1654-Accountant III

Job description

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Title: Accountant III

Job Code: 1654

INTRODUCTION

Under general direction, this class performs complex accounting duties including but not limited to: assists in providing directives and training to enhance operation efficiencies; reviews, analyzes, inputs, and posts citywide and departmental accounting transactions; participates in year-end closing activities and analyses; monitors fund expenditure projections to actual, identifies and resolves spending issues; provides management with status reports on accounting and financial activity; presents and explains accounting activity to financial and non-financial managers, co-workers and clients interprets and explains existing accounting, auditing and fiscal policies, procedures and transactions; prepares and reviews detailed complex financial reports; monitors department�s financial activities; provides accounting services and technical assistance to resolve issues.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The 1654 Accountant III is the advanced journey-level class of the professional accounting series. Class 1654 Accountant III is distinguished from class 1652 Accountant II in that incumbents in the latter class perform less complex duties. Incumbents in the 1654 Accountant III classification perform, delegate, plan, direct and assign complex accounting work to subordinate staff engaged with budget preparation, purchasing activities, payroll analyses and grants management. Incumbents in this class exercise independent judgment on complex accounting work impacting multiple types of funds and a high consequence of error for a department. Incumbents in this class receive general direction from 1657 Accountant IV or management staff.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Incumbents in class 1654 Accountant III may train and supervise the work of class 1652 Accountant II, 1649 Accountant Interns, Account Clerks and other clerical classes.

MAJOR, IMPORTANT, AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Performs complex accounting functions in connection with budget preparation, purchasing activities, payroll analysis and grants management.

2. Processes and pre-audits accounting documents and transactions in conformance with established procedures and controls.

3. Reviews, prepares, reconciles and supervises the preparation of complex financial reports.

4. Reviews, reconciles and audits accounting records of receipts, disbursements and encumbrances to ensure fiscal accuracy and control.

5. May supervise subordinate staff by delegating, planning, directing and assigning accounting work. Includes training, coaching, and evaluating staff performance.

6. Performs fiscal year-end closing activities.

7. Analyzes, recommends new or updated fiscal policies, procedures and internal controls and re-aligns business practices to improve operations.

8. Maintains current knowledge of applicable ordinances, rules, regulations, policies and standards.

9. Presents and explains reports to financial and non-financial managers, co-workers, and clients.

10. May coordinate, define, develop and maintain financial data extracts, reports and interfaces.

11. Participates in the identification of functional processing and reporting requirements, end-users testing and documentation, implementation support for financial processing and reporting systems.

12. Participates in the identification, creation and maintenance of accounting codes and structures to ensure accurate recording, reporting and control in financial systems.

13. Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: Comprehensive Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and principles of internal control; comprehensive knowledge in terminology and procedures involved in performing complex governmental accounting functions.

Ability to: supervise accounting and auditing staff; ability to organize tasks/projects by planning, directing, and assigning the work programs, assist in training and coaching subordinates including developing staff capabilities and professional growth, and monitoring and evaluating staff performance; analyze and interpret various fiscal and/or accounting data and reports; to determine compliance with policies and procedures set forth by the City, other agencies and other existing legal requirements; and ability to make appropriate decisions based on information; communicate orally, clearly, courteously and effectively to other professionals, management and the public Including the ability to produce and present concise financial information to a variety of audiences; communicate clearly and effectively in writing, demonstrate this ability by rendering technical details and reports in a form readily understandable to management and other non-technical professional staff.

Skill in: use of personal computers refers to advance skills using personal computers including, but not limited to computer software such as Microsoft Excel and Word; use of large complex, multi-departmental financial systems, and demonstrate the knowledge required to interpret resulting financial and accounting reports, summaries and budgets; relating and working well with others, respond tactfully, professionally and courteously.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education and Experience:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field. Such education must include eighteen(18) semester units or twenty-four ( 24) quarter units of coursework in accounting. AND

Four (4) years of professional accounting which includes analysis or problem solving. Experience must include: Working with an automated financial system, (preferably a government system) performing difficult and responsible accounting, as well as preparing financial records and reports. OR

2. City and County of San Francisco Employees with four (4) years of professional accounting experience including experience as a 1652 Accountant II.

Substitution:

A Master's degree in accounting, business administration, computer information systems, public policy, or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of work experience.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION

None.

PROMOTIVE LINES

To: 1657 Accountant IV

From: 1652 Accountant II

ORIGINATION DATE:

April 27 1961

AMENDED DATE:

4/27/61; 3/18/08; 10/20/09, 5/31/2012, 10/09/13

REASON FOR AMENDMENT

To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills and abilities defined in the most recent job analysis conducted for this job code.

BUSINESS UNIT(S):

COMMN SFCCD SFMTA SFUSD

Standard information

Disaster service work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Historic and future compensation