Senior Accountant

Pasadena City College; Rosemead, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Pasadena City College is seeking a Senior Accountant in the Fiscal Services Department. This role provides leadership, training, and advanced accounting support, ensuring compliance with state and district regulations, and improving processes across the district.

The position handles complex analyses, budget adjustments, year-end entries, and coordination with auditors, external agencies, and internal staff. Grant-funded through September 30, 2029, located in Rosemead, CA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Accounting, Finance or related discipline; three years of experience in accounting/finance/auditing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as accounting lead, support staff, prioritize projects, delegate assignments, set deadlines, review work, provide training.
• Analyze and interpret information from federal/state/agency guidance; assist in implementing new government accounting standards.
• Perform advanced technical calculations, reconciliations, and address discrepancies with corrective measures.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and statements.
• Review budget changes, transfers and journal entries for accuracy and authorization; process year-end entries.
• Maintain chart of accounts and implement new funds, accounts, and program codes per policies.
• Compile advanced financial analyses, reports and reconciliations for management review and compliance.
• Monitor general ledger accounts and financial reporting deadlines; ensure data accuracy and support.
• Respond to inquiries from external agencies; coordinate with district, departments, and external partners.

Skills

Technical accounting

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting/Finance

Job description

This position is grant-funded until September 30, 2029.

Under general direction, the Senior Accountant serves as a senior technical accounting staff member in the Fiscal Services Department. This position provides guidance, training, and accounting support to other Fiscal Services staff on a regular basis, and independently performs a variety of advanced and complex accounting duties. Responds to complex accounting issues, develops recommendations for process improvements, and ensures that procedures are in place to support a smooth and efficient workflow throughout the District. Assists administration and management in ensuring the District’s compliance with District policies and procedures, applicable State and Federal rules, regulations, codes, and accounting standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

1. Serve as the accounting lead, responsible for supporting the work of other accounting staff as directed by the supervisor (e.g., prioritizing projects, assisting with delegating assignments, setting deadlines, reviewing work, and providing training and accounting guidance); assist with planning and workflow for the department; coordinate staff in the analysis, completion, and validation of complex and technical projects; may lead department staff training.
2. Analyze, review, and interpret various information from Federal, State, County, District, and other relevant agencies,including accounting and financial reporting requirements, laws and regulations, policies and procedures,and other applicable guidance. Assist in the implementation of new governmental accounting standards.
3. Perform, analyze, research, and review advanced technical calculations, reconciliations, and complex accountingissues; identify causes of discrepancies and corrective measures, andimplement necessary changes in processes or procedures.
4. Prepare or assist in the preparation of various monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and financial statements.
5. Review, provide recommendations, and process regular orrecurring budget changes, transfers ofexpenditures, and journal entries for accuracy, completeness, proper authorization, and appropriate support. Review and process year-end entries.
6. Assist management in maintaining the chart of accounts, including, but not limited to, creating new funds,organizations, accounts, and program codes in accordance withthe California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Budgeting and Accounting Manual and District policies and procedures.
7. Prepare and compile a variety of advanced and complex financialanalyses, comprehensive reports and schedules, and reconciliations that require a degree of professionaljudgment, for management review and in compliance with District, State, Federalgovernmental, or other agencies’requirements.
8. Monitor and maintain assigned financial activities andgeneral ledger accounts for all District funds, ensuringthe accuracy of the financial database. Monitor financial reporting deadlines. Review financial reports and data for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate support.
9. Performongoing analysis of general ledger accounts and appropriation ledger accounts. Respond to inquiries from external agencies, as assigned, such as the State Chancellor’s Office, Department of Education, other grant sponsors, auditors, and internalDistrict staff. Coordinate information and communications among the District, campus departments, the County, and external agencies to clarify and reconcile expenditures, allocations, and accounting issues or inconsistencies.
10. Identify processes and procedures within Fiscal Services that need improvement, such as inefficiencies or gaps in internal controls.Provide recommendations using aDistrict-wide approach. Implement or assist management in implementing process improvements and new technologies within Fiscal Services, such as creating or redesigning department procedures, documenting procedures or training manuals, developing or modifying financial systems and applications, and developing and testing new system-generated financial reports. Act as a core team member representing Fiscal Services and work collaboratively with IT and other departments as needed.
11. Lead IT projects for Fiscal Services; perform testing of financial management systems or emerging technologies to ensure the delivery of accurate, timely, andconsistent, high-quality data; communicate changes and provide training.Perform general maintenance of financial systems and applications as directed and in collaboration with IT. Analyze and validate financial data.
12. Assistwith the fiscal year-end close process in the District’s financial system,including rollingending balances and encumbrances forward in the District’s financial system.
13. Reconcile bank accounts andthe District’s detailed accounting records with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) on a monthly basis.
14. Assist management withDistrict-wide training on various fiscal affairs topics. Prepare and deliver presentations as needed.
15. Compile and develop necessary financial and narrative data in preparation foraudits.
16. Participatein committees, task forces, and special assignments, including, but not limited to,screening and selection committees and mandated trainings, as required.
17. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Accounting, Finance or related discipline.
• Three years of experience in an accounting, finance, or auditing position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, or CFE.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Proficiency in supervising and guiding accounting teams on complex fiscal projects and workflows.
• Expertise in interpreting and applying State, Federal, and District financial regulations.
• Aptitude for resolving advanced accounting discrepancies through in-depth analysis and process refinement.
• Capability to compile, interpret, and review detailed financial statements and periodic reports
• Competence in evaluating and processing journal entries, budget revisions, and year-end financial activities.
• Familiarity with maintaining and modifying the chart of accounts in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
• Skill in producing high-level financial analysis and reconciliations requiring professional judgment.
• Accuracy in monitoring financial systems for integrity, timeliness, and adherence to reporting deadlines.
• Confidence in representing the department in communications with auditors, external agencies, and internal stakeholders.
• Insight into assessing and improving accounting procedures and internal controls across fiscal operations.
• Technical fluency in financial system testing, implementation, and maintenance in collaboration with IT.
• Experience coordinating fiscal year-end processes, including balance rollovers and encumbrance adjustments.
• Capacity to compile mandated financial reports (e.g., CCFS 311, IPEDS) in accordance with legal requirements.
• Precision in reconciling financial records with external agencies such as LACOE and banking institutions.
• Effectiveness in delivering training, presentations, and support on fiscal topics to diverse District stakeholders.

Core Competencies

• Advanced Technical Accounting Expertise
• Regulatory Compliance & Policy Interpretation
• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Leadership & Staff Development
• Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Project Management & Initiative
• Ethical Judgment & Confidentiality

Salary Range

CFT-56