Accountant

This recruitment will be open until filled. The first review of applications will be on December 31, 2024. Early submissions are encouraged.

The City of Oxnard's Housing Department is seeking an Accountant to become part of the Grants and Finance Division Team. The ideal candidate will be an experienced accountant with exceptional communication skills who can work successfully in a team environment or independently. This individual will have a strong foundation in accounting, internal controls and regulations applicable to municipal finance.  

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Contribute to  the maintenance and analysis of assigned accounts and other account subsystems such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, inventory, grants, fixed assets and revenues

• Interpret and apply federal, state and county laws, regulations, and policies related to governmental accounting practices and generally accepted accounting principles

• Post, balance and reconcile accounts and analyze budget transactions

• Schedule tasks to meet established fiscal deadlines; coordinate financial related matters with Housing Department Divisions; provide training and guidance as necessary

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This classification is distinguished from the Administrative Services Coordinator/Support Supervisor in that it performs professional financial, managerial and/or operational analysis work and/or provides professional program analysis, evaluation and administration.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED / SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Incumbents may serve as a lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion. Receives general supervision and is expected to prioritize work to meet deadlines and to keep the supervisor informed of issues that would impact achievement of a deadline, organizational policy or procedure or in consideration of risk management.

This class specification represents only the core areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the Department.

• Performs professional financial, managerial and/or operational analysis work and/or provides program coordination and administration of assigned area.

• Responds to inquiries from internal and external customers; conducts research, audits and/or assessments; provides information, guidance and materials in support of designated programs; troubleshoots issues and resolves problems; and, provides project staff support, liaison services and/or general oversight to designated committees, external stakeholders or project teams. Monitors and ensures compliance with policy, procedures, standards and/or regulations.

• Gathers information, analyzes data, identifies requirements and trends, and presents findings; prepares, updates and maintains records, reports, presentations, marketing materials and databases; provides recommendations and implements solutions in support of assigned area.

• Provides analytical support and coordination of special projects, as assigned.

• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Posts, balances, and reconciles the general and subsidiary accounts; controls budget for the various funds and projects determining if funds are available and expenditures properly classified; researches and analyzes transactions to resolve budget problems; provides analysis of available funds at management's request; analyzes budget transactions

• Participates in the maintenance and analysis of all General Ledger Accounts, and other account subsystems such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, inventory, fixed assets, revenues, and utility billing systems

• Participates in the fund maintenance and analysis of various City programs; reviews and approves check requests, procurement requirements and journal entries

• Prepares financial statements for assigned projects; prepares schedules and financial worksheets to assess financial status of the programs and makes recommendations on corrections

• Participates in the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and other statistical and financial reports; prepares work papers, financial statements and various reports for federal and state agencies as well as for internal accounting; prepares fund balance projections and reviews with management

• Participates in central accounting functions such as preparing adjusting entries, fiscal year closing adjustments, and documents for auditors

• Monitors and reports on the status of governmental grants; reviews and audits grant contracts, amendments, and other documents to insure grant compliance

• Recommends or implements changes in accounting systems and procedures; identifies and resolves problems and inconsistencies involved in maintaining accounting controls; prepares recommendations and invests surplus funds

• Coordinates accounting related activities with other divisions and/or City programs; answers questions and develops procedures for preparing accounting transactions pursuant to GAAP and procedures

• Works with City staff and program managers to coordinate the grant accounting and reporting for the City, including the Statement of Expenditures for Federal Awards (SEFA)

• Performs complex accounting transactions; capitalized leases, Issue and Deficiency of Bonds, and monitors grants and related costs/expenditures within prescribed governmental accounting systems

• Prepares analysis and work papers in preparation for audit examination pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)

• Examines, reconciles, balances, and adjusts accounting records 

• Prepares a variety of State, Federal, and local claims, statements and reports from a variety of sources including computerized data, accounting records, and other source documents

• Interprets data and generates related statistical and fiscal reports

• Monitors and controls revenues, expenditures, vouchers, and the allocation of costs; preparing cash flow projections for managerial use

• Other duties as assigned.

The following are the minimum qualifications necessary for entry into the classification:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate’s degree (or 60 units working towards a Bachelor’s Degree) in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field, and four (4) years paraprofessional-level experience comparable to an Administrative Services Coordinator/Support Supervisor or an Administrative Services Specialist, Senior with the City of Oxnard in area of assignment; OR 
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field, and two (2) years paraprofessional-level experience comparable to an Administrative Services Coordinator/Support Supervisor or Administrative Services Specialist, Senior with the City of Oxnard in area of assignment. Depending on assignment, some positions may require a Bachelor’s degree and may not substitute for an Associate’s.
  
  

• Must be able to effectively communicate in English, both orally and in writing  

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

Submit NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line application. 

Complete and submit responses to the supplemental questions, if required. 

Upload resume, cover letter, proof of degree (transcript), or other requested documents. 

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the online application and include the information only on the resume. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Cover letters and/or optional resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. 

The list of qualified candidates that is established from this recruitment may be used to fill other full-time, part-time, and temporary assignments as vacancies arise. There is currently one (1) full-time vacancy within the Housing Department. 

Selected candidate(s) must pass a thorough background investigation.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: Positions in this classification are represented by the Oxnard Mid Manager's Association (OMMA). 

NOTE: For most positions, the City of Oxnard relies on office automation (Microsoft Office/Google) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work. 

Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all positions. 

Employees are required to participate in the City's direct deposit plan and are paid on a bi-weekly basis. 

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all public employees are required to serve as disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: The City of Oxnard is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, disability or sexual orientation. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The City of Oxnard makes reasonable accommodation for individuals/people with disabilities. If you believe you require special arrangements to participate in the testing process, you must inform the Human Resources Department in writing no later than the filing date. Applicants who request such accommodation must document their request with an explanation of the type and extent of accommodation required.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT: On the first day of employment, new employees must provide proof of citizenship or documentation of legal right to work in the United States in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended. The City participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Vivian Morales at (805) 200-5458. 

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. 

Salary : $73,708 - $120,814