Job Details

Accountant Position

This is an Open Competitive recruitment to create an eligibility list for current (two vacancies) and future vacancies. Successful candidates are expected to work eight (8) hours a day, five (5) days a week, and twelve (12) months per school year. Candidates must submit proof of all required documents to be considered for the recruitment process.

General Purpose: Under general supervision, performs professional accounting duties in the preparation and maintenance of financial records for District accounts and funds; compiles routine reports; and, performs related duties, as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Accountant is the entry-level classification in the finance/accounting job family that serves as a resource to District administrators and managers. This classification performs professional entry-level accounting and financial work. Assignments require the use of professional judgment and knowledge of accounting principles and financial management practices.

Accountants are distinguished from Accounting Technicians due to the need to understand and apply accounting theories, principles, terms, and practices in the preparation and evaluation of fiscal records, transactions, and reports.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Reviews accounting documents to ensure accurate information and calculations and makes correcting entries, if necessary; examines supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and to ensure compliance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal requirements; and, prepares and maintains control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
2. Prepares journal entries; performs periodic reconciliation of general ledger, journal, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements; and, analyzes and prepares reports on revenue estimates, expenditures, and fund conditions.
3. Sets up and oversees financial record keeping systems; compiles and prepares periodic financial statements, supporting schedules, and reports.
4. Maintains and reviews fixed assets and other special funds and periodically reconciles such funds with accounting records.
5. Provides lead direction and guidance to Accounting Technicians and other accounting support staff in performing accounting entries.
6. Works directly with staff from other departments to resolve technical accounting issues and problems.
7. Conducts research and prepares special studies as requested; and, analyzes financial accounting data and makes appropriate recommendations.
8. Prepares, reviews, and corrects school, department, and county budget and expenditures transfers; verifies account numbers and related information; and, conducts assigned internal audits.
9. Analyzes budget documentation to assure that expenditures are properly charged and that they do not exceed appropriations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

1. Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund, and governmental accounting, including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting.
2. Budgeting principles and terminology.
3. Cost-accounting methods and procedures.
4. Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of a school district.

Ability to:

1. Operate a computer and spreadsheet software.
2. Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
3. Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements.
4. Analyze, post, balance, and reconcile complex financial data and accounts.
5. Make accurate mathematical calculations.
6. Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial documents, statements, and reports.
7. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
8. Auditing principles and practices.
9. Principles and practices of business data processing, particularly related to the processing of accounting information and interpretation of input and output data.

Education, Training, and Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree with a major in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field, and,
• One (1) year of professional accounting, budgeting, or finance experience, preferably in a school district or governmental agency.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

• A valid California Driver's License.
• Proof of automobile liability insurance.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Lift, carry, push, pull, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, walk, run, and crawl.
• Perform light physical exertion.
• Safely lift/handle materials to the extent of 25 pounds.
• Reach in all directions.
• Stand, sit and walk for extended periods of time.
• Work at a desk, business office, conference table, or in meetings of various configurations.
• Read, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the selection authority to accommodate the limitation.

Examination Information:

After the evaluation of minimum qualifications, examination parts for this recruitment may include, but are not limited to the following: scored supplemental questionnaire, written exam, performance exam, oral appraisal interview, physical ability test, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. Applicants must submit a full application, including proof of education, a valid California Driver License and proof of insurability. Failure to attach any of the required documents will result in disqualification from this recruitment.

The Personnel Commission reserves the right to change, alter, cancel, add or modify examination parts, as well as weights and dates.