City of South Pasadena, CA Hiring for Finance Manager at South Pasadena, CA, United States Full Time

Salary : $99,034.56 – $132,715.56 Annually

Location : South Pasadena, CA

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 2023-00051

Department : Finance

Opening Date : 09 / 07 / 2023

Closing Date : 9 / 24 / 2023 11 : 59 PM Pacific

Essential Functions

This recruitment may close, or be extended, at any time, without prior notice.

Click here to view the Finance Manager job flyer!

THE COMMUNITY

Nestled just six miles from downtown Los Angeles, the City of South Pasadena is an idyllic enclave characterized by its small-town charm, verdant landscapes, and historical significance.

With a population of 26,047, this west-side gem of the San Gabriel Valley covers 3.44 square miles of both flatlands and hillsides, offering residents a blend of architectural elegance from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Known as the “City of Trees,” it boasts over 100 acres of parks, more than 21,000 trees, and oak-lined streets, adding to its appeal as an environmentally-friendly community.

South Pasadena is celebrated for its top-tier schools and unique local businesses and its longstanding commitment to preserving a humane scale in its buildings and residential streetscapes.

This commitment has made it a hotspot for Hollywood filming locations and one of California’s most coveted places to live, featuring walkable neighborhoods, low crime rates, and a highly engaged citizenry.

Small, proud, and independent, the City of South Pasadena has preserved its status as a unique community for over a hundred years.

THE POSITION

• Under general direction, assists the Finance Director in performing activities related to the City’s financial operations including budgeting, utility services, and revenue management;
• oversees, manages, and serves as a business partner with the City’s billing and business license vendors; manages and prepares the City’s annual and mid-year budgets;
• manages and prepares the City’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) formerly CAFR; performs financial analysis and a variety of professional level accounting functions in the preparation and maintenance of financial records, reports and statements;

exercises supervision over accounting staff as assigned; and performs related work as required.

This position is designated as “at-will” and is exempt from the classified service; the incumbent shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager.

In addition to the responsibilities of an Accountant, the incumbent in this class has primary responsibility for preparation of the City’s annual and mid-year budgets and preparation of the City’s ACFR, and may serve in the absence of the Finance Director.

The incumbent has direct oversight of the contracts with, and serves as a business partner to, the City’s vendors for Water and Trash service billing, and the vendor for business license processing.

An employee in this class exercises supervision over assigned accounting staff, and exercises considerable discretion and independent judgment in the performance of assigned duties, based on extensive experience and training in public sector finance and accounting.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The duties listed below are examples of the work typically performed by employees in this class. An employee may not be assigned all duties listed and may be assigned duties that are not listed below :

• Assists the Finance Director in managing the financial operations of the Finance Department; assists in the development and implementation of Finance Department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures and measures accomplishments against stated objectives.
• Coordinates, prepares, and administers the annual and mid-year budgets; prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Prepares and maintains the City’s Cash Flow Model on a regular basis.
• Identifies, articulates, manages, supervises, and coordinates policy, procedures, goals and objectives necessary to improve Department services.
• Performs financial planning activities as related to investment analysis, sources and uses of funds, accounting, debt administration, and extensive budgeting planning and forecasting.
• Supervises and participates in month-end and year-end closing of finances.
• Oversees and manages the City’s contracts with vendors providing Water Billing and Trash Service Billing services and collection of revenue for customer accounts;
• coordinates and reconciles the receipt of revenues from vendors; serves as a business partner with vendors in the administration of the contracts and services;

resolves complex issues involving customers, policy, and / or systems.

• Oversees and manages the City’s contract with the vendor providing Business License services and the collection of taxes / revenue;
• coordinates and reconciles the receipt of revenues from vendor; serves as a business partner with the vendor in the administration of the contract and services;

resolves complex issues involving customers, policy, and / or systems.

Analyzes, reviews, and prepares a variety of complex financial statements and reports; draws conclusions and makes recommendations;

submits mandated reports to regulatory and grant agencies.

