Career Opportunity

Accounting Services Director - Financial Services - SFPUC (0932) - (142972)

Recruitment: REF37627B

Published: March 01, 2024

Accepting applications until: March 08, 2024

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

About:

**This announcement is being reposted to expand the applicant pool. Applicants who previously applied during filing period February 2, 2024 through February 26, 2024 do not need to reapply and will be included in the applicant pool.**

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

• Application Opening: 03/01/2024
• Filing Deadline: 03/08/2024 (deadline extended to expand the applicant pool)
• Annual Salary: $159,224 - $203,164 (Range A) - Appointment above the maximum of the annual salary range may be considered based on recruitment and retention issues, and is subject to approval.
• Recruitment ID: PBT-0932-142973 / RTF0142972-01112854

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

WHO ARE WE?
We are the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).  Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

More About SFPUC: We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.  We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality. To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The City’s Department of Human Resources (DHR) is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and belonging environment for the City and County of San Francisco, where all employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.  DHR’s mission is to use fair and equitable practices to hire, develop, support, and retain a highly-qualified workforce.  The resources support and expand on the Mayor’s Executive Directive 18-02, “Ensuring a Diverse, Fair, and Inclusive City Workplace.”

Role description

ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SERVICES BUREAU

Financial Services consists of the following divisions co-led by two Deputy Chief Financial Officers (DCFOs): Accounting Services, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Budget, Capital Finance, and Fleet Management. These critical high-performing divisions support SFPUC's three enterprises (Water, Wastewater, and Hetch Hetchy Water & Power & CleanPowerSF) and bureaus (Business Services, Infrastructure, External Affairs, and Office of the General Manager).

Position Summary

The 0932 Accounting Services (AS) Director reports to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and directs the enterprises’ large and complex fiscal operations inclusive of enterprise fund accounting and key fiscal years.  The director will ensure effective and efficient use of resources; maintain financial integrity and strong internal controls; enforce policies and procedures; and promote accountability, integrity and transparency to meet short- and long-term objectives. The role partners closely with other finance management leads from Financial Reporting & Analysis, Budget, Debt, and Financial Planning & Rates.

The AS Director leads a team of approximately 30 professionals in a complex financial accounting and operations environment, often driven by objectives with short timelines and competing priorities in a high-pressure business environment. This critical leadership role is a key member of the Business Services Bureau and department management team, advising agency-wide staff daily on how to best meet changing business needs within established citywide accounting policies and procedures. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional financial acumen with demonstrated leadership and oversight of finance, accounting, auditing, and accounting operation activities, including strong decision-making skills within a large, diverse and dynamic agency or corporation.  The role requires technical proficiency, diplomacy, and strong business acumen to be successful.

The essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Operations

1. Direct and oversee enterprise fund accounting transactions for operations, capital projects, grants, fixed assets, debt service, cash management, cash disbursements, and interdepartmental services.
2. Direct Grant Accounting unit, of Capital Projects unit, to ensure adequate accounting and internal controls over departmental grants, inclusive of SRF, WIFIA, FEMA/CalOES recoveries, and other grantor/grantee agreements.
3. Manage accounting operations supporting Interdepartmental Service workorders, custom work, and related programs to ensure timely/complete billings and collections to maximize cost recovery.
4. Develop and present management reports – inclusive of operational and financial plans, program management, operating procedures and policy recommendations.
5. Manage activities supporting prepared-by-client (PBC) documents and schedules, as requested by auditors and oversight agencies.

Financial Management Systems

1. Lead/collaborate with internal and external stakeholders for ongoing system functionality enhancements and utilization of PeopleSoft Financials & Supply Chain Management.
2. Utilize system and technology resources to create efficiencies within accounting operations.
3. Advise stakeholders and serve as a technical resource with respect to financial systems, accounting principles, City rules and regulations, and SFPUC policies and procedures.

