieve records, create layouts and reports, and add, edit, and delete fields and records.
• Advanced spreadsheet skills, including the ability to insert formulas and perform mathematical calculations; create workbooks, utilize multiple worksheets, format and print worksheets, sort lists, and create graphs and charts.

Ability to:

• Perform professional duties in support of the City's financial management programs.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Operate a computer terminal and prepare manual and computerized financial reports, maintain ledgers and journals, analyze fiscal data, and draw logical conclusions.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data clearly and effectively.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards relevant to the work performed.
• Organize work independently, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
• Perform assignments with considerable independence, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and tact in response to changing situations and needs.
• Communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Learn specialized accounting software.

Supplemental Information

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Physical Demands

• Sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Verbally communicate to exchange information.
• Hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds in person and by telephone.
• Use hands to fingers, feel computers and standard business equipment; make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• Lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 25 lbs. amounts of weight.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Visual requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

• Use written and oral communication skills.
• Interpret data, information, and documents.
• Analyze and solve complex problems.
• Work under deadlines with constant interruptions.
• Interact with City management, staff, the public, and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom may be dissatisfied or quarrelsome.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily in an indoor environment.

All City of Shafter employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Section 3100-3109). As Disaster Service Workers, all City employees are expected to remain at work or report to work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

The City of Shafter is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations for disabilities may be requested from the Human Resources Department at [phone] or

Comprehensive City Paid Benefit Package

• California Public Employees Retirement Plan (CalPERS) in accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA): Miscellaneous 2% @ 55 or 2% @ 62.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision: City pays 100% of the medical, dental, & vision premiums on the base plan for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents.
• Life Insurance: City pays 100% of the premium for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents. Employee benefit is equal to 12 times monthly base salary + $17,000, rounded to next $1000.
• Vacation: 10 days to start to 25 days maximum annually.
• Holidays: 10 fixed and 2 floating annually.
• Sick Leave: 96 hours annually.
• Work Schedule: 5/8 Work Schedule.
• Spanish Fluency Incentive: $120 per month for designated positions.
• Tuition Reimbursement: $3,000 annually.
• IRS 125 Tax Deferred Flexible Spending Account: voluntary
• IRS 457 Tax Deferred Retirement Plan: voluntary
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement Leave
• Longevity Pay: 5 years - 2.5%, 10 years - 2.5%, 15 years - 2.5%, 20 years - 2.5%