Financial Accountant Jobs in California

Ref. PCN971

Position must be posted for a minimum of 10 days.

BASIC FUNCTION : Independently perform a wide variety of complex district-wide analyses and complex professional and technical accounting duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Accountant II position is distinguished from the Accountant III in that the latter requires more experience, performs more difficult and complex budgetary and accounting duties and works independently and is required to demonstrate computer-related and accounting skills at a higher proficiency (see Licenses and Other Requirements ). An Accountant II performs professional budgetary and accounting duties and works under direction.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepare financial reports and evaluations.
• Prepare and submit district-wide fiscal reports, schedules, statements, forecasts and claims as required by State, Federal, County and District guidelines, including those for specially funded educational programs.
• Provide reporting to the State on attendance accounting.
• Maintain general and/ or subsidiary ledgers and accounts.
• Maintain appropriate financial documentation in order to efficiently draft reports.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts as well as health and welfare benefits.
• Prepare monthly Cash flow for Controller’s review.
• Manage accounts receivable funding.
• Analyze cash balances and fund requirements, prepare detailed cash forecasts.
• Advise and assist the Controller in the financial administration of projects or accounts.
• Provide information regarding the interpretation of laws, rules and regulations.
• Conduct regular, internal audits to ensure that expenditures comply with contracts; identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare documentations and audit schedules for State Controller’s Office, Federal Compliance auditors, as well as other local, state, and federal external auditors.
• Assist in establishing and implementing financial policy revisions as necessary.
• Coordinate with Financial Services Associates, Payroll Assistants, Accounts Payable Clerks, and Human Resources Generalists and Special Program administrators.
• Assist with preparation of fiscal reports, including creation and analysis of financial schedules, notes to financials, and tables for “Management Discuss & Analysis” section of unaudited actual reports.
• Perform independent analysis of highly complex accounting functions, including income and expenditure projections of various funds.
• Assist Accounting Manager and Controller with reviewing, revising and maintaining various service contracts, including Mandated Cost, E-rates and Medi-Cal Billing.
• Analyze revenues and expenditures for accounting implications.
• Prepare and maintain various statistical fiscal and financial data.
• Assist with the creation and publication of annual financial statements and reports.
• Assist Accounting Manager and Controller with year-end closing process.
• Prepare an accounting operating manual providing technical accounting advice.
• Review revenues and expenditures for all grants and entitlements to ensure reports are prepared in accordance with grantor requirements. This includes review of budget, contracting terms, grant reporting and closeouts, as well as serving as a district wide contact point for all federal, state, and local grants.
• Aggregate site-level data on attendance accounting, instructional minutes, class size reduction, student body accounting, bank accounts and audit prior to reporting.
• Provide cross-training to other staff members within the department.
Perform related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of education, training and/or experience equivalent to: a Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting and five years full-time, progressively responsible experience in accounting.

Masters in Business Administration, or Masters of Public Policy, preferred

Supplemental coursework in use of computer-based accounting applications desirable

California school district accounting preferred

Customer service experience preferred

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Certified Public Accountant preferred

Valid California Driver’s license

Employment eligibility will include fingerprints, Tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards
• Laws, policies and procedures governing California public school finance
• Public school accounting procedures and protocols
• Encumbrance based budgeting
Use and leverage computer-based accounting applications

ABILITY TO:

• Work with paperless financial services systems
• Exercise sound judgment and initiative in an environment of rapid change
• Consistently meet and/ or exceed client expectations
• Build highly-functioning relationships with managers both inside and outside of the Financial Services Division
Perform advanced quantitative analysis

WORKING CONDITIONS:

ENVIRONMENT:

Indoor office environment; fast-paced work, constant interruptions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone; seeing to read, prepare, and proofread documents, perform assigned duties; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment; kneeling, bending at the waist, and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally, to retrieve and store files and supplies; lifting light objects.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.