Accountant

The Community
 
The City of Hollister is nestled in San Benito County, 47 miles South of San Jose, along Highway 156 near the San Luis Reservoir. Historically an agricultural community established by ranchers and farmers, Hollister has a population of more than 40,000 residents and has developed into an anchor community for the surrounding area, drawing residents, businesses, and tourists to its beautiful weather, charming downtown, abundant recreational opportunities, diverse workforce, friendly people, and rural roots.
 
The beautiful hills and valleys of San Benito County make Hollister a dreamland for those who love the outdoors. Hollister Hills offers over 6,800 acres of scenic and varied terrain for off-highway vehicles as well as dedicated hiking, bicycling, & equestrian trails. Only miles away from Pinnacles National Park, and with back country roads for bikers, the City is an ideal location for nature-lovers.
 
In the midst of exponential residential and commercial growth, the City of Hollister maintains its independence, small-town charm, and agricultural/ranching heritage in its community and business-friendly environment. For more information on this charming city, please visit the City of Hollister’s website at www.hollister.ca.gov
 
The Organization
 
Incorporated in 1872, the City of Hollister is a general law city and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The City Council appoints the City Manager, and consists of five members, which includes a Mayor elected at-large every two years, and four council members elected within individual districts in staggered four-year terms.
 
Hollister is a full-service city that provides the full suite of municipal services such as water, sewer, police, fire, development, and administrative functions; it also provides significant services to the greater San Benito County, including Fire and Animal Control. In addition, the City manages a growing municipal airport, currently serving as a CalFire Air Attack Base and as the staging area for wildfire suppression in six surrounding counties. The City of Hollister has 222 full-time employees and a total annual operating budget of $135.3 million for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.

The Department

The Administrative Services Department is responsible for three distinct functions: Finance, Human Resources, and Risk Management. Finance: 

The Finance Division is responsible for oversight of the City’s annual budget development, including monitoring financial activities, and day-to-day transactions which include processing utility payments, collecting the City’s business license tax, all accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other financial transactions and reports. 

DEFINITION
Under direction, to supervise, assign, review, and participate in the work of staff responsible for providing accounting services within the Finance Department; to prepare financial reports, statements, and special financial analyses; and to perform a variety of technical tasks relative to the assigned area of responsibility.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Exercises direct supervision over technical and clerical staff.

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of staff responsible for providing accounting services within the Finance Department.
• Participate in the selection of assigned personnel as directed; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for providing accounting and budgeting services; implement policies and procedures.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of the Department and city budget; submit budget recommendations; assist in monitoring various accounts, verifying availability of funds and classification of expenditures; research and analyze transactions to resolve problems.
• Analyze various budgets and accounts; produce monthly budget tracking report; provide departments with specialized information; balance activities with budget.
• Prepare leases for airport building space including billing, preparing invoices, and mailing statements.
• Maintain and reconcile a variety of ledgers and accounts; examine all accounting transactions to ensure accuracy; correct financial records as necessary.
• Prepare a variety of financial statements and reports for the Finance Director, City Manager, and other City departments.
• Recommend or implement changes in accounting and auditing systems and procedures; create and maintain procedure manual(s).
• Assist the general public at the front counter; respond to requests and inquiries for information regarding City accounting policies and procedures.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES
Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES 
Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
 
Experience:
Two (2) years of professional general or governmental accounting experience.
 
Education:
Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting or a related field.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Application of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures to a variety of accounting transactions and problems.
• Government accounting principles and practices.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping and report preparation.
• Principles of municipal budget preparation and control.
• Automated financial management systems and computer accounting software programs.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices used in dealing with the public.

Skill to:

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment.

Ability to:

• Supervise, organize, and review the work of technical and clerical personnel.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff
• Interpret and explain city accounting and budgeting policies and procedures.
• Interpret and apply the policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions.
• Develop, revise, install and utilize manual and automated fiscal management systems.
• Prepare, examine, and verify a wide variety of financial statements, documents, and analyses.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Applications must be submitted online through this applicant tracking system. All materials must be complete and clearly indicate the candidate meets the minimum qualifications. All statements made on the application, resume, and supplemental materials are subject to verification. False statements may be cause for immediate disqualification, removal from eligibility list or discharge from employment.

Candidates presenting the most desirable combination of education, experience and/or training as stated in this announcement will be invited to continue in the selection process. 

The selection process may require any combination of the following: application appraisal, written examination, performance test, and personal interview conducted by an outside oral panel and/or the Department. 

The City of Hollister offers preference to qualified veterans during the candidate selection process. The City of Hollister's Veterans' Preference Policy can be accessed here. Applicants must claim Veteran's preference in the agency-wide questions section and attach a copy of their DD214 to the application.

Following the examination process, successful candidates are placed on an employment list. 

Appointment will be made from the employment list. Appointed employee(s) will be required to pass a psychological evaluation, physical, drug screen, background investigation, and fingerprints check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action:  
The City of Hollister does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor.  The City of Hollister encourages minorities and women to apply. The City of Hollister makes reasonable accommodations for the disabled.  Individuals requiring any accommodation in order to participate in the selection process must inform the Human Resources Office via email at hr@hollister.ca.gov of such request. Requests for accommodation should include an explanation of the type and extent of accommodations needed to participate in the selection process.   

Salary : $90,410 - $109,894