Senior Finance Analyst

City of Colton; Colton (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Colton is recruiting for a full-time Senior Finance Analyst to support the Finance Department and establish an eligibility list for current and future vacancies. The role focuses on budgeting, financial reporting, and complex accounting tasks.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or a related field and at least four years of finance experience, with two years in government. Filing deadline is October 18, 2026.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance or related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible finance or accounting experience, with 2+ years in government.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills; experience with budgeting processes.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and supervise the annual budget development.
• Produce statistical reports analyzing budgetary and financial performance.
• Perform complex accounting and budget duties with independent judgment.
• Configure budgeting software for salaries, benefits projections, and what-if analysis.
• Prepare financial statements with high accuracy.
• Conduct 5-year financial forecasting and trend analysis.
• Maintain cost allocation plan and interim reporting.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Accounting

Communication

Independent judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The City of Colton is now recruiting for one (1) full-time Senior Finance Analyst in our Finance Department. This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list for current and future vacancies.

Filing deadline is October 18, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m.

DEFINITION:

Under direction of the Finance Director or designee, performs a wide variety of complex financial activities, including planning and coordinating the citywide budget development; special projects; performs a variety of professional, analytical, financial, management, and/or administrative duties. The incumbent is responsible for identifying, evaluating, recommending, and implementing best practices in the areas of budgeting and finance. The incumbent is responsible for independently performing a variety of technical, complex and analytical duties, and performs other duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Senior Finance Analyst is the journey-level classification within the professional fiscal series. Incumbents in this class are responsible for a wide variety of complex professional assignments and serves as a resource to the Finance Manager and Finance Director. Incumbents within this classification work independently in the performance of assigned tasks within the Finance Administration Division.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Exercises direct supervision over assigned technical, clerical and/or volunteer staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the City’s annual budget development.
• Develop statistical information and reports to analyze the City’s budgetary and financial performance.
• Coordinate and perform complex, advanced-level accounting and budget duties requiring independent judgment and analysis; maintain various financial records, ensure all related accounting entries and transfers are completed, and accounting records reconcile to respective reports.
• Configures the budget software to ensure correct calculation of salaries and benefits projections, position control, salaries and benefits scenarios and what-if analysis, chart of accounts, and organizational structure.
• Prepares and maintains financial statements requiring a high degree of accuracy in accounting skills and knowledge of accounting principles.
• Performs 5-year financial forecast process, including analyzing economic conditions, market data, and exploring the effect on the City’s financial position.
• Create, maintain, and control highly complex financial and statistical records, ledgers, and reports.
• Performs key financial analysis, reconciliations, and projections of revenues and expenditures. Evaluates budget to actual results and trend analysis comparisons. Researches and develops procedures to resolve complex budgeting, accounting, auditing, and system functionality problems. Recommends and implements any necessary changes in operations and procedures.
• Administers the preparation and maintenance of the City’s Cost Allocation Plan.
• Responsible for interim reporting and fiscal analysis of trends in financial reporting.
• Works with staff to resolve technical accounting and reporting issues and problems; analyzes cost data and assists in performing special studies, analyses and projects as required by funding sources
• Assist the Finance Department Management with planning, conducting, testing, and implementation of office automation improvements, operational practices, and software systems implementation to enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Conducts or assists in organizational studies pertaining to work flow, time and cost factors, administrative systems, records and filing systems, procedures, and staffing structures to determine potential areas for organizational improvement.
• Provides support to departments relative to budgets, analysis and financial reporting. Assists management with the preparation for and handling of bargaining unit related financial issues.
• Responsible for assisting with internal and external audits as assigned.
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance.
• Perform other related duties as required.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field.

Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible and varied experience in finance or accounting administration, including at least two years in or working with a governmental agency.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid California Class \"C\" driver's license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and good driving record.

Knowledge of:

General principles and practices of municipal government management; Principles and practices of general, fund and governmental accounting including financial statement preparation and methods of internal controls over financial reporting; accounting, auditing, budgeting principles, practices, and procedures; basic and complex financial analysis; financial and statistical record-keeping techniques; operations of full service municipalities; development and implementation of programs, policies and procedures; analysis and research methods; modern office practices, methods and procedures; punctuation and grammatical usage; various office equipment, Microsoft Office, Excel and Power Point; and public administration.

Ability to:

Perform and analyze complex accounting work; conduct research; prepare, develop, monitor, and maintain financial statements and reports; communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; conduct research on a wide variety of topics; assist to develop and implement long range fiscal plans; interpret, explain, apply, and enforce a variety of laws, rules and regulations; organize, set priorities, take initiative and exercise independent judgment within areas of responsibility; perform duties that require high attention to detail and application of rules and specific procedural requirements; prepare clear and accurate financial records and reports; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, management, consultants, and representatives of all segments of the industry; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work independently with little direction; understand and follow written and oral instructions; effectively handle confidential matters.

PHYSICAL TASKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those incumbent encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. The incumbent generally works under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet. While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to sit; talk or hear both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel objects or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Incumbent must be able to safely lift and carry books, files and reports weighing up to 25 pounds. Must be able to lift files, reports, reference books and stacks of paper from counter tops or file drawers and withstand exposure to vibration, pitch and glare from a computer.

This job specification should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify essential functions and requirements of the job. Not all incumbents may perform all duties at all times. However, incumbents must be able to perform the essential duties, with or without accommodation for disability at any time while holding this position.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed to determine who possesses the minimum qualifications. Qualified candidates will be invited to an oral board interview with an outside panel. Candidates who are successful in this process will have their names certified to an eligibility list. The top three candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for a second interview.

Disaster Service Worker Government Code Section 3100