Career Opportunity

1654-Accountant III

Recruitment: RTF0138981-01118822

Published: September 08, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

“The Office of City Administrator and its 25+ divisions and departments operate core internal and public-facing services. Our vision is to lead the nation in public administration and to enable City departments to effectively deliver critical public services. We aim to help the City run better, to connect San Francisco residents and constituents to the vital public services they seek, and to create a meaningful, diverse and inclusive work culture that is the place of choice for people who are invested in a career in public service.

The office of the City Administrator’s Central office consists of Finance, Human Resources, Accounting, and Information Technology support for all 25+ divisions under the City Administrator.

Role description

Appointment Type: This is a Temporary Provisional (TPV) position excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process. It is considered "at will" and shall serve at the discretion of the Department Head. This position will be subject to the Permanent Civil Service examination process at a later date. Successful participation in the Permanent Civil Service examination and selection through an open competitive process is needed in order to be considered for the permanent appointment.

Perform complex accounting duties including (but not limited to):

• Assist in providing directives and training to enhance operation efficiencies;
• Review, analyze, input, and post citywide and departmental accounting transactions;
• Participate in year-end closing activities and analyses;
• Monitor fund expenditure projections to actual, identify and resolve spending issues;
• Provide management with status reports on accounting and financial activity;
• Present and explain accounting activity to financial and non-financial managers, co-workers and clients;
• Interpret and explain existing accounting, auditing and fiscal policies, procedures and transactions;
• Prepare and review detailed and complex financial reports;
• Monitor department’s financial activities; and
• Provide accounting services and technical assistance to resolve issues.

Specific duties include:

• Supervise subordinate staff by delegating, planning, directing and assigning accounting work, including such functions as utilizing system applications, statements, worksheets, processing statistical reports, reconciliations, cash receipts, distributions, encumbrances and payments.
• Train, coach, and evaluate performance for subordinate staff.
• Perform complex accounting functions and analysis in connection with budget preparation, purchasing activities, payroll analysis, interdepartmental workorder billing, grants management, and resolve difficult operating issues.
• Process budget transfers and adjustments as directed and assist analysts and managers in resolving funding issues identified.
• Prepare or review bank reconciliations and analyses. Review cash receipt entries to record deposits received and entries to record charge backs and other bank adjustments. Communicate with responsible staff and/or Managers on any deposit issues.  Ensure unidentified receipts posted by the Controller’s Office are cleared within 3 business days. Process and monitor NSF returned checks and charge backs, and coordinate with responsible Department or Manager for collection.
• Accurately initiate or approve a high volume of purchasing and payment transactions related to various commodities and services including purchase orders and requisitions within 3 to 4 days of receipt in compliance with Department and City procedures.  Verify availability of funds, correct chartfield codes, commodity codes, and vendor status.  Adhere to prompt payment guidelines. Coordinate payment policy issues with Purchasing and the Controller’s Office.
• Analyze asset purchases for possible capitalization and work with Controller’s Office to record acquisitions and disposals in the Asset Management system. 
• Promptly respond to inquiries in person or on the phone to vendors, members of the staff, other organizations and the public regarding accounting and financial operations.  Prepare routine correspondence, reports, memoranda and letters. 
• Review, prepare, reconcile and supervise the preparation of complex financial reports.
• Review, reconcile and audit accounting records of receipts, disbursements and encumbrances to ensure fiscal accuracy and control, including quarterly grants reconciliations. 
• Perform fiscal year-end closing activities, including year-end revenue and expense accruals and other adjusting entries, and analyzing general ledger accounts. 
• Assist with internal and external audits, including preparing schedules and locating documents.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable ordinances, rules, regulations, policies and standards.   
• Present and explain reports to financial and non-financial managers, co-workers, and clients.
• Monitor for proper use of chartfields and account structures to ensure accurate recording, reporting and control in financial systems.

How to qualify

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.

What else should I know?

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Compensation: $113,386 to $137,800 (annually)

Application Opening: September 1, 2023

Amended September 8, 2023, to remove the vaccination requirement policy effective August 23, 2023. Applicants do not need to re-apply. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but not before September 8, 2023.

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience, a committee of experts will evaluate the qualifications as described in this job announcement to determine only the most qualified candidates. Only those qualified applicants who most closely meet the needs of the department will be invited to continue in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are NOT guaranteed advancement in the selection process, and the decisions of the screening committee are final.

Qualified applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation in the selection process must contact the Agency by phone at (415) 554-6000 or, if hearing impaired at (415) 554-6015 (TTY).

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.