Senior Accountant

Job Description

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits , as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.
Salary Range: $118,460.16 - $144,318.72 annually
This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.
Bargaining Unit: City Association of Management Personnel (CAMP)
The Environmental Services Department is seeking to fill two (2) full-time Senior Accountant vacancies :
Administrative Services Division (ASD) - Fiscal and Accounting Team
Location: 200 East Santa Clara Street, San José, CA 95113
Regional Water Facility (RWF) - Fiscal Team
Location: 700 Los Esteros Road, San José, CA 95134
Administrative Services Division (ASD)
The ASD team provides essential fiscal, operational, and strategic support to ESD staff, programs, and utilities. Team members support the department by facilitating workforce trainings, managing information technology data and services for more than 500 employees, delivering quality customer service in utility billing, supporting recruitment and promotions, and overseeing budget planning and fiscal management for a variety of special funds that advance ESD's mission. By providing behind-the-scenes support, the ASD team plays a critical role in the department's success.
Reporting to the Principal Accountant, the Senior Accountant in ASD supports reporting and auditing requirements related to bond and commercial paper financing mechanisms used to fund capital improvements at the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) and the Municipal Water System.
Typical duties of this Senior Accountant ASD team position may include, but are not limited to:
Responsible for bond compliance reporting for external agencies and bond auditing operations, including the annual Single Audit and financial statement preparation
RWF cash position accounting for the Tributary Agencies
Oversee Wastewater Revenue Note draws and debt service
Oversee future bond issuance operations, including the anticipated bond draw in 2025-2026
Oversee cash positions for Municipal Water System funds (Water Utility Fund, Water Utility Capital Fund, and the Major Facilities Fund)
Supervise an accounting team, including an Accountant I/II, an Analyst I/II, and/or other accounting clerical staff; supervise additional accounting staff as needed
Attend Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) trainings on annual Generally Accepted Accounting Principles/Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GAAP/GASB) updates
Perform accounting for fixed assets, debt service, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
Participate in year-end close activities and year-end financial audits
Cross-train with other Senior Accountants on unit duties to provide coverage and build institutional knowledge
Perform other ad hoc or modified accounting assignments as needed
Typical duties of this Senior Accountant RWF team position may include, but are not limited to:
Lead and manage the RWF Fiscal Unit, consisting of six (6) team members
Train and mentor employees at the RWF to support succession planning and "build the bench"
Provide timely performance feedback and conduct performance reviews for the RWF Fiscal Unit
Facilitate the development of the annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget
Prepare budgetary and accounting information for TAC and TPAC
Oversee the ESD timekeeping function for approximately 600 employees
Administer grant accounting for the RWF
Lead accounting services at the facility
Manage customer and vendor accounts and relationships to ensure timely payments
Manage the Mitchell-Humphrey accounting system for RWF fixed assets
Oversee preparation of the Fixed Asset Roll Forward Schedule for SC-SJ fixed asset allocations
Lead the RWF CIP Engineering Team through multiple capital budget scenarios during the planning process
Lead the RWF annual year-end audit process and coordinate with MGO auditors
Assist with the AWTF/SBWR audit
Lead the team in delivering excellent customer service

Education
Completion of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, including at least 18 semester units in accounting subjects.

Experience
F our (4) years of experience at the working level of a professional accountant.

Acceptable Substitution
None
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Analytical Thinking - Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan.

Planning - Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; Defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.

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