Accountant Copy at Catherine Chao's Production Account – El Segundo, California

Senior Accountants perform a variety of advanced professional accounting duties within City government or Public Utilities including monthly closing, reconciliations financial statement preparation and interpretation, and financial analysis. Acts in a lead capacity as assigned over other financial or clerical personnel, planning and assigning work to others, reviewing work and serving as a technical resource on complex accounting subjects. This position will also perform a variety of professional accounting duties related to funds, assets, and grant accounting, payroll, budgets, treasury or special projects accounting; analyze a variety of financial documents for completeness and accuracy as well as prepare and process financial documents related to the accounting process of the assigned department or function; prepare reports and analysis as required.

• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving the department's and the District's mission, objectives and values;
• Has functional responsibility for account record keeping work of advanced difficulty in areas such as maintenance of and posting to and reconciling the general ledger;
• Manages the Chart of Accounts, payroll, accounts payable/receivable and utility billing;
• Manages payroll records and submits federal and state reports;
• Monitors and audits payroll, accounts payable and utility billing;
• Ensures compliance with State and Federal laws;
• Records bank deposits and withdrawals and keeps daily cash flow records;
• Approves accounts payable processors;
• Supervises the Accounting Technician position;
• Prepares and analyzes monthly financial reports in accordance with advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting standards
• Develops and inputs journal entries;
• Responsible for direct deposit compliance with Automated Clearing House (ACH);
• Calculates quarterly workers' compensation premiums which are based on actual payroll and annual W-2's;
• Maintains and updates fixed asset records;
• Prepares worksheets and assists with annual audit;
• Monitors and accounts for all projects administered by District on a "pass-through" basis;
• Participates in the development, administration and monitoring of the District's budget;
• Implements mid-year and year-end budget adjustments;
• Reconciles on a monthly basis cash, investments, payroll, and accounts receivable and payable;
• Supports the development of the monthly treasurer's and budget status reports;
• Develops work schedules for accounting, customer service cyclical billing, date driven reports and reconciliations;
• Coordinates with customer service personnel on billing issues and customer account issues including: liens, payment arrangements, consumption variances, year-end write offs, and refunds;
• Prepares and participates in annual workers' compensation premium and contract audit;
• Manages accounting for all special projects including FEMA claims;
• Prepares recycled water monthly and annual reporting to MWD and SDCWA;
• Controls petty cash;
• Maintains records of departmental payroll-related information, ensuring proper reporting of leave usage; schedules vacation in accordance with personnel policies;
• Investigates vendors and new technology to improve work efficiency regarding department operations and procedures;

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of general, fund, and governmental accounting including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting;
• Principles and practices of cost and fixed asset accounting;
• GAAP, GASB and GFOA accounting standards and requirements;
• Internal control and audit principles and practices; principles and practices of municipal budgeting;
• Laws and ordinances relating to the financial administration of public agencies;
• Modern office equipment and procedures;
• Methods and techniques of financial report research and preparation;
• District Administrative Code as it relates to accounting;
• Principles of supervision and training;
• Advanced mathematics and statistics; Principles of budget preparation and control;
• Advanced methods and procedures used in financial record keeping;
• State and Federal payroll reporting regulations;
• CalPERS forms and reporting procedures; and
• Advanced computer programs related to billing and financial record keeping.

Ability to:

• Operate a computer and spreadsheet software;
• Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex financial data and operations; plan and evaluate financial programs and make sound recommendations for improvement;
• exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines;
• Perform complex and advanced professional accounting work in the maintenance of District financial records;
• Supervise the activities of the Accounting Technician position;
• Prepare accurate financial reports;
• Make advanced, accurate, mathematical/statistical computations and identify and reconcile errors;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions; and
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.