Policies and Procedures

1. Develop, maintain, and enforce accounting and financial policies and guidelines; identify and resolve challenges to improve financial performance and mitigate risks, based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standard Board (GASB) standards, and Controller’s Office Accounting Guidelines and Procedures
2. Develop and provide routine training for personnel related to fiscal policies and procedures, emphasizing internal control – for accounting activities.
3. Identify and assess opportunities for efficiency improvements and lead implementation of solutions.

Personnel

1. Lead and motivate staff to improve performance through coaching, mentoring and performance management.
2. Ensure workforce succession, career-path, and cross-training for all functional areas.
3. Administer the 1649 Accounting Intern program by establishing work plans that ensure thorough training and regular performance evaluations.
4. Stay current on industry trends and best practices; support training opportunities for personnel.

Performs related duties as required within the scope of the classification 0932 Manager IV.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record and ability to exercise the following competencies:

• Accountability - Act with integrity, honesty, and fairness; inspire trust; clearly define roles and responsibilities for self and others; hold oneself and others accountable; comply with legal and ethical guidelines; be a responsible steward of the resources entrusted to the SFPUC
• Decision Making and Problem Solving - Take ownership of problems and make responsible, transparent, and clear decisions; involve others in addressing problems and seeking solutions; gather relevant information to conduct appropriate analyses; utilize creative problem-solving skills; understand the full impact of decisions 
• Adaptability - Adjust, persevere, and succeed in meeting objectives despite rapidly shifting environment, demands, and resources; react appropriately to changing conditions or priorities; alter approach to most effectively address varying situations; respond positively to tasks and situations outside of comfort zone
• Innovation - Create a thriving culture where employees feel safe and encouraged to explore new ideas and improve existing ones; develop new insights, questions conventional approaches, and encourage others to develop new ideas and innovations
• Motivation - Create an environment to inspire others to pursue their highest level of performance

How to qualify

If you are interested in this job, we are looking for people that have the following minimum qualifications:

Education:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a closely related field. AND

Experience:

1. Five (5) years of verifiable professional experience in accounting, grant management or financial analysis; of which three (3) years must include experience supervising professionals engaged in the above work.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience, or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456.

Verification of required work experience typically must be on the employer’s letterhead and must include the applicant’s name, job title, description of job duties, dates of employment, hours per week, and signature of the employer, supervisor, or appropriate representative.

Employees of the City and County of San Francisco may submit performance evaluations showing duties performed to verify qualifying City experience.  City employees will receive credit for the duties of the class to which appointed.  Credit for experience obtained outside of the employee’s class will be allowed only if recorded in accordance with the provisions of Civil Service Commission Rules.  CCSF employees will not receive credit for experience obtained outside of their classification unless recorded in accordance with the provision of the Civil Service Rule 110.9.1/111A.11.2.

Experience claimed in self-employment will only be accepted if supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license, and experience comparable to minimum qualifications above.  Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupation and total earnings must be submitted.

Verification of required valid licensure/certification typically must be a photocopy of the license/certificate including the name of the issuing agency as well as the name of the license/certificate holder, license/certificate number, and expiration date.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

What else should I know?

Selection Procedures:

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): (Weight: Qualifying) Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Supplemental Questionnaire Examination: (Weight: 100%)

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be invited via a separate link to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination. The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination is to evaluate the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities that candidates possess in job-related areas, which have been identified as critical for this position and include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of governmental accounting principles and guidelines as mandated by CCSF Controller, GASB, GAAP and other regulatory agencies; Ability to direct/manage a large accounting services organization inclusive of enterprise fund accounting, cash management and disbursement, budget, capital projects, grants, fixed asset and debt; Experience leading implementations and enhancements of financial management systems and associated functionality; and Ability to govern and continuously refine an accounting internal control environment through policies and procedures, training, and monitoring.

Applicants will be given a deadline to return the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination. Those who do not respond by the established deadline will not be eligible to continue in the examination process and will not be added to the eligibility list resulting from this process. All applicants’ responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination are subject to verification.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list. Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

NOTE:  Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

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

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst Eric Christensen at EChristensen@sfwater.org.

Please note: All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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.