Los Angeles Community College District

Accountant (#1163)

$34.15-$42.31 hourly / $5,919.22-$7,332.88 monthly / $71,030.64-$87,994.56 annual


Definition

Performs professional accounting duties which involve establishing and maintaining accounting records, preparing and reviewing trial balances, preparing statements and reports, making adjusting entries, and providing technical direction to clerical accounting staff engaged in the classification and distribution of income and expenditures for subsequent posting to ledgers.

Typical Duties

Prepares and reviews periodic trial balances and reconciles them with the general ledger.

Prepares accounting statements and reports.

Determines and establishes accounts receivable from Board reports, inter-district contracts, payroll records, specially-funded program agreements, and various other sources of information.

Reconciles open accounts receivable with the general ledger on a periodic basis.

Prepares journal vouchers and makes adjusting and closing entries.

Utilizes accounting enterprise systems in the processing of accounting related data.

Registers disbursements and payroll deductions.

Analyzes accounting data, identifies and determines causes of discrepancies, and recommends corrective and preventative measures.

Maintains accounting controls over documents processed by data processing, verifies accuracy of output documents, and resolves discrepancies.

Reviews and corrects the coding of items such as payroll documents, contract documents, and purchasing documents for account distribution according to fund, appropriation, organizational unit, legality, and funding.

Maintains subsidiary ledgers.

Acts as liaison and provides approved information concerning the accounting system to auditors, financial institutions, governmental agencies, and the public.

Identifies and reports accounting process and system issues and contributes to the analysis and testing of system modifications and improvements under the guidance of a functional business systems analyst.

Answers inquiries from administrators, staff, vendors, and students regarding account balances, codes, and accounting procedures and policies.

Assists campus staff in resolving discrepancies in their accounts.

Provides work direction, training, and technical assistance to clerical accounting staff.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

An Accountant, following established rules and procedures, performs professional accounting duties such as establishing and maintaining accounting records, preparing and reviewing trial balances, preparing statements and reports, making adjusting entries, and overseeing the clerical accounting functions that include the classification and distribution of income and expenditures for subsequent posting to ledgers. Incumbents in the course of their work are responsible for identifying and reporting accounting process and system issues and contribute to the analysis and testing of system modifications and improvements under the guidance of a functional business systems analyst.

A Senior Accountant supervises the activities of a small unit engaged in processing accounting and other related documents, applies a working knowledge of principles and practices of accounting in resolving problems related to various accounts, and is responsible for preparing accounting statements and reports. Incumbents in the course of their work are responsible for identifying and reporting accounting process and system issues and contribute to the analysis and testing of system modifications and improvements under the guidance of a functional business systems analyst.

A Senior Accounting Technician applies a working knowledge of the District's accounting system while acting in a lead capacity with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operation of a small unit engaged in processing clerical accounting and other related documents.

Supervision

General supervision is received from a classified supervisor or administrator. Work direction and technical assistance may be exercised over assigned clerical accounting and other clerical staff.

Class Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Principles, procedures, practices, and theories of accounting

Accounting codes, classification, and terminology

Principles and methods of account maintenance

Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and policies affecting the accounting and financial systems

Principles and practices of business and public administration

Current trends and developments in accounting and related fields

Organization and management of records

Principles of training

Capabilities of enterprise systems, software, and hardware used in accounting

Ability to:

Apply accounting practices, principles, and procedures to assigned work

Review and verify accounting data and resolve discrepancies

Prepare clear and concise reports and statements

Train others in specialized accounting practices and procedures

Effectively utilize accounting enterprise systems and software applications in the performance of duties

Give instructions and explain accounting procedures in a clear and concise manner

Work independently on assigned projects

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with District administration, staff, and vendors

Meet schedules and deadlines

Maintain accurate accounting records

Learn and apply laws, rules, and procedures related to governmental accounting, including GAAP

Learn specialized governmental accounting practices and procedures

Learn specialized software applications used in accounting systems

Entrance Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A.  A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university, which included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester units of accounting coursework. A degree with a major in accounting, business administration, finance, public administration, or a related field is desirable.

OR

B.  A valid license to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in California.

Reasonable Accommodations

Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, they should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.


CLASS: 1163; REV: 7/28/2021;