Senior Accountant - Accounts Payable

Job detailsSalary$105,717 – $128,525 a yearFull Job Description

Desired Qualifications

The Senior Accountant – Accounts Payable position is specifically responsible for the supervision of the process to pay vendors and other external parties, as well as ensuring accurate, complete, and timely reporting to comply with the requirements of internal customers and external regulatory agencies. As this position interacts with and impacts all facets of accounting, it is desirable that selected candidate for the Senior Accountant position be knowledgeable in various accounting functions such as capital billing/accounting, general ledger, fixed assets, cash, accounts receivable, etc.

Definition

Under general direction, a Senior Accountant plans, organizes, and performs complex, professional, and technical accounting duties in the analysis, preparation, and maintenance of financial records, reports, and systems, for assigned Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) programs and business activities, in accordance with VTA policies and procedures, legal requirements, and professional standards and supervises other accounting personnel.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Senior Accountant is the expert level professional class in the Accounting Series, and is the first supervisory level. An incumbent in this class performs highly complex and technical accounting and financial analyses to provide accurate and timely financial reports to VTA management, other governmental agencies, and the public to support sound decision-making and ensure appropriate public disclosure and accountability. Work requires the exercise of a high degree of independent judgment based on thorough knowledge of VTA’s business activities and financial management practices and procedures.

Senior Accountant is distinguished from Accountant III in that an incumbent in the former class serves as a subject expert in a particular area, supervises other accounting personnel, and performs more difficult, complex, and sensitive work of greater VTA-wide impact.

Classification Bargaining Unit: AFSCME

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

Evaluates the performance of assigned staff; interviews and recommends selection of job candidates; orients and trains unit staff; establishes and/or recommends performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; recommends disciplinary action, up to and including termination;

Plans, organizes, controls, integrates, and evaluates the work of staff in assigned areas, including budget control, cash management and operations, capital projects and accounts receivable, treasury, general ledger, payroll, fixed assets, and revenue services;

Develops, implements, and monitors work plans to achieve goals and objectives; supervises and participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating plans, work processes, systems, and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives, and work standards;

Plans, coordinates, supervises, and/or participates in the preparation of special and/or detailed financial and accounting reports;

Performs highly technical and complex accounting analysis, research, calculations, and data compilation in compliance with VTA, state, federal and other reporting requirements;

Plans, reviews, and ensures accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of accounting data in assigned areas; as required or requested, analyzes and evaluates information, presents findings, and/or recommends courses of action to management;

Plans, organizes, and ensures timely completion of monthly and year end financial closings; supervises or generates and reviews monthly and year-end financial statements, along with supporting schedules and reports; reviews statements, schedules, and reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and professional standards;

Participates in developing, maintaining, and ensuring optimal utilization of SAP financial accounting information systems; verifies the accuracy and completeness of information generated; identifies, diagnoses, and resolves problems; recommends system improvements; trains departmental staff on the operations and reporting capabilities of the system; assists other departments in formulating queries and generating special reports; designs and implements controls for data input and output; designs and creates custom financial reports; creates, maintains, and updates procedures manual related to accounting functions;

Consults with and provides expert assistance to VTA management, other departments, internal and external auditors, and vendors; works with staff of other departments to resolve technical accounting issues and problems;

Maintains, reviews, and participates in developing and recommending improvements to accounting policies, processes, and procedures; designs, implements, and improves daily work and month-end processes and procedures to ensure accurate and complete information within established time frames;

Monitors professional developments in the field, evaluates their impact on VTA policies and operations, and recommends changes and improvements where warranted;

Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards

Sufficient training, education, and public or private sector experience to demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field, and four years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, at least one year of which was in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Experience in a public agency is preferred.

A Master’s degree in Business Administration with emphasis in accounting or Certified Public Accountant license may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

License as a Certified Public Accountant is desirable.

Enterprise Resource Planning System experience is desirable.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund and governmental accounting, including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting;

Internal control and audit principles and practices;

Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of public agencies and transportation authorities in the State of California;

Laws and regulations governing fund transfer agreement compliance and their application to governmental accounting and budgeting;

VTA functions and associated financial management and reporting issues;

Principles and practices of business data processing particularly related to the processing of accounting and financial information;

Principles and practices of supervision and training.

Ability to:

Operate a computer using word processing and spreadsheet and other standard business and financial software;

Analyze and evaluate complex financial and accounting information and reach sound professional conclusions and recommendations;

Evaluate financial and accounting systems and programs and make recommendations for improvement;

Understand, interpret, explain, and apply VTA policies, state and federal laws and regulations, and applicable professional standards regarding VTA financial accounting, reporting, and record keeping;

Develop and implement financial procedures and internal controls;

Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive financial statements, schedules, reports, and other written materials;

Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines;

Plan, direct, and supervise the work of others;

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, staff, auditors, vendors and others encountered in the course of work.