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The City of Palo Alto is recruiting a dynamic leader to serve as the Finance Manager and oversee a 16-person accounting division. As a full-service Charter City with a council-manager form of government, Palo Alto has a reputation for being progressive and innovative while maintaining high-caliber financial reporting of its proposed operating budget of $934 million and capital budget of $352 million for fiscal year 2023.
The Administrative Service Department (ASD) is looking for an individual that will exemplifies this community through a focus on innovation and high quality service while maintaining the financial rigor necessary to uphold excellence in regulating agency reporting requirements. A successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical skills through experience in public sector accounting with lead responsibility in preparing the ACFR and managing operations of the Accounting Division. Possession of an active CPA is highly desirable. This position will report directly to either the Assistant Director or the Director of ASD. Technical areas of oversight for this position include: accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, payroll, and enterprise accounting.
The City of Palo Alto’s complex business activities – ranging from running a full suite of utility services, an airport, and typical City services such as public safety – offers employees exposure to a variety of professional development opportunities. This position has opportunities to learn new technical areas including innovative cases in your field, present to senior management and Council members, and learn from diverse expertise across the organization. Therefore, effective communication skills, experience collaborating with stakeholders, and a commitment to learning and growth are each highly desirable.
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package and compensation plan. (Download PDF reader)
This posting will be open until June 19, 2022. The first review of applications will be conducted on June 3, 2022. Interviews will be offered based on experience and relevant qualifications anytime after June 3, 2022.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited, to the following:
Oversees the automation of accounting and financial functions for the City’s centralized accounting system, as well as the conversion of existing data, either in manual or in automated form, to the new system.
Oversees automation of capital project accounting and related job cost accounting.
Supervises the timely preparation of financial reports to city, county, state, and federal agencies, banks, and other financial institutions.
Interacts with external and internal audit staff in reviews of accounting systems and controls and oversees implementation of recommended changes to such systems or control procedures.
Manages, trains and evaluates assigned staff, cultivates career development within the finance profession.
Administers financial provisions of all major expenditure contracts; monitors all capital improvement project expenditures and expenditure of grant funds.
Ensures compliance with federal laws (including IRS regulations), state laws, and municipal codes as determined by the City Attorney.
Implements pronouncements approved by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
To see the full job description click HERE.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or other closely related field, at minimum.
Experience: Five years experience involving increasing responsibility in accounting and financial work including considerable management and supervisory experience. (Government accounting experience preferred)
Preferred: An active CPA License or Master’s Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Public Administration, preferred.
Vaccination Status: The City of Palo Alto recently implemented a COVID19 vaccination policy, which requires employees reporting to work onsite to be vaccinated or regularly tested. Upon your start date, you will be asked your COVID19 vaccination status. If vaccinated, we will ask to see a copy of your vaccination card. A member of our Benefits team will explain the policy in more detail once onboarded.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
The City of Palo Alto offers its employees a generous benefit package, featuring family medical coverage, retirement, life insurance, plus 12 paid holidays per year. Participation in a Governmental 457 Deferred Compensation Plan Fully paid employee and dependent Dental Plan Fully paid employee and dependent Vision Plan Fully paid Life and AD&D insurance equal to annual salary CalPERs sponsored medical plan with City flat rate contribution Fully paid Life Insurance equal to one-times annual salary Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance Long Term Disability plan 12 annual paid holidays Two to five weeks vacation annually depending on years of service per MOA 96 hours annual sick leave Direct Deposit Flexible Spending Account for Healthcare and Childcare expenses Paid Parental Leave – Six weeks of Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a child with the employee.Some Management classifications may qualify for 80 hours of Management Leave Professional development reimbursementPublic Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) 2% at 60 formula for Classic Misc Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation 2% at 62 formula for New Misc CalPers Members, three year calculation for final compensation 3% at 50 formula for Classic Safety Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation 3% at 55 formula for New Safety CalPers Members, three year calculation for final compensation Retiree Medical benefits for employee and dependents according to Retiree Medical GroupPlease note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security. Since they City does not participate in SDI, City employees are not eligible to claim against the State’s Pregnancy Disability Leave or Paid Family Leave programs.