• Ensures compliance with laws, codes and regulations governing regulatory and municipal accounting; maintains high standards of professional accounting and auditing.
• Develops, revises, and implements specialized accounting procedures and systems to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Conducts research and prepares special projects.
• Compiles and analyzes financial data to assist City administration in financial planning and economic development.
• Provides staff training and development; assigns and reviews the work of subordinate employees; reviews and evaluates employees’ job performance.
• Ensures compliance with provisions of Federal, State, County and City statutes relating to financial matters.
• Interacts with the public or internal customers in person, via email, or over the telephone to obtain cash payments, information or documents, or resolve discrepancies.
• Ensures Department services are provided with the highest customer service and ethical standards.
• Recommends changes to system setup to enhance accounting controls and assists in testing such controls to confirm the correct result.
• Provides financial data, financial information and guidance to other City departments; provides timely and accurate monthly reports to the Departments.
• Directs and participates in the preparation of interim and annual financial reports in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the standards of the Government Finance Officers’ Association’s (GFOA’s) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program.
• Coordinates the annual financial audit with external auditors.
• Recommends automation of accounting systems and reports by use of the City’s Financials system.
• Researches, develops, and prepares studies, reports, correspondence, and technical materials in accordance with City policies and related legal requirements, including those required for state and federal grants.
• Analyzes existing and proposed ordinances, statutes, resolutions, legislation, and other documents for impact on City operations, including revenue and taxation, as it relates to the City’s fiscal policy and its effect on City financial operations.
• Stays abreast of current and emerging trends and practices in the field of municipal finance. Assigns, participates, or assists with the review and audit of the City’s financial transactions;

acts on recommendations made in audit reports.

• Serves as Department Head in Finance Director’s absence, as assigned.
• Maintains a physical presence in the office (hybrid work may be approved).
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

FLSA Status

Exempt

Qualification Guidelines

Education / Experience :

A minimum of five years of professional level finance and accounting experience in a municipal agency or equivalent, of which at least three years involved supervision and / or lead direction of subordinate staff;

and the completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.

A Master’s degree and / or designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is highly desirable. Any combination of training and / or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets at an advanced level is required.

Knowledge of :

• Highly complex principles, practices, techniques, systems, and procedures of government finance and accounting; municipal budgeting processes;
• sources of revenue to fund municipal services; research methods and techniques of report presentation; management and organization theories, principles, practices and methods;
• laws and regulations which govern municipal finance administration; legislation related to public finance and accounting;
• principles and practices of budget and ACFR preparation; advanced principles and practices of computer and accounting systems services;
• principles of contract administration and liaison; modern office equipment and procedures; general office practices and procedures;
• basic English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; word processing, spreadsheet, and / or database software at an advanced proficiency level;

basic customer service principles; and principles of supervision.

Ability to :

• Plan, direct, manage and perform advanced professional level accounting and financial activities related to the operations of the Finance Department;
• communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; research and prepare complex reports on a variety of subjects;
• establish and maintain effective relationships with the community at large, the City Council and other public officials;
• select, train, supervise and evaluate employees; represent the City in a variety of meetings; make decisions regarding assigned operational functions;
• operate programs within allocated amounts; respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner; understand, explain and apply policies and procedures;
• analyze unusual situations and resolve them through application of management principles and practices; deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions;
• plan, develop, manage, administer and enforce a balanced budget; develop new policies impacting department operations / procedures;

interpret financial statements and cost accounting reports; analyze financial issues as they relate to City services; and maintain accurate and complete reports and records.

Possession of a valid Class “C” California Driver License and a satisfactory driving record is required.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Working Conditions

Environment is generally clean with limited exposure to conditions such as dust, fumes, odors, or noise. Environment is generally clean with some limited exposure to such conditions as dust, fumes, odors, or noise.

Computer terminal, copier / scanner, and other office machines are used on a daily basis. Requires traveling throughout the City and adjacent areas, and the attendance of occasional night meetings.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to exert light to moderate physical effort, and exert sufficient force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 25 pounds.

