Finance Analyst (20739653)

The City of Auburn is accepting applications for a Finance Analyst! This is an opportunity to work with a dynamic and innovative team while staying sharp on the latest governmental accounting requirements and accounting software solutions.

The Finance Analyst will focus on interpreting and implementing GASB pronouncements, maintaining the accuracy of general ledger and trial balance accounts, approving receivables and payables, forecasting revenues and expenditures, budget development, management of cash, debt, and capital assets, and continual education on the job.

Key Recruitment Details

• The Right Fit: The ideal candidate will bring government experience, have excellent analytical, auditing, and adaptability skills, and be a positive member of a small, supportive team.

• Timeline: Open until filled, apply early to ensure consideration. The first review of applications will be May 22, 2026, with the selection process anticipated for early June.

• Selection Process: The process will include interviews, and may include other related assessments.

• Start Date: The position is pending final budget approval, anticipated to start in July 2026.

Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview; we will move forward with the candidates whose qualifications best match the role's specific needs. The selected candidate must pass a background check, including reference and live scan checks, and may include other related screenings.

The City of Auburn is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  To request a reasonable accommodation for the examination process, please contact Human Resources at (530) 823-4211 ext. 146 at least five business days before your scheduled exam.

Position Summary

Under general supervision of the Finance Director, the Finance Analyst supervises and/or performs highly responsible, complex, sensitive and professional level accounting and financial work in support of the City's various financial activities. Areas of responsibility may include, but are not limited to preparing financial statements, reviewing fiscal records, and monitoring financial transactions in accordance with prescribed accounting systems and generally accepted principles of accounting, auditing and budgeting. Duties include programmatic general accounting (general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll), budget planning and development, verifies balances, and adjusts accounts and journal entries; prepares various fiscal reports; coordinating and assisting with the annual audit, project management and other administrative analysis activities in the Finance Department and providing information and assistance to City staff and the general public, to perform duties requiring special knowledge; and to provide administrative support to assigned supervisor.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the advanced journey level in the Finance series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing the duties, and by the nature of the public contact made. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within the series, including detailed analysis of financial transactions and forecasting and may provide direct supervision over assigned personnel. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned areas of responsibility.

