Staff Accountant I

Maintaining efficiency and economy in operations management requires flexibility in job assignments. While each employee shall have a primary responsibility for the job in which that employee has been hired or later promoted to, each employee may be expected to perform other jobs from time to time.

SUMMARY:

Under direction of the Accounting Manager, and in conjunction with the other Accountants, the Staff Accountant I is responsible for the accurate and timely maintenance of general ledger and bank accounts, month-end close, and passenger revenue. This position also works closely with the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis while overseeing a wide variety of support responsibilities for PRONTO pass sales to employers, schools, social service agencies, member agencies and the San Diego jury program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

Essential Functions

General Ledger

• Responsible for the general accounting of MTS, San Diego Transit (SDTC), San Diego Trolley (SDTI) and other entities in a timely
• Prepares daily/weekly/monthly journal entries in the SAP ERP
• Responsible for journal entries related to passenger revenue in both the PRONTO ERP system SAGE and SAP.
• Acts as a key player in the month-end close process, including the preparation of necessary AP and AR accruals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Uploads weekly payroll entries to the general ledger, evaluates for accuracy and reasonableness. Works closely with both payroll and human resources when deductions do not clear from the balance sheet.
• Provides excellent service to MTS employees needing accounting information in a timely

PRONTO Pass Sales

• Main point of contact for billing for all PRONTO pass sales participants and internal Provides support to other departments and partner agencies as a liaison for the PRONTO program.
• Processes PRONTO institutional sales daily for organizations and businesses in SAGE accounting system.
• Reconciles the PRONTO sales and payment batches daily in SAGE, ensuring that the products are being sold at the correct price and all transactions are accounted for.
• Reconciles the online sales of Access books and process the monthly invoice in SAP.
• Reconciles outstanding and overdue accounts receivable invoices on a bi-weekly basis and communicates with all customers regarding delinquent accounts.
• Reviews customer chargebacks and removes related fare products from the account.
• Prepares monthly reports for the PRONTO program and works closely with Marketing to ensure the participating agencies maintain a prepaid balance on their account.
• Works closely with the PRONTO Service Team to onboard new institutions, which includes activating them in SAGE.
• Key player in testing PRONTO system changes and enhancements as the Agency continues to expand the new fare collection system.

Duties May Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following:

• Assists in the annual financial audit.
• Updates and maintains all procedures and manuals related to PRONTO and other assigned duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of or ability to learn MTS policies and regulations; ability to read, understand and apply MTS policies, regulations and union labor contracts; ability to write letters, memoranda and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct English; ability to speak clearly, distinctly and effectively in person-to-person or small group situations using tact and diplomacy; ability to coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement decisions and delegate responsibilities to appropriate personnel; ability to establish and maintain priorities in order to complete assignments by deadlines without detailed instructions; skill in verifying the accuracy and completeness of forms and reports; practical knowledge of databases, Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as the ability to learn and use other software that MTS might have or acquire; basic knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, including the requirements of governmental financial reporting; exceptional verbal and written communication skills; exceptional organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills; exceptional interpersonal skills and understanding of customer relationship management; exceptional collaborative and team-centric working style; good stress-management coping skills and ability to work well under pressure; excellent knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles; excellent problem-solving and negotiation skills; must be extremely detail-oriented with the ability to meet hard deadlines on a monthly basis.

Physical Requirements

The successful candidate must be able to fulfill the physical demands of the job such as walking, stooping, sitting, bending, reaching for overhead files and occasional lifting (must be able to lift up to 15 pounds). Must be able to operate a motor vehicle and perform tasks involving manual dexterity, such as use of a computer and 10-key. Work will at times require more than 8 hours per day or an irregular work week to perform the essential duties of the position. Duties will be performed primarily in an office type environment and may require travel to external locations and agencies.

Experience/Education/Certificates/License(s)

Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in finance, accounting or related field. A minimum of two years of full-time professional experience is required, and professional

experience in accounting is preferred. Strong experience with databases and/or Microsoft Excel is required. Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license.

GENERAL:

Must satisfactorily pass all applicable examinations including, but not limited to, a pre-employment physical, drug screen and background check.

SALARY GRADE:

The anticipated starting pay for this position is between $61,000 - $68,000. This range represents the expected starting salaries for new hires, typically within the lower to mid-portion of the overall salary range, which encompasses the full potential earnings for the role. Candidates with salary expectations outside the anticipated hiring range may reach out to the Talent Acquisition Specialist facilitating this recruitment.

Salary offers are based on factors such as the knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience of the successful candidate, while taking into account internal equity, budget constraints, and other market factors. This position is in salary grade #7, which has a minimum of $60,856 and a maximum of $86,416. Salary grades are typically adjusted annually to ensure they remain market competitive.

DISCLAIMER: The above described job elements are intended to indicate the general nature and levels of work being performed by employees assigned to the job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities and skills required of employees so classified. Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

EEO is The Law - Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

MTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an ongoing commitment to treat all people, including customers, co-workers and the public at large, with dignity and respect. As a public transportation agency, MTS is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse communities in which we work and live.

MTS supports and promotes an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. MTS recruits, hires, trains and promotes individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, gender, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and military status, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

MTS encourages veterans, military spouses and people from different backgrounds to apply for open positions for which they are interested. Additionally, MTS employees are encouraged to refer qualified candidates from all backgrounds and age groups. At MTS, we are committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.