Ability to remain in a sitting / standing position for extended periods of time. Ability to hear and speak to the general public, and City staff on the telephone and in person.

Hand and eye coordination are needed to operate office equipment. Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use keyboard and video / computer display terminal.

Special Requirements

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11 : 59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, September 17, 2023. To be considered, please apply online under “Current Openings” with your cover letter and resume as PDF attachments.

This recruitment may close, or be extended, at any time, without prior notice.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience and, level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures.

The selected candidate will be required to go through a background check and a physical examination before appointment. Only complete applications or applications that meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The City of South Pasadena is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of South Pasadena intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (626) 403-7239.

The City of South Pasadena is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers.

To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work.

FAIR CHANCE ACT

The City of South Pasadena will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.

You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer.

If the City of South Pasadena has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns or challenge the accuracy of the background report (for non-public-safety backgrounds).

Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https : / / calcivilrights.ca.gov / fair-chance-act

NOTE : All applicants must be able to prove legal United States residency at the time of appointment.

All new hires considered for employment must pass a pre-employment medical examination, which includes drug / alcohol screening.

The City of South Pasadena maintains a drug, alcohol and smoke-free work environment and enforces a zero-tolerance policy relating to substance abuse.

Applicants with legal disabilities, who require special testing accommodations, must contact the City of South Pasadena Human Resources Department at least seven (7) days prior to the examination date.

NOTE : The provisions in this job flyer do not constitute an expressed or implied contract; and any provisions contained in this flyer may be modified or revoked without notice.

ABOUT THE CITY

The City of South Pasadena is a charming community, situated only six miles from downtown Los Angeles. Called the City of Trees, the area is known for its stunning homes, unique small businesses, and top-quality schools.

South Pasadena’s diverse population of about 25,000 occupies a mere 3.44 square miles of flatlands and hillsides on the west side of the San Gabriel Valley.

More than 100 acres of parks and playgrounds blanket its landscape and more than 21,000 trees adorn its streets. The quiet, historic character of its attractive neighborhoods is a testament to the preservationist efforts of residents in protecting both its architectural and natural beauty.

The city enjoys a low crime rate and the benefits of a close-knit, participation-oriented community.

Its busiest street, Fair Oaks Avenue was an important link in the original Route 66 and remains a vital thoroughfare today.

A Gold Line station provides a light rail connection to downtown Los Angeles and the regional transportation system. Mission Street and its vicinity are dotted by fine restaurants, downtown lofts, and unique shops.

The city also is home to its own beautiful library, located inside a picturesque park.

South Pasadena continues to honor its traditions by conducting its own long-running 4th of July Parade, known as the Festival of Balloons.

Residents also craft the city’s own float for the New Year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, held annually few miles north. Like so many other local activities, these events are coordinated by a cohesive assortment of City staff teamed with volunteers from the many vibrant clubs and organizations.

While respecting its illustrious past, the City of South Pasadena looks forward to shaping its future.

APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT :

The City of South Pasadena provides an extensive benefits package to support its employees’ well-being and financial security, including long term disability. These benefits include :

SCHEDULE : City offers a flexible 4 / 10 work schedule, with remote / hybrid work as an option.

VACATION : Vacation accrues based on years of service and experience; service with other agencies counts. Employees may cash out vacation once per year.*

PAID TIME OFF : (Per Year)

Sick Leave : 96 hours (rolls over annually)

• Executive Leave : 90 hours (may cash out up to 60)
• Holidays : 12 designated holidays + 2 floating holidays

HEALTH & DENTAL INSURANCE : The City offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans through CalPERS for the employee and their family.

The City pays a significant portion of the premiums.

457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN : Optional for employee contribution through Empower. 1% Base Salary Contribution from the City into your account per pay period.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS : Retirement benefits are offered through CalPERS, with Classic members receiving a benefit of 2.0 @ 55 and employees paying a 7% contribution.

The City does not participate in Social Security.