Under general direction, performs complex professional financial work, including auditing, analyzing, and verifying fiscal records and reports, preparing financial and statistical reports, and providing information to City staff regarding practices and procedures. The Finance Supervisor is responsible for payroll, purchasing, financial analysis and statement preparation, assisting with the Biennial Operating Budget, financial reporting, capital assets, fleet and equipment administration, grant administration, month-end and year-end closing, annual audits, establishment, review, and recommendation of internal control procedures; supervises, directs, coordinates and monitors staff and performs related work as required. Receives general direction from the Finance Director and exercises direct supervision over staff.
Class Characteristics
This is a supervisor classification responsible for performing the full range of routine and complex departmental financial, payroll, and record keeping programs. Incumbents exercise a high degree of independent judgment on diverse and specialized projects and has significant accountability and ongoing decision-making associated with the work. This class requires the use of tact, discretion, and independent judgment. Successful performance of the work requires thorough knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures, municipal fund accounting, grants accounting and compliance, revenue auditing and tax compliance, payroll, and fiscal management. The Financial Analyst is distinguished from the Finance Supervisor position in that the latter is responsible for the organization, assignment, and review of the work of a team in one or more functional areas of the Finance Department. This class is distinguished from the Finance Director in that the latter has overall supervisory responsibility for staff and operations.
The Position
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Perform complex professional and technical accounting work in the administration and implementation of the City’s financial, revenue, budget, auditing, payroll, and accounting programs, including financial report development, budget monitoring, forecasting, financial analysis, reimbursement billings, and grants accounting.
- Assist with the preparation of the budget and monitor budget performance. Validate the accuracy of budget data entered into the City’s financial system. Investigate and resolve department inquiries regarding inaccuracies, and ensure all transfers, adjustments, grant monies, updates, etc. are properly reflected in the department budgets.
- Analyze short and long-term trends in revenues and expenditures to determine future problems or opportunities facing the City’s operations; develop options and recommendations.
- Prepare recommendations for financial systems business practice efficiencies; conduct workflow analysis to determine the extent of compliance with established rules; and recommend business process changes, policy and procedure amendments, and/or City Code updates, as necessary.
- Investigate and audit transactions, records, and reports, including City-issued Credit Card transactions, to ensure compliance with City policies.
- Assist with the preparation and publication of accurate financial and budgetary information in a timely manner.
- Supervise, direct, coordinate, and monitor journey-level, technical and/or clerical staff; including hiring, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions; train, mentor, and develop staff, as well as create a collaborative and effective team environment; assign work activities and projects; monitor work flow; review and evaluate work product, method, and procedure; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
- Oversee and coordinate monthly and year-end general ledger closing; prepare journal entries with proper documentation; post and balance general ledger accounts; ensure compliance and accuracy in accordance with generally accepted accounting procedures and principles for government organizations utilizing a computer-based financial management system.
- Analyze, review, and prepare a variety of complex financial statements and reports related to specific functions; draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations; analyze financial data for discrepancies and errors, and make corrections through journal entries; perform City account and bank reconciliations.
- Performs the monthly accounting cycle, including bank reconciliation, journal entries, preparing general ledger, balancing cash accounts, and running and distributing revenue and expenditure summaries.
- Perform professional accounting work in accordance with a prescribed automated and manual accounting system, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
- Prepare and assist in overseeing the biennial operating budget process and the preparation of the budget document and other related documents; monitor budget appropriations by fund and department.
- Maintain the general ledger chart of accounts and assigns project codes as required for new grants and activities.
- Prepare various data and reports for City Council meetings.
- Prepare federal and state tax returns and other reports as required by state and federal laws.
- Direct year-end closing of accounting and payroll records; prepare reports and work papers for annual audits; assist auditors in the review of the financial activity; assist in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
- Compile accounting data and develop financial information as requested; conduct fiscal analysis and studies; develop and implement accounting systems, controls, and reporting procedures.
