Los Angeles Community College District

Plans, organizes, and manages complex professional and technical accounting activities of a large accounting unit; determines priorities of the unit, resolves complex accounting problems, and develops sound accounting procedures and systems.

Plans, schedules, and supervises complex professional and clerical accounting activities in the collection, recording, processing, consolidation, and distribution of a wide variety of financial data.

Revises, develops, and directs the preparation of periodic and special financial reports, statements, summaries, and projections.

Develops new or improved accounting systems and procedures to meet legal requirements, provide management with required information, and improve efficiency in the recording and reporting of data; interfaces with information systems staff to maintain and update accounting enterprise systems.

Interprets and researches laws, regulations, rules, procedures, and Education Code sections related to accounting and acts as a resource to provide technical information for all campus operating units and District staff; implements federal, state, and local guidelines for specially-funded programs.

Studies proposed changes in laws, organization, procedures, policies, and accounting classifications to report on their impact, prepare recommendations, and implement changes.

Supervises the disbursement of all District funds with responsibility for payroll, accounts payable, and other obligations including maintenance of internal controls to safeguard assets.

Manages the District's investment portfolio, directs investment of surplus cash funds, and develops cash management procedures; directs the accounting and billing for federal, state, and local specially-funded and state-mandated programs.

Coordinates computerized accounting database systems and determines needs of the system by working with the colleges and other divisions of the District.

Controls and monitors encumbrances, accounts, balances, classification of expenditures, specially-funded programs, and salary distribution; corrects and prevents problems and makes adjustments as required.

Consults with administrators and District staff on such matters as enterprise operations and cash collection and coordinates accounting activities with the colleges and other divisions of the District.

Acts as District liaison with contract auditor; contract service bureau; federal, state, and local governmental agencies; and the financial community.

Reviews Board reports to verify accuracy of information on fiscal matters, policy, and impacts; prepares items for Board reports and responses to Trustee inquiries.

Performs related duties as assigned.

An Accounting Manager performs a combination of professional accounting and administrative duties as the manager of a major unit of professional, supervisory, and clerical accounting staff. The assigned duties require the application of advanced accounting principles and analytical skills to develop and revise sound accounting systems, procedures, records, and statements to resolve and prevent problems in accordance with policies and objectives of the District.

A Director of Accounting plans, organizes, coordinates, evaluates, and directs the District’s general and special funds accounting, payroll, and related operations.

A Supervising Accountant supervises multiple accounting units comprised of assigned professional, supervisory, and clerical accounting staff and applies a thorough knowledge of accounting systems and principles and practices of governmental accounting in analyzing and resolving complex operating problems, and is responsible for preparing the more difficult accounting statements and reports.

General supervision is received from the Director of Accounting.  General supervision is exercised over assigned professional, supervisory, and clerical accounting staff.

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, procedures, and theories of accounting with emphasis on governmental accounting, including GAAP

Banking and investment policies, regulations, and practices

Principles, practices, and procedures of auditing and budgeting

Research, statistical, and forecasting methods used in accounting analysis and management

Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and policies affecting accounting and financial systems

Current trends and developments in accounting and related fields

Enterprise systems and software used in accounting systems

Principles and practices of organization and management

Principles and practices of business and public administration

Principles of supervision and training

Organization and management of records

Ability to:

Plan, schedule, and coordinate a variety of accounting and related activities and meet important deadlines

Effectively manage a large accounting unit of professional and clerical staff

Develop methods and procedures to implement new policies or regulations or improve efficiency of operations

Interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations related to accounting and financial systems

Analyze complex financial and statistical data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations

Develop and implement comprehensive accounting systems and procedures

Prepare clear concise instructions, reports, and accounting statements

Effectively utilize accounting enterprise systems and software applications in the performance of duties

Express complex concepts effectively, orally and in writing

Provide leadership and technical assistance to others

Train others in specialized accounting practices and procedures

Evaluate work methods and performance

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with District administration, staff and representatives of government agencies, and various private organizations

Travel to on-site and off-site meetings

Learn specialized software applications used in accounting systems

Education:

A.    A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university, which included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester units of accounting coursework. A degree with a major in accounting, business administration, finance, public administration, or a related field is desirable.

OR 

B.    A valid license to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in California.

Experience:

Four years of full-time, paid, professional accounting experience. Two years of the required experience must have been in a supervisory position. Experience in governmental accounting is desirable.

Special:

A valid Class "C" California driver's license is required.

Travel to locations throughout the District is required.

Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, they should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.