Accounting Manager

Description

Under general direction, to manage the activities and staff of a County division responsible for one or more significant accounting programs.

Typical Tasks

• Plans, organizes, and manages the operations of the assigned accounting function;
• Develops, implements and maintains systems, procedures and policies for assigned accounting function;
• Interviews, selects, trains, assigns work to, evaluates, disciplines and counsels subordinate staff;
• Ensures training to departmental staff on required accounting controls;
• Develops and maintains a cross-training program for division staff to insure appropriate coverage and back-up for all functions within the division;
• Maintains effective communication and acts as a liaison to County departments and other jurisdictions on matters relating to accounting issues;
• Supervises reconciliations of all fund balances;
• Reviews new accounting system proposals and participates in new systems; analyzes, evaluates and coordinates systems programs and formulation and makes appropriate recommendations relating to systems implementations;
• Creates, establishes, revises and maintains written policies, procedures, and job instructions for assigned division;
• Maintains effective communications with external agencies, including cities, schools, and special districts, and assures appropriate required documentation is distributed timely to those agencies;
• Develops and maintains accounting controls for division;
• Acts as a consultant and provides guidance and training to County fiscal officers and other County staff;
• Represents the department with the State Controller's Office and Department of Finance;
• Coordinates response to all Public Records Act requests from the media, citizens, and the Office of the District Attorney related to area of assignment;
• Reviews payment audit transactions and reports prepared by staff;
• Issues timely and accurate preparation of financial analysis, schedules and related reporting;
• Reviews and assesses implications of changes in laws and Federal and State regulations affecting assigned accounting operations; interprets complex laws and regulations and develops and issues opinions and procedures for implementation;
• Prepares service requests for information system modifications and special report generation;
• Assists with system enhancements, product updates, problem fixes and required regulatory changes; refers specifications for the most complex changes to the Information Services Department;
• Reviews and assesses changes in generally accepted governmental accounting principles and develops procedures for implementation;
• Prepares or supervises preparation of timely and accurate reports to meet internal and external requirements;
• Maintains current knowledge of theory and practice including: Governmental reporting requirements, application development tools, and related audit tools;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Performs related work as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.
Training and Experience Note: The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are attained through possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration or closely related field and four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in auditing or accounting, including at least two (2) years of experience equivalent to a Senior Accountant in Santa Clara County.
Note: Specialized program knowledge may be required in addition to the required experience when it can be demonstrated that: 1) it is an absolute necessity for the successful operation of the program; 2) that the Accounting Manager will be held accountable for the specialized knowledge. One (1) year of the required experience must have been in the field of specialization.
A valid California Driver's License and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County Driver's Permit is required for some positions.
Knowledge of:

• General and governmental accounting principles and practices;
• Governmental budgeting principles and practices;
• Principles of supervision, personnel management and training;
• Laws and regulations governing assigned accounting function;
• Automated accounting, auditing and fiscal control systems;
• Automated fiscal/financial information systems, applications and terminology.
• Client server computer systems and related interfaces;

• Apply auditing, general and governmental accounting, computer and management principles and practices;
• Learn, interpret and apply laws and regulations governing assigned accounting function;
• Apply the requirements of local ordinances, collective bargaining agreements and personnel guidelines;
• Communicate effectively through both verbal and written means including the production of operations manual, covering personnel issues, preparing memos and responding to inquiries from outside agencies;
• Write clear and concise reports including financial analysis and reporting;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
• Plan, organize, and direct the work of professional and clerical personnel;
• Solve administrative problems involving technical accounting and tax regulation changes.