Accountant

ABOUT US:
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a full-service governmental agency stewarding a metropolitan system of public open space parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of the San Francisco Bay. EBRPD spans across 125,000 acres in 73 regional parks, including over 1,250 miles of trails that are enjoyed by over 25 million visitors and the community per year. The Park District acquires, manages, and preserves natural and cultural resources for everyone to enjoy now and forever to experience nature nearby.

OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education.  An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.
 
OUR VALUES:

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
•  Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
•  Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
•  Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
•  Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

 
WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

 
THE OPPORTUNITY: 
The Park District has one (1) Accountant vacancy located at the Park District’s Administrative Office, 2950 Peralta Oaks Ct., Oakland. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.   

GENERAL FUNCTION:
Under general direction performs professional and technical accounting and auditing work, including assistance with preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR); performs a variety of professional and technical duties within the accounting and auditing function of the Finance Department; and performs related duties as assigned. This position reports to Chief, manager, supervisor, or designee and is not a supervisory class.  This position may provide lead direction to clerical and technical accounting staff.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO: 

• Possess journey-level government accounting skills.
• Have a strong aptitude for clear, concise, and direct communication, as well as the ability to succinctly summarize complex financial information.
• Energetic, committed to excellent customer service, self-motivated, with strong interpersonal skills, and can work with various levels within the Finance Department.
• Foster collaboration, set an example for the team, and demonstrate a positive attitude. 
• Have excellent project management skills and can prioritize tasks accordingly, with the willingness to pitch in during critical times such as audits, budget development, and year-end closings. 
• Have experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning system for local agencies.
• Have strong attention to detail and a stickler for accuracy.
• Have experience providing information and support to the general ledger and audit processes.
• Be an advanced user of Excel.

• Devises and maintains systems to provide accurate accounting data; 
• Performs internal audits; 
• Prepares and completes audit work papers, financial statements, disclosures, and preliminary or draft audit finding and recommendation reports; 
• Works with external auditors; 
• Determines methodology and responsible for advancement of assignments or projects; 
• Assists or performs accounting work for audits and the ACFR, including maintenance of capital asset schedules; 
• Reviews, analyzes, and responds to inquiries regarding transactions and account balances;
• Prepares and distributes financial reports; 
• Prepares bank deposit coding; 
• Audits, imports, and posts various deposits; 
• Performs accounts receivable duties, including invoicing, reconciling accounts receivable aging, generating monthly aging reports, and assisting in the collection of payments;
• Prepares and posts journal entries; 
• Reviews and records outstanding checks and issues notices of stale dated checks; 
• Evaluates compliance with policies and procedures and external laws and regulations;
• Performs revenue and compliance audits of the Park District’s concessionaires; 
• Reviews cash handling activities, land acquisition and capital projects, and audits activities of contractual agreements; 
• Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations regarding departmental accounting and recordkeeping practices, procedures, and internal controls; 
• Assists in preparing audit programs including determining the scope and risk assessments;
• Performs follow-up reviews of previous audits; 
• Completes special projects; 
• Serves as a resource for identifying and resolving accounting issues to other staff; 
• And performs related duties as assigned.

• Three years of recent professional auditing, accounting, or financial statement preparation experience. 
• Experience in fund accounting and within a governmental or public agency is desirable.

• Principles, practices and techniques of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); 
• Principles and practices of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); Principles and practices of generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS); 
• Principles and practices of financial reporting and internal controls; 
• Statistical sampling methods; and office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

• Interpret and apply standards, rules and regulations regarding GAAP, GASB and GAAS; develop proficiency with the Park District’s accounting software; 
• Apply analytical skills; 
• Work independently; 
• Make arithmetic calculations; 
• Analyze and evaluate financial transactions, procedures, internal operations and controls; 
• Document and audit observations and findings; 
• Exercise independent judgment in recommending more efficient methods, systems and reporting formats; 
• Interpret contract and agreement terms, provisions and conditions;
• Arrive at logical conclusions and recommendations in performing comparative analyses of financial data and reports; 
• Stay abreast of changes in accounting and auditing pronouncements and the impacts of technology; 
• Exercise flexibility, prioritize tasks and adapt to changes; 
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• And establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

Conditions of Employment

• All East Bay Park Regional District employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
• Must pass Level 2 Background Check consisting of Department of Justice (DOJ) fingerprinting, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identity History Summary Check, Credit check per applicable state and federal laws, professional references, and education verification. 
• Depending on work location and assignment, possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
2. Completed supplemental questions

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system.  If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only.  Our online application system is provided by NeoGov.  If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.
 
Notification:  All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.
 
Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.
 
Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.
 
 Tentative Date of Onsite Examinations:
 September/October 2023
 
Equal Opportunity Employer: 
The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Salary : $8,011 - $9,064