ATTACHMENT A
Job Description – Principal
Accountant
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT
DEFINITION
Under general direction, organizes, supervises, coordinates, and performs a variety of technical and complex financial duties requiring extensive knowledge of accounting records, transactions, and reconciliations and provides customer service. Coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to respective Manager and Director.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Exercises direct and indirect supervision over subordinate personnel.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Duties may include but are not limited to:
Oversees and reviews the accuracy of invoice payments to vendors and service providers and resolves issues with vendors regarding purchase orders, invoices, and payments.
Coordinate the work of subordinates in the maintenance and reconciliation of a variety of ledgers, reports, and records ensuring accuracy and journal entry postings.
Prepare and coordinate the preparation of a variety of fiscal reports, statements, and schedules.
Reviews budget reports and assists other departments to prepare annual budgets.
Assists external auditors and provides required statements and information for the interim and annual audits.
Plan, direct, and coordinate, through subordinate level staff, the Finance Department’s work plan; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
Principal Supervisor Job Classification
June 2023
Oversees and provides support to the City’s payroll, accounts payable, and utility billing operation, including utility deposits, receipt, calculation balancing, and posting of utility payments.
Coordinate maintenance of fixed asset inventory and database.
Functionally supervise and train subordinate staff.
Train, supervise, evaluate, motivate, and discipline subordinate staff.
Implements training for new hires and identifies training opportunities for current staff.
Analyze procedures recommending improved methods, resolves and/or recommends resolutions of system and process deficiencies.
Serve as staff resource providing support assistance to managers and staff.
Conduct special projects and studies.
Perform related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS
Knowledge of:
Standard office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
Fiscal record keeping, payroll, cashiering, journal entries, accounts receivable, accounts payable, transient occupancy tax, and utility billing.
Accounting and financial record keeping, principles, procedures, and methods and their application to projects, and activities.
Principles and practices of payroll administration including Federal and State payroll tax reporting requirements, processes, and procedures.
Principles and practices of employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and control.
Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Automated financial management and accounting systems.
Techniques used in dealing with the public and customer service.
Principal Supervisor Job Classification
June 2023
Ability and Skill to:
Operate office equipment including computers, copying machines, and phone systems.
Independently perform the most difficult technical accounting and financial projects and activities.
Plan, organize, review the work of, and train and supervise subordinate staff.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to municipal accounting, budgeting, and related functions.
Analyze problems, identify solutions, project impacts of proposed actions, and impellent recommendations.
Interpret and apply accounting principles and procedures to maintain control of records, financial statements, and databases; research, collect, compile, and analyze information and data.
Apply accounting principles in the maintenance of governmental financial and accounting transactions.
Research, collect, compile, and analyze information and data andorganize work to meet schedules and timelines.
Prepare, examine, and verify financial documents, statements, budgeting and forecasting reports, and analyses.
Communicate both orally and in writing clearly.
Perform duties of an emergency worker in the event of a natural or other disaster.
QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, abilities, and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the qualifications would be:
BA/BS degree in business, accounting, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in municipal accounting. CPA is desirable.
Principal Supervisor Job Classification
June 2023
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License and a good driving record.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/A.D.A.
Essential job functions and A.D.A. requirements include:
Ability to operate a computer, calculator, telephone, portable radio, copying machine, and cash register.
Ability to understand and respond to the public’s and staff’s requests for assistance both on the phone and in person.
Ability to prepare reports, perform mathematical calculations, count money, and sort/file documents.
Ability to sit for two hours at a time.
Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
Ability to climb a footstool or ladder for the purposes of retrieving records.
Ability to get from one location to another in the course of doing business.