- Coordinate and prepare a variety of financial reports for grant programs and capital improvement projects; ensure compliance with various granting agency requirements and restrictions.
- Maintain accounting and financial reporting systems and procedures.
- Prepare and monitor the Capital Improvement Plan budget.
- Cooperatively participate in the implementation and ongoing enhancements to the automated financial system; participate in system training, decision making, testing, problem solving, and version updates to software; clarify, summarize, and resolve issues relating to specific assigned modules or processes
- Provide professional and administrative assistance to the Finance Director; research, compile, and prepare financial and administrative documents.
- Recommend goals and objectives and assist in the development of policies and procedures for the Finance Department.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Knowledge of:
- Modern principles, practices, and methods of public and governmental accounting and finance, including program budgeting and auditing and their application to municipal operations.
- Governmental fund accounting, governmental accounting principles, and general bookkeeping practices and procedures.
- Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to municipal financial and payroll operations.
- Financial auditing principles and techniques.
- Accounting for governmental grants.
- Contract administration procedures and practices.
- Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
- Technical report writing and preparation of correspondence.
- English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
- Effective methods of communication both verbally and written.
- Methods and techniques of computer software pertaining to the preparation of graphic and tabular data in printed and live presentations.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
- Principles and practices of payroll processing.
- Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
- Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet software.
Ability to:
- Analyze financial data and draw sound conclusions.
- Perform a wide variety of administrative duties, projects, and detail work with minimal supervision.
- Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, and methods to streamline and maximize efficiency within the department.
- Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
- Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
- Conduct research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
- Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
- Follow department policies and procedures related to assigned duties.
- Use an electronic calculator by touch; make arithmetic calculations.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
- Maintain strict attention to detail under deadlines.
- Perform a wide variety of administrative duties and projects with minimal supervision.
- Oversee and manage computerized financial management systems.
- Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in journey-level, technical and clerical accounting functions.
- Participate in the selection, training, motivation, and evaluation of assigned staff.
- Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
- Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field
- Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in finance or accounting, preferably in a public agency, including two years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity
Ideal Candidate
- Has public sector experience, including experience dealing with public sector payroll
- Is organized and detail-oriented
- Can prioritize multiple tasks with competing deadlines
- Possesses a Master's degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field
Benefits
The City's excellent benefits package includes:
Retirement
- CalPERS Classic Members (employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, and defined as “classic” PERS members) participate in a 2% @ 60 retirement formula. New CalPERS Members as defined by PEPRA (employees new to PERS or with greater than 6 months gap in service with PERS) participate in a 2% @ 62 formula.
- This position participates in Social Security.
Health Insurance
- 9 CalPERS Health Plans to choose from. Employer-paid family health insurance up to the Bay Area Kaiser premium rate.
- Alternate benefit in-lieu of health insurance: Elective paid leave with a quarterly cash out at Kaiser single rate for employees choosing to opt out. Employees must provide proof of outside coverage.
Dental, Orthodontia, Life Insurance, and Disability
- Employer paid dental insurance through Delta Dental
- Supplemental Orthodontia reimbursement plan
- Employer paid life insurance in the amount of $50,000
Other Optional Benefits
- Vision Insurance (VSP) - with competitive rates
- Section 457 deferred compensation program, administered through ICMA
- Section 125 flexible spending benefits plan for health care and dependent care expenses
- Commuter Checks
Leave
- 11 days of vacation per year (increases with years of service)
- 11 days of holiday pay per year
- 3 floating holidays per year
- 12 days of sick leave per year
- Up to 100 hours of Admin Leave per year with option to cash out
Selection Process
All completed applications will be reviewed. Based on the information in the application documents, the most qualified applicants will be invited for further examination. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.
The tentative recruitment timeline is as follows:
- Deadline to Apply: January 5, 2020 at 6:00pm
- Oral Board Interviews: January 16, 2020
The information contained in this Employment Opportunity flyer is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Albany is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, sex origin or disability. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 528-5715 at least five business days prior to any examination process.
