Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

The City of Colton will have a future vacancy in the Finance Department as a Senior Accountant. This position plays a critical role in our GASB implementation, auditing, and financial statements. The incumbent must possess critical thinking, independent judgment, and effective decision-making processes. If you believe you possess these critical skills, please apply!

Under general supervision of the Finance Manager, performs a variety of complex and professional level accounting, financial and auditing duties in municipal finance; assists in monitoring the City's cash and investment activities, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and expenditure budgets; monitor and report on various grants, capital improvement projects and fixed assets; and prepares financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Government Accounting Standards; participate in other professional and technical accounting work as needed.

This is the journey level class in the Accountant job series. An incumbent works under general direction and exercise some discretion and independent judgment in performing the full range of routine to complex accounting and financial recordkeeping functions. This class is distinguished from the Accountant in that the Senior Accountant is responsible for more complex and higher-level accounting functions and exercises a higher level of discretion and independent decision-making.

Routinely exercises technical and functional supervision over lower level professional and technical accounting staff.

Examples of essential functions : The following duties are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Perform a variety of routine to complex customer service functions for operating departments and / or divisions, including providing financial information, researching problems and processing accounting, budget, and grant transactions.

Supervise and participate in the posting, balancing, and reconciliation of the general and subsidiary accounts, including grant accounts; control budget for the various funds and projects determining if funds are available and expenditures properly classified; research and analyze transactions to resolve budget problems; provide analysis of available funds at management's request; analyze budget transactions.

Monitor and report on status of federal, state and local grants, reviews grant regulations and policies, grant contracts, amendments, and other documents to insure compliance. (Community Development Block Grants, various Police Department grants and Community Child Care grants)

Perform a variety of specialized accounting and budget duties, including the development of budget schedules and reports, calculate and forecast payroll costs, prepare journal entries based on Council-approved budget adjustments and track budget adjustments to the adopted budget.

Supervise and participate in the maintenance and analysis of all General Ledger Accounts, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, inventory, fixed assets, revenues, and utility billing systems.

Prepare financial statements for assigned projects; prepare schedules and financial worksheets to assess financial status of the programs and make recommendations on corrections.

Assist in the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and other statistical and financial reports; prepare work papers, financial statements and various reports for federal and state agencies as well as for internal accounting.

Participate in accounting functions such as preparing adjusting entries, fiscal year closing adjustments, and documents for auditors.

Recommend or implement changes in accounting systems and procedures; identify and be resolve problems and inconsistencies involved in maintaining accounting controls and processes.

Coordinate accounting-related activities with other divisions and / or City programs; answer questions and develop procedures for preparing accounting transactions pursuant to GAAP and procedures.

Prepare analysis and work papers in preparation for audit examination pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).

Examine, reconcile, balance, and adjust accounting records.

Interpret data and generates related statistical and fiscal reports; prepare and submit accounting information for data processing and input data into the computer.

Provide lead or supervisory duties over assigned staff.

Maintain prompt and regular attendance.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Training and experience : A Bachelor's degree in Accounting or closely related field, from an accredited college or university is required. Four (4) years of professional governmental accounting or auditing work of which includes two years of lead or direct supervisory experience. Must possess an acceptable financial history. Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles is desired.

Knowledge of : Principles and practices of general, fund and governmental accounting including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting; GAAP, GASB and GFOA accounting standards and requirements applicable to City operations and funding sources; federal and state laws and requirements for municipal accounting organizations; principles, types, and uses of automated accounting systems; and principles of business management, office methods, and procedures, Windows based word-processing, spreadsheet, and database applications with proficiency and other financial reporting systems; business letter writing and report preparation; modern office methods; principles and practices of basic supervision and, effective customer service principles and practices.

Ability to : Perform complex accounting transactions and analysis; recognize and resolve accounting, auditing, and internal control situations; read, interpret, and record data accurately; examine and verify financial documents and reports; prepare and analysis a variety of financial statement and reports; reconcile financial documents and reports; analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and make independent decisions; prepare a variety of financial statements, reports, and analyzes; accurately interpret data processing reports; work independently and as part of a team; maintain and establish effective working relationships with others; communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing with internal and external customers.

Please review the timeline below of tentative interviews, and start date :

Open between September 18 - October 16, 2025

Review applications October 17 - 23, 2025

Tentative date for interviews November 6, 2025 - candidates will be contacted via email to schedule for an in-person interview and exercise.

Second interview tentative week of November 10, 2025

Once a selection is made the candidate will go through the background process, and tentative start date will be January 5, 2026.

The candidates with the most desired qualifications and that best meet the department's needs will be invited to participate in the Oral Board Interview and Written Component Exercise. Candidates successful in this process will have their names certified to an eligibility list. This list is valid for one (1) year.