County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direction, to perform professional accounting work in a department with a moderately complex fiscal record keeping function, to act as lead worker of a portion of a departmental accounting program with a varied and complex fiscal record-keeping system; to prepare a variety of complex accounting, statistical, and narrative reports; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Senior Accountant is the advanced journey level in the Accountant series. Incumbents may act as the lead-worker to a group of Accountants, exercise detailed subject matter knowledge. Positions allocated to this class may have direct supervisory responsibility over subordinate clerical and paraprofessional staff including immediate and primary responsibility for hiring, performance evaluation, and discipline recommendations with respect to those positions.

Senior Accountant is distinguished from the next lower class, Accountant, in that the former class has program responsibility and performs the more difficult technical work and has lead and supervisory responsibility. Positions in the next higher class of Supervising Accountant are distinguished from this class by having responsibility for much larger and more complex departmental accounting and record-keeping programs and performing the full range of supervisory duties over a staff of clerical, paraprofessional and professional subordinates.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. May plan, organize, and oversee a major component the accounting program within a department with a moderately complex fiscal record-keeping system.

2. Prepares or oversees the preparation of financial reports and analytical accounting, statistical and narrative reports for use by department, County Auditor, governing boards, and other agencies.

3. Verifies receipts are classified to; the appropriate accounting distribution; maintains and reconciles records for trust funds, claims, receivables, revenues and expenditures; prepares trial and final balances, P & L statements, cash flow statements, labor rates, amortization and depreciation schedules, perpetual inventories, etc.

4. May coordinate, direct and review the work of paraprofessional level and clerical accounting staff in routine office work such as reconciliation, trial balancing, computing accounts and performing other fiscal record-keeping duties.

5. Examines, verifies and screens fiscal documents such as approving vouchers, warrants, requisitions, purchase orders, receiving records and invoices; may assist in preparation of budgets by assembling, reviewing, and evaluating supporting technical accounting and statistical data.

6. Maintains or oversees the maintenance of general and subsidiary ledgers to ensure that they are current, accurate and adhere to prescribed work methods and directions; prepares adjusting entries; reconciles accounts and prepares financial reports. Initiates and reconciles electronic transfers to interface with financial institutions, federal, state and local agencies, and other County departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one year of full time experience as an Accountant in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

The equivalent of five years full-time increasingly responsible professional accounting, auditing or administrative experience which included significant accounting/fiscal duties and responsibilities. (Possession of a Bachelor’s degree with specialization in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for two years of the required experience.)

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• General and governmental accounting and auditing principles, theory, and procedures.
• Business office practices.
• Working knowledge of computer spreadsheet and word processing applications.
• Computerized accounting systems to track accounting transactions and to generate/retrieve financial reports.
• Principles of personnel management.

Ability to:

• Interpret and apply business and governmental laws and regulations.
• Analyze and problem solve.
• Exercise judgment.
• Organize and direct the work of others.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.
• Prepare comprehensive, clear, and concise accounting and statistical reports.
• Communicate effectively in writing.
• Communicate effectively orally.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Retyped 11/18/74-tw
Retyped 4/7/1976-lh
Revised/Retyped 8/83-lm h
Updated 10/86-RSS:pb
Revised 11/8/95-VS:lm
co:updated 4/10/00
Old doc.: 0006H
New doc.: 0135.doc
Csc date: 11/15/95
JC:pf Revised 7/9/01
Csc date: 8/29/01
BG:pf Revised/Retitled 1/14/03
old title [Accountant II]
Csc Date: 9/3/03
IB:pf – Revised DRAFT 8/23/04
(Corrected Job Code #0135 to #1038)
New doc#: 0138.doc
CSC Date: 9/29/2004

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.