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Balances and reconciles general ledger accounts; prepares adjusting journal entries and monthly bank reconciliations. Maintain accounting, financial, and statistical records; post information to ledgers, journals, logs, and reports; total and balance figures; proof data and make corrections as required; prepare, reconcile, balance, and submit a variety of periodic and special reports.
•  Supervises the maintenance and analysis of general ledger accounts, and other account subsystems such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, revenues and utility billing subsystems.
• Assist in the preparation, analysis and review of estimated revenues, reimbursements, expenditures, fund balances and other budgetary accounts.
• Participate in the design, testing and implementation of new technology systems and processes.
• Utilize various computer programs; enter and maintain data; generate reports from a database or in-house system; create spreadsheets and generate reports using spreadsheet software; create documents using word processing software.
• Identify and resolve problems, differences, and inconsistencies between accounting records and computerized reports; determine corrective entries involved in maintaining accounting controls and reconciling differences.
• Obtaining information from various departments to compile the activity and year-end balances for various funds; performing analytical review of activity in each fund.
• Process accounts receivable; prepare statements for City services, rental, and lease obligations, receive, process, and balance payments received; input data; audit accounts receivable; prepare and process bad debt collections.
• Process accounts payable; review invoices and claim documents received from various departments; input information into computer system; review and analyze check registers and transaction reports; distribute checks including to match remittance documents to payments; file documents and reports.
• Develops and documents accounting procedures by reviewing and determining impact of new accounting and auditing standards; assisting with implementation of accounting and auditing procedures and standards; incorporating changes in financial reporting standards into individual fund and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report templates; and communicating changes in standards and impact of changes to other staff.
• Substantiates or resolves complex financial transactions by analyzing and auditing materials, revenue streams, transactions and documents; reconciling statements and transactions; using initiative and sound independent judgment on difficult procedural problems; and reviewing the work of assigned personnel to determine accuracy of accounting records.
• Coordinate and participate in ACFR and Annual Audit Processes: Prepares in the preparation of annual financial reports including, but not limited to, the Annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (ACFR) and the City’s annual audit; review, reconcile and prepared notes to the financial statements, supporting work papers, and other reports; respond to audit inquiries from external auditors and other governmental agencies as necessary.
• Assists in the development of long-term financial forecasts, the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports, collects data to support department analytical functions and makes recommendations as appropriate.
• Assist public at service counter and record revenue receipts through operation of cash register; prepare and complete daily revenue deposits including to balance cash drawer, code data input documents, and sign checks with check signer; contact fiduciaries to coordinate investment transactions completed by the City Treasurer and Finance Director.
• May administer and oversee the business licensing fee function for the City by coordinating the collection of business licenses fees, verification of transaction information, computation of charges and refunds, preparation and mailing of invoices; notification to customers of delinquent accounts and insufficient payments coordinating licensing activities with the public, other departments and other agencies; and updating of licensing records by collecting, calculation, and entering data, audition records and entering changes.
• Assist in recording payroll entry and PERS retirement contributions.
• Coordinates and assists in developing and implementing the City’s fiscal budget.
• Schedules budget preparation tasks to meet established deadlines; coordinates budget related matters with departments and provides training and guidance when necessary.
• Evaluates the budget during the execution and implementation phase; identifies variances requiring corrective action; recommends appropriate correction action.
• Reviews and approves purchase requisitions and budget transfers.
• Coordinates the development of the 5-year Capital Improvement Program publication, including but not limited to, document project management, department communications, template structure design and development, schedule development and financial analysis.
• May assist in grant accounting; type statistical schedules and reports; assemble and copy documents.
• May assist in ensuring 1099s are properly prepared.
• Coordinate debt, debt activities, debt schedules and interfund loan activities for the City and other City authorities; participate in debt issuance and financings; analyze debt and work with City departments on debt related matters.
• Provide public assistance at the counter and over the phone; answer questions and provide information; research problems and prepare necessary adjustment; collect payments as necessary.
• Perform special analyses and reports as required by the City Council, management staff, and outside agencies; audit petty cash funds; update general ledger and verify fund balances; reconcile bank accounts.
• May perform general supervision of subordinate Finance Department staff.
• Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of: Financial and accounting theory; financial analysis and reporting methodologies (e.g. regulatory reporting); basic accounting principles, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), government accounting standards and principles; general business practices in a government environment; principles, procedures, and methods used in the performance of complex clerical and technical accounting duties including those involved in payroll, business and dog licensing, accounts payable, accounts receivable and assisting in budget preparation and monitoring; principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting; principles and practices of report preparation; mathematical principles; modern office procedures, methods, and related computer equipment and software applications; principles and practices of customer service; proper phone techniques and etiquette; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including those governing the establishment, maintenance, and keeping of financial data; policies, procedures, and functions of the City’s Finance Department.

Ability to: Perform a variety of diversified and difficult financial and statistical record keeping duties in support of payroll, business and dog licensing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or assisting in budget preparation and monitoring; accurately receive and process information and documents according to established guidelines and procedures; collect, compile, and research information and data; review and interpret accounting transactions and records; analyze data and draw sound conclusions; create and maintain a variety of spreadsheets, financial records, and files; prepare a variety of financial and statistical reports; reconcile various financial statements and balance as necessary; apply the rules of modified and full accrual accounting to assignments; understand, interpret, and apply principles, laws, and procedures involved in fiscal record keeping and accounting functions; provide customer service and deal tactfully and courteously with the public, other City employees, and other agencies; perform mathematical calculations; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications; type and enter data at a speed necessary for successful job performance; enter and retrieve data from computer systems; use 10-key adding machine by touch; work independently in the absence of supervision; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

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. Work is performed in a standard office setting. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. The position requires vision sufficient to see in the normal visual range with or without correction, and to read computer screens and printed documents; as well as hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.