2A13
PAY RANGE: N27
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is managerial level accounting work in the City's central accounting division of the Finance Department directing either the General Accounting or Grants Accounting Section. An employee in this class directs, through subordinate supervisors, the maintenance and preparation of general and subsidiary ledgers for City funds or the accounting and reporting of grant funding for City agencies and programs. Work includes extensive contact with numerous City officials in other departments and agencies to resolve problems pertaining to section activities. The employee responsible for General Accounting operations directs the preparation of the annual financial report in accordance with established guidelines for governmental accounting and financial reporting. The employee responsible for Grants Accounting directs the City's grant accounting and administration system for compliance with regulations promulgated by the federal government. Establishing section standards and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency in section operations and conformance to generally accepted accounting procedures and standards is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the general direction of an administrative superior.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met in order for a position to be allocated to this class)
1. Positions must be responsible for directing either the General Accounting or the Grants Accounting Section of the Finance Department's Accounting Division.
2. Positions must direct section operations through subordinate accounting or administrative supervisors.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Directs, through subordinate supervisors, accounting personnel engaged in maintaining the general and subsidiary ledgers for City funds and preparing and generating financial statements and reports concerning such data; directs, through a subordinate supervisor, accounting data processing work monitoring and controlling computerized accounting systems and maintaining the integrity of accounting data in the system; directs subordinate staff in the study, analysis, development, installation, and modification of accounting systems and procedures for departmental accounting operations.
Ensures the recording and maintenance of City financial data to general ledgers, subsidiary ledgers and support schedules is done in accordance with the standards, guidelines, and requirements of general and governmental accounting; supervises the preparation of the City's annual and special financial reports; reviews constituent accounting statements for format, accuracy, proper cross references, and adequacy of explanatory notes; ensures that proper accounting controls are in place through the proper application and implementation of City accounting policies and procedures.
Anticipates accounting needs; sets priorities and deadlines; coordinates the work of personnel in assigned units; assures that accounts and reports are processed in conformity with professional and institutional standards and guidelines from municipal accounting and reporting; implements and participates in the development of changes to accounting procedures as required; ensures that all financial data published from the City central accounting systems is accurate and in accordance with promulgations issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
Manages the City's central computerized accounting system and is responsible for the City's central financial accounting system; has responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of all data collected and stored in the City's central financial accounting systems; makes personnel and processing changes necessitated by computerization; oversees the gradual phase-in and refinement of computer systems.
Directs, through subordinate supervisors, the activities of a grants analyst staff engaged in the analysis of grant programs, analyzing and monitoring departmental grant accounting operations and performing accounting and recording functions regarding the grants awarded; reviews staff recommendations and determines actions required to implement these recommendations pertaining to grant opportunities, applications, and operations; reviews accounting and audit reports; resolves accounting and auditing problems; directs the assignment of accounting codes and account numbers.
Works to implement computerization of the City's financial accounting process as it relates to section operations; serves as part of implementation committees in establishing new guidelines and procedures; develops recommended processes for the interfacing of relevant data between Finance and other departments connected to the system; confers with representatives of other departments connected to the system to coordinate interfacing of data.
Receives complaints from other City departments and agencies regarding the accounting process pertaining to the section; investigates and identifies source of problems encountered to resolve accounting problems.
Provides guidance to City management officials pertaining to accounting operations; serves in an expert capacity in providing information to various departments and agencies in accounting activities; attends meetings with other City officials to provide expert information and to meet departments' accounting or payment processing needs.
May review payment verifications and procedures.
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· the techniques, practices and proper applications of systems and procedures analysis in public accounting
· the principles, standards and practices of the accounting profession
· computer technology, word processing equipment, and modern office techniques
· the standards, guidelines and requirements for governmental accounting as established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board
· the principles and practices of public administration and their application to a large accounting operation
· supervisory methods and techniques
· verification and procedures for payment processing
ABILITY TO:
· direct the work of a staff of professional and clerical personnel
· direct a large accounting program
· establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, external department officials and the public
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 8/18.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in Accounting.
AND
Option 1- Finance Department
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Five years of post-bachelor's degree accounting or auditing experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience as a section supervisor in the City central finance agency, which has involved directing accountants engaged in reviewing, recording and analyzing a high volume of transactions for a city-wide accounting operation
Option 2 - City Controller's Office
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Five years of post-bachelor's degree accounting or auditing experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Three years as an Audit Manager or four years as an Audit Supervisor in the City's central auditing agency.
Option 3 - All Other City Departments
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Five years of post-bachelor's degree accounting or auditing experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Option 4 – Other Governmental Accounting Experience
Twelve years of post-bachelor's degree accounting or auditing experience for a government agency or for an accounting firm providing accounting or auditing services to a government agency, which has included five years of progressively responsible supervisory experience.
Or any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included a bachelor's degree with major course work in accounting as an educational minimum and the specific experience indicated above.
City classes which typically meet the experience requirements:
Accounting Section Supervisor (2A12)
Accounting Verification and Procedures Manager (2A22)
Audit Supervisor (2A43)
Audit Manager (2A44)
Fiscal Officer (2A33)
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REOUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
Class Established: 5/82
CSC - 1/12; Ad. Bd. - 2/12
Spec Revision: CSC - 6/12; Ad. Bd. - 7/12
Spec Revision: CSC - 3/13; Ad. Bd. - 4/13
Spec. Revision: CSC - 9/17
Ad. Board – 10/17
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC- 7/18
Ad. Board – 8/18
JL