Senior Accountant (Assigned to Payroll)

Senior Accountant (Assigned to Payroll)Salary$90,646.40 - $110,198.40 AnnuallyLocationCity of Merced, CAJob TypeFull-TimeJob Number1398DepartmentFinanceOpening Date05/08/2026Closing Date5/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific* Description* BenefitsDescriptionClass specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONUnder general direction, supervise, direct, and coordinate the work of assigned City finance and finance support staff; exercise day-to-day responsibility for investments and grants; perform a variety of the more complex accounting, fiscal analysis, and auditing in the preparation, maintenance, and analysis of City fiscal records and financial transactions; prepare the City's annual budget; to prepare and maintain a variety of complex financial statements and reports; perform revenue collection and; perform related work as required.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICSThis is the advanced journey, full supervisory level in the professional Accountant class series. Incumbents supervise assigned accounting and fiscal support and perform a variety of the more complex fiscal, accounting, and auditing work, such as investments. This class is distinguished from Accountant II by being assigned full supervisory responsibility for designated staff.REPORTS TODeputy Finance Officer, Finance Officer or designee.CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISEDAssigned Accountants or fiscal support staff.Examples of DutiesREPRESENTATIVE DUTIESThe following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.Plan, assign, and oversee the work of designated staff; provide training and work evaluations.Perform a variety of complex professional accounting work in the establishment and maintenance of City fiscal records; review fiscal records to ensure proper disbursement of funds.Oversee investments and grant administration and review contract fiscal administration, as needed and prepare, update, and maintain the investment recap and cash flow for investment spreadsheets.Perform periodic internal audits of accounts payable and payroll; prepare information for outside fiscal audits and provide first line contact with contract auditors, preparing and providing documentation for annual audits.Maintain a variety of ledgers and journals; coordinate the posting of journal entries, as required; review and update accounts payable, accounts receivable, journal entries and budget adjustment entries; and develop and manage the year-end accounts payable accrual process ensuring expenditures are recorded in the proper fiscal year.Maintain general ledger accounts and funds; activate, inactivate and/or set up accounts, as needed and provide daily updates on subsidiary ledgers.Maintain and balance revenue information.Prepare work papers, financial statements and various reports for Federal, State and other outside agencies as well as for internal accounting.Perform a variety of budget activities; assist with the development and control of City budget information; review and ensure proper control of budget expenditures for assigned City Departments; and verify and correct budgeted amounts for Capital Improvement Projects.Review payroll transactions for accuracy and correct posting of expenditures as necessary.Perform special financial analysis assignments.Coordinate the balancing of City cash accounts with banks and reconcile problem accounts.Review and post daily cash batches.Prepare disbursement processing including the printing of accounts payable and payroll checks and recording cash transactions; prepare bank issues to be uploaded into the bank websites.Perform verification of draft financial audit reports and adjust entries after verification, as requested in audit reports.Coordinate, oversee, and prepare the City's annual budget.Coordinate all internal fund calculations.Coordinate, oversee, and prepare the City's 5-year forecast.Reconcile, maintain, and process payments for City debt service.Provide City staff with a variety of information regarding fiscal processes and procedures; assist other departments with cash receipt batches, requests for information, and run queries and reports to obtain information.Serve as a liaison with other government agencies, auditors, and the public; handle customer disputes.Research and resolve accounting or procedural issues within the finance department and other departments; recommend or implement changes in accounting systems and procedures.Oversee the month-end-close process including the review of month end journal vouchers and reports prepared by accounts payable and general ledger staff.Review, update, and post fixed assets and corresponding journal vouchers.Prepare and/or review the year-end journal entry adjustments including physical inventory, interest income accrual, debt service, fixed assets, depreciation expenses, and others.Prepare reports for monthly, quarterly, and fiscal year closing.Oversee and monitor collection efforts including reviewing and moving files to collection agencies.Review and prepare requests for payment for vendors and finance department expenses and review and sign purchase orders.Perform related duties as required.Health and Welfare BenefitsUp to $846.67 per pay period towards the following benefits:Medical - Choice of Anthem Blue Cross plansDental - Choice of Delta Dental plansVision - Choice of VSP vision plansLife - Pays amount equal to one year's salary up to $50,000Disability - Choice of Long Term Disability coverageVacationYears 1-5 earn vacation at rate of 3.696 hours per pay period up to maximum of 192 hoursYears 6-9 earn vacation at rate of 4.616 hours per pay period up to maximum of 240 hoursYears 10-15 earn vacation at rate of 6.160 hours per pay period up to maximum of 320 hoursYears 16-20 earn vacation at rate of 6.928 hours per pay period up to maximum of 360Years 21-25 earn vacation at rate of 7.696 hours per pay period up to maximum of 400 hoursYears 26+ earn vacation at rate of 9.232 hours per pay period up to maximum of 480 hoursSick LeaveSick leave is earned at rate of 3.696 hours per pay period up to maximum of 1056 hoursLongevity Pay10 Years - 1.5% of base hourly rate of pay.15 Years - 3.0% of base hourly rate of pay.20 Years - 4.5% of base hourly rate of pay.25 Years - 6.0% of base hourly rate of pay.Admin LeaveManagement Supervisory employees receive 5 days per calendar year.Holidays14 paid holidaysRetirementCalPERS Retirement at either 2% at 60 or 2% at 62 for Miscellaneous employees and CalPERS Retirement at either 3% at 55 or 2.7% at 57 for Public Safety employees depending on previous CalPERS or reciprocal employment.ICMA-RC 457 Deferred Compensation Plan available.OtherMerced School Employees Federal Credit Union Membership"Healthy Life, Wealthy Life" Wellness Program.