County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to supervise, plan, and organize the departmental accounting program for Public Works; perform specialized revenue and expenditure accounting, cost accounting & analysis, auditing and other activities, which requires the knowledge and application of advanced accounting principles and practices, and/or the development and management of accounting and cost accounting systems; to supervise staff, which may include professional, paraprofessional and/or clerical subordinates; to prepare a variety of complex accounting statistical and narrative reports; and to perform other related work as required.


DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Positions in this class are located in the Public Works Agency. Incumbents are responsible for the Public Works Agency accounting functions, varied fiscal record keeping programs, and the financial oversight of the Agency’s complex and multiple enterprise and trust funds, which include the Road Fund, Alameda County Flood Control District Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Assessment Funds and Trust Funds. Incumbents of this class report directly to the Accounting and Finance Manager, PWA who has overall responsibility for the accounting and financial programs of the Public Works Agency, and may receive direction from Deputy Directors and/or Division Managers related specifically to the management of program assignments and/or related accounting systems.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Plans, organizes, and supervises the accounting functions for multiple funds belonging to the Public Works Agency, which includes the Road Fund, Alameda County Flood Control District Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Assessment Funds and Trust Funds.

2. Designs, implements and manages both manual and computerized accounting systems and procedures, specialized computer reports, ledgers, invoices and statements; evaluates, revises and upgrades existing systems, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the agency's needs.

3. Supervises staff; organizes, assigns, approves and reviews work; trains employees, conducts employee performance evaluations; makes recommendations on personnel transactions. Determines appropriate training needs of section staff, and/or unit staff it supports.

4. Examines, analyzes, and makes recommendations on fiscal operations of a department or agency; develops and maintains procedures and forms for fiscal transactions, record keeping, and budgetary control; develops, maintains, and analyzes cost accounting systems for use in preparing annual budget, cost reports, and other departmental needs; may assist in preparation of annual reports, including accounting and statistical analysis and justification; reconciles highly complex accounting systems.

5. Manages all cost accounting activities, direct and indirect cost policy, and integrity of the Public Works cost accounting system, which consists of payroll and timecard management, and job costing for direct cost activities, including, but not limited to labor and construction activities.

6. Develops and reconciles weighted labor rates for labor cost accounting and overhead rates. Determines and reconciles allocation rates for Public Works inter- service agreements and equipment charges. Assists the department with the preparation of the Agency ICRP/ICAP (Indirect Cost Rate and Allocation Plan) to the State Department of Transportation.

7. Manages revenue accounting for the Public Works A/R system, which includes the preparation of invoices in accordance with state, federal and local guidelines; and management of receivables.

8. Plans and conducts fiscal, administrative or operational studies; determines information gathering processes; obtains required information for analysis; evaluates alternatives and makes recommendations; gathers, analyzes and prepares data for complex periodic reports, as well as for special financial reports and makes presentations.

9. Responsible for the administration of Public Works Trust Funds. Assists in the preparation of statistical analysis as needed to set Permit and License Fees in Building and Development Services.

10. May act as Agency liaison for State, Local, Federal and Grand Jury Audits related to Public Works funds and recovery grants. Assists the Accounting and Finance Manager, PWA with preparation of fund reports in accordance with established regulations, including Fund annual reports to government entities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university, with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or a closely related field with major coursework in accounting

(Additional related experience comparable to the duties for this position may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis).

AND
Experience:

The equivalent of four years full-time, increasingly responsible professional accounting auditing, or finance experience preferably accounting and finance functions in a public works agency or similar type of organization performing functions in support of programs, budgets, capital improvement, and/or relatable to a multi-program accounting management system included cost accounting.

OR II

Experience:

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience at a level of or higher than the class of Auditor II in the Alameda County classified service. (Non classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.


NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• General and governmental accounting principles, theory and practices
• Principles of public administration, personnel management, and business management
• Principles and practices of contract and grant administration
• Financial analysis, record-keeping and auditing practices
• Practices and techniques of administrative analysis, research and report preparation
• Applicable federal, state and local policies and regulations
• Databases, computerized accounting systems used for cost accounting, to track accounting transactions and to generate/retrieve final reports


Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in writing
• Communicate effectively orally
• Make decisions
• Analyze data and draw logical conclusions
• Interpret and apply legal and administrative concepts to accounting functions
• Design and maintain effective accounting systems and procedures
• Perform complex accounting record-keeping activities
• Prepare clear, complete and accurate accounting and statistical reports, correspondences, procedures, policies and other written materials
• Plan, organize and prioritize work and meet critical deadlines
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines.
• Train and supervise accounting personnel
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Monitor fiscal transactions and audit fiscal records and documentation
• Plan and conduct administrative and operational studies
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with others
• Maintain accurate financial records and audit data

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Newspec: 9672.doc
MH:cs 10/11/11
CSC Date: 11/16/11

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.