JOB SUMMARY:

Under general direction, the Accounting Manager plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of staff performing complex professional and technical support related to the processing of financial transactions and preparing and reconciling financial and accounting records and reports; ensures regulatory compliance with governmental accounting standards; maintains and improves WRCOG’s financial system; administers current and long-term financial planning activities; manages the effective use of department resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service; provides support to the Chief Financial Officer; and performs related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES / FUNCTIONS:

Management reserves the right to add, modify, or rescind the work assignments of this position and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Under general supervision, duties of the Accounting Manager may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Plans, manages, and participates in the operations and activities of WRCOG’s accounting and finance programs and functions; supervises employee benefits.
Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the department; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of accounting and finance programs, service delivery methods, and procedures.
Assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships, identifies opportunities for improvement and makes recommendations to the Chief Financial Officer.
Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel.
Manages and participates in all activities related to WRCOG’s accounting and finance programs, including financial system, general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, grants receivable, audits, budgeting, payroll, fixed assets, costs allocations, project accounting, financial analysis and reporting, debt services, and bank reconciliation; ensures appropriate internal controls are in place.
Prepares and analyzes a variety of complex financial reports, statements, and schedules; prepares or oversees the preparation of new-year, mid-year, year-end, and special reports, including the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Actuarial Valuation Report.
Participates in the preparation and administration of the annual budget for WRCOG; develops budget calendar and conducts budget workshops; prepares budget / project budget worksheets; calculates cost distribution and provides financial forecasting and planning; tracks the adopted budget and coordinates and prepares quarterly budget adjustments; prepares periodic budget reviews for submission to WRCOG staff, Executive Director, Committees, and the Executive Committee.
Manages annual audit and prepares closing journal entries and audit schedules; provides assistance and information to outside auditors during annual and mid-year audits, including answering questions, gathering data, and compiling reports.
Maintains and reconciles a variety of ledgers, reports, and accounting records; reviews and approves revenue allocations and disbursements and other accounting transactions to ensure accuracy; approves journal vouchers to post transactions to accounting records.
Provides highly complex staff assistance to the Chief Financial Officer; develops and reviews staff reports and other necessary correspondence related to assigned activities and services; presents reports to various commissions, committees, and boards.
Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to assigned programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public agency finance and accounting; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to WRCOG needs.
Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect assigned functions and operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.

Knowledge of / Ability to:

Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, accounting and finance program development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management.
Principles and practices of public agency finance, including general and governmental accounting, auditing, and reporting functions.
Principles and practices of public agency budget development and administration and sound financial management policies and procedures.
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) rules and regulations.
Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of accounting and finance programs and operational needs of the assigned department.
Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the accounting and finance operations.
Record keeping principles and procedures.
Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
Effectively represent WRCOG in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
Provide a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and WRCOG staff.

The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. WRCOG management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives general direction from the Chief Financial Officer. Exercises direct and general supervision over professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a management classification that manages finance and accounting activities. The incumbent organizes and oversees day-to-day financial processing, reporting, and record keeping activities. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The incumbent is responsible for providing professional-level support to the Chief Financial Officer in a variety of areas. Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background as well as skill in coordinating program work. This class is distinguished from the Chief Financial Officer in that the latter has overall responsibility for all functions of the Finance Department and for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a closely related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional public accounting experience.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, staff from numerous agencies and jurisdictions, citizens, and other stake holders.
Possession of valid California Driver’s License and proof of automobile liability insurance.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer / laptop; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various meeting sites in Western Riverside, Southern California and beyond for the conduct of WRCOG business. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS:

This is primarily a sedentary classification and the employee works in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no known direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. The employee interfaces with staff, management, other departmental representatives, government officials, business representatives, and the general public in explaining WRCOG policies and requesting and providing information.

How to apply

A completed application, along with a detailed resume, must be emailed or postmarked by the filing deadline to:

Western Riverside Council of Governments

4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, MS 1032

Riverside, CA 92501

ATTN: Ernie Reyna Applications can be emailed to Ernie Reyna at reyna@wrcog.cog.ca.us.

Electronic submittals are acceptable as long as they are provided by the stated deadline (WRCOG staff may subsequently request original documents).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY: For more information regarding this job opportunity please contact Ernie Reyna at (951) 955-8432 or reyna@wrcog.cog.ca.us.