Accountant III

Management & Training Corporation•San Francisco, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accountant III is part of the Toll Services and Revenue Section and reports directly to the Financial Program Manager responsible for the Clipper Program’s financial operations. Clipper is the Bay Area’s regional fare payment system, serving 28 participating transit operators. Its back-office system is operated under contract by Cubic Transportation Systems, and its accounting functions—including the general ledger—use Microsoft Dynamics Finance & Operations. As a key member of the Clipper Program Finance team, the Accountant supports the financial management, governance, and continuous improvement of the regional fare payment program. The role combines advanced accounting, financial systems, internal controls, audit support, vendor coordination, financial analysis, regional transit finance, and process improvement to help ensure accurate and well-governed financial operations. The position performs complex reconciliations, validates settlement activities, monitors controls, supports audits, coordinates with Cubic, participating transit operators, and the MTC Clipper operation team, and develops financial procedures to strengthen efficiency and long-term program sustainability.

Requirements

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a related field.
Five years of increasingly responsible professional accounting or financial analysis experience.
Knowledge of GAAP, including accrual accounting and financial reporting.
Knowledge of GAAS, internal control principles, compliance requirements, and audit documentation.
Knowledge of governmental accounting principles and public-sector financial reporting.
Knowledge of enterprise financial systems, system interfaces, and high-volume transaction processing.
Knowledge of fare payment settlement processes, revenue accounting, bank reconciliations, and the flow of transactions from a back-office system to the general ledger.
Knowledge of financial analysis, data analytics, performance reporting, and reconciliation methodologies.
Knowledge of third-party vendor oversight and contract management.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Power BI or other data analytics tools.
Ability to take ownership of assignments, track tasks and progress, manage multiple priorities, and meet established schedules with minimal supervision.
Ability to analyze complex financial transactions, investigate discrepancies, and explain findings clearly.
Ability to perform detailed reconciliations across multiple systems and validate the completeness and accuracy of financial output.
Ability to evaluate vendor reports, system processes, and supporting documentation and communicate findings and recommendations.
Ability to interpret and apply accounting policies, contract requirements, business rules, and financial procedures.
Ability to prepare concise management reports, audit support, and process documentation.
Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with internal teams, vendors, auditors, consultants, and regional partners.
Any required academic credential evaluation for a degree issued outside the United States must be submitted with the application when the degree is used to meet the minimum qualifications, subject to the exceptions stated in the posting.

Nice To Haves

At least two of the five years of experience in the public sector, transportation, tolling, transit, or a high-volume payment environment.
Experience operating complex enterprise financial systems in a high-volume transaction environment, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, SAP, Oracle, or comparable ERP platforms.
Experience supporting a financial system implementation, upgrade, integration, or release.
Experience in a regulated environment requiring internal controls, audit support, and compliance documentation.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Responsibilities

Support the financial management and governance of the Clipper Program.
Serve as the Finance liaison with the back-office system vendor on financial reporting, settlements, reconciliations, and accounting issues.
Monitor financial performance, trends, and risks; prepare analyses, dashboards, reconciliation summaries, management reports, and performance metrics.
Collaborate with participating transit operators, consultants, and internal departments to resolve financial issues and track commitments, program