SENIOR ACCOUNTANT (PROJECT ACCOUNTING) - Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Performs complex accounting, payroll, and financial analyses and reporting of the agency's financial transactions. The Senior Accountant will perform month end closing activities for general ledger and financial statements, prepare billings and reports for submission to funding sources such as Federal, State and Local.

Examples of Duties

• Performs complex accounting, budget, grant billing, and payroll research and analyses to ensure or validate the accuracy of Metro's financial and payroll records
• Reviews and validates the accuracy of financial, receivable, payable, and payroll records, statements and reports
• Analyzes complex grant funding agreements, bond issues, and other financial contractual agreements with federal, state, and local governmental agencies
• Prepares and presents financial, cost allocation, labor, and internal or external management reports using accounting software as needed
• Monitors, reviews, and analyzes financial data, including reconciliation of general ledger accounts against accounts receivable and accounts payable subsidiary ledgers
• Recommends or approves journal or adjusting entries to ensure accuracy of recorded transactions
• Provides audit support and communicates accounting and reporting issues to internal and external auditors and other regulatory agencies
• Prepares supporting documents and audit schedules and analyses
• Identifies and develops accounting processes to maximize the use of financial and reporting systems that will improve responsiveness to financial and compliance reporting, audit, and analysis
• Evaluates accounting systems such as grants billing, payroll, garnishment, and other financial reports to ensure conformance with applicable labor laws, regulations, and governmental accounting and other reporting standards
• Prepares and reviews Request for Proposals and related procurement requirements for goods and contract services
• Responds to inquiries and acts as a liaison to other departments, senior management, regulatory agencies, auditors, and financial institutions
• Designs, develops, and implements required/ad hoc financial reports for internal and external requestors
• Determines needs and participates in the implementation and enhancement of automated financial information systems application and financial reporting procedures
• Assists in the development of accounting/payroll forms, systems, policies, procedures, and manuals
• Provides guidance, coaching, training, and work oversight for assigned employees such as Accountants, Accounting Assistants and clerical staff
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

  
  May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field

Experience

• Three years of relevant experience in accounting performing financial analysis or governmental financial reporting; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and/or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) preferred

• Experience with month-end activities such as journal entries, month-end closing, and preparation of financial statements
• Experience preparing billings and reports related to grants from various funding sources, such as federal, state, local, and/or bond
• Experience preparing schedules related to capital assets addition, depreciation, and retirement (sale, donation, loss, and impairment
• Experience preparing timely and accurate responses to auditor requests of financial statement audits

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of governmental accounting, financial recordkeeping and reporting, auditing, budgeting, information systems, grants billing and project accounting, and, if applicable, payroll processes and labor laws
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations, governing financial reporting of a public agency and governmental accounting
• Query tools, advanced spreadsheet functions, and creating forms and reporting templates
• Principles of supervision
• Research techniques
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Performing statistical and complex financial analyses and research
• Preparing comprehensive reports, financial statements, and correspondence
• Performing and coordinating financial, grant billing, or payroll reviews
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of the organization and external representatives
• Providing prompt and knowledgeable customer service
• Operating computers and general office equipment

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Compile and analyze complex data
• Display and foster team cooperation and achievement
• Establish and implement policies and procedures
• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Handle highly confidential information
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Oversee, train, mentor, and motivate assigned staff
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.  Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.