Finance Manager

City of Arroyo Grande; Arroyo Grande (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Arroyo Grande, California, seeks a seasoned accounting supervisor to lead payroll, accounts payable, utility billing, and financial reporting. Under general direction, you will supervise staff, coordinate audits, and support the Administrative Services Director.

The role emphasizes internal controls, budget development, and preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field and at least five years of

Qualifications

• Five years of highly responsible experience in accounting, including one year of supervisory or lead responsibility.
• Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.
• Knowledge of GAAP and GAAS principles and standards.
• Experience with municipal accounting and financial reporting in a public agency is preferred.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Plan, supervise, and review accounting activities including payroll, accounts payable, and utility billing.
• Oversee budget preparation and financial reporting, including ACFR preparation.
• Develop procedures to improve efficiency and internal controls; monitor workload and performance.
• Participate in staff selection, training, and performance evaluation; implement disciplinary actions as needed.
• Prepare journal entries, reconciliations, and monthly/quarterly/annual financial statements.
• Serve as acting Administrative Services Director in their absence and respond to emergencies as required.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Accounting knowledge

Budgeting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Under general direction, supervises, assigns, and reviews the work of staff responsible for performing accounting functions, including payroll, cash receipts, accounts payable, business licensing, utility billing, and customer service. Oversees and participates in all work activities, manages the City’s audits and internal controls, participates in budget preparation, performs a variety of technical tasks related to the assigned area of responsibility, and may act as Administrative Services Director in their absence.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from the Director of Administrative Services.

Essential Functions:

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, review and participate in the work of staff responsible for complex accounting functions including payroll, cash receipts, accounts payable, business licensing, utility billing and customer service; review and audit claims, computer generated records and other related documentation for accuracy.
• Establish schedules and methods for providing accounting services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.
• Develop and standardize procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations to the Director of Administrative Services.
• Participate in the selection of accounting staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• Participate in the preparation of the City’s budget; coordinate budget preparation with the Director of Administrative Services.
• Prepare journal entries and reconcile general ledger and subsidiary accounts related to postings from payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts, and accounts receivable; prepare monthly financial statements, including distribution to departments; prepare numerous monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.
• Perform internal audits of assigned accounts and balances; reconcile differences.
• Examine, reconcile, balance and adjust accounting records; reconcile and prepare complex bank reconciliations for multiple accounts.
• Serve as back up to balance and receipt assigned department cash transmittals and prepare bank deposits; edit cash receipts and prepare starting cash.
• Oversee utility billing activities; grant extensions for payment as appropriate; assist the general public with utility billing questions and provide appropriate information.
• Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive inquiries and complaints from inside and outside the organization.
• Prepare a wide variety of financial, analytical and statistical reports, including year-end reporting, budgetary reports, assisting in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), and preparing other legal documents and management analysis. Assist the Director of Administrative Services with financial reports and research projects as assigned.
• Prepare analysis and work papers pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings and training classes; stay abreast of new laws and regulations in the field of financial services.
• Operate computer and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications; perform computer data entry; maintain computerized records and files.
• Serve as acting Director of Administrative Services in his/her absence.
• Respond and perform assigned duties in the event of a City declared emergency.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of a municipal accounting program.
• General and governmental accounting and auditing principles, methods and procedures (GAAP/GAAS).
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
• Basic mathematical principles.
• Applicable computer software applications.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local codes, laws and regulations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Oversee the accounting functions for accounts payable, utility billing, payroll, accounts receivable, business licensing and customer service.
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Plan, organize, review and evaluate the work of lower level staff.
• Maintain complex general and subsidiary accounting records.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and spreadsheets, including computer generated financial reports.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Interpret, explain and enforce City policies and procedures applicable to assigned area of responsibility.
• Maintain confidentiality in all work areas.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading, writing and operating assigned equipment.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.

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

Experience:

Five years of highly responsible experience in accounting, including one year of supervisory or lead responsibility.

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, or other closely related field.