Job Abstract

The City of La Habra is recruiting to fill the position of Accountant I in the Finance Department and to establish an eligibility list for future openings.

ABOUT THE CITY:
The City of La Habra is a vibrant Southern California community, strategically located in the northwest corner of Orange County. Today the City is home to a population of over 63,000 residents within La Habra’s 7.3 square miles. A friendly and diverse community, La Habra is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountains, and desert recreation areas. The City is known for the Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, Tamale Festival and the jewel of La Habra, its Children’s Museum. While the City has planned for and encourages measured growth, it retains a small town feel and lives up to its heritage as “A Caring Community.”

ABOUT THE POSITION:
Under general direction, the Accountant I position performs varied technical accounting, auditing, and statistical work requiring a high degree of analytical ability, reviews accounting systems and written procedures, and makes recommendations for revisions as necessary.

This position performs complex duties involving a high degree of independent professional judgment, requiring a thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental accounting and department procedures and policies. The Accountant I will work under general supervision of the Accounting Supervisor or designee, and may supervise assigned clerical support staff.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL:

• Possess journey-level government accounting skills and can accurately field questions and provide guidance on city finance and accounting matters.
• Have a strong aptitude for clear, concise, and direct communication, as well as the ability to succinctly summarize complex financial information.
• Foster collaboration within the Finance department to achieve optimal departmental and city-wide performance and outcomes.
• Be knowledgeable with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for day-to-day accounting activities.
• Have excellent project management skills and can prioritize tasks accordingly.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and can work with various levels within the Finance Department.
• Have experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning system for city finance and accounting matters. Experience with Tyler Munis and/or Springbrook preferred.
• Have a strong attention to detail and be a stickler for accuracy.
• Have experience providing information and support to the annual audit process.

• Provides day-to-day support to lead the water billing team.
• Performs grant accounting functions and works closely with other departments to assure compliance with laws and regulations, draw downs, invoicing, and general ledger entries.
• Makes adjusting entries affecting several subsystems of an accounting system; Prepares journal entries and reconciliations of general ledger, subsidiary accounts, grants accounts, and reconciliation of bank statements to the general ledger.
• Prepares a variety of detailed accounting, statistical, and/or narrative financial statements or reports requiring analysis and interpretation of source data.
• Reviews, develops, and modifies accounting methods to improve existing procedures to ensure conformity with generally accepted accounting principles for government.
• Assists in analyzing, developing, and implementing accounting and other management procedures; recommends improvements in forms and procedures used; assists in the development of operating manuals and administrative guidelines.
• Participates in the preparation of the annual financial statement report, and related year-end reporting, budgetary and management analysis.
• Coordinates accounting controls to comply with standard audit requirements, and assists external auditors in fiscal year review.
• Performs routine compliance audits, ad hoc programmatic audits, and other internal control reviews as necessary.
• Participates in the preparation and maintenance of the city budget, including spreadsheet preparation, supporting documentation and various reports.
• Review budget to actual performance for city departments, divisions and projects.
• Researches & analyzes transactions to resolve other department questions.
• May supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles and practices of public agency financial management, including general and governmental accounting, auditing, grant accounting, and budgeting
• Applicable Federal, State, and local ordinances, resolutions, laws and regulations affecting municipal financial operations as well as budget, generally accepted accounting principles, reporting requirements and standard accounting practices
• Principles and practices of modern public administration
• Principles, methods, and best practice for project, grants, and records management
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone

• Analyze and interpret financial data and draw logical conclusions;
• Prepare, and maintain, clear, complete and concise financial statements and reports
• Read and interpret complex laws and regulations impacting City financial activities
• Plan, organize and prioritize a variety of work and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner
• Understand and carry out a variety of complex instructions in a responsible and independent manner
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping and tracking systems
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including superiors, peers, subordinates, and the public
• Maintain mental capacity that allows the capability of making sound decisions, and demonstration of intellectual capabilities
• Work in a windows-based computer environment and be proficient in Excel and effective skills in Word and PowerPoint are preferable

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.

EXPERIENCE: Three (3) or more years of increasing responsible accounting experience in a government environment, preferably at the municipal government level.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Maintain and possess a valid Class C California driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance are required.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:
Ability to work extended hours in order to complete projects, attend meetings, and accommodate city needs.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms above and below shoulder level. The employee uses finger dexterity in order to operate computer hardware for extended periods of time. The employee is required to constantly sit and occasionally walk and stand to access counters, work areas and files; stoop, kneel, or crouch to access or place records or files; lift and carry records and documents, typically weighing less than 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

MENTAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with staff, management, developers, contractors, consultants, and the general public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office environment with continual exposure to computer screens. Essential and secondary functions require maintaining physical condition for light lifting carrying; sitting for prolonged periods of time.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

The City of La Habra is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status or disability.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION:
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lahabraca. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, June 27, 2024. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview. The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted.

If any accommodation is needed during the interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation.

This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied.
Any provision herein may be modified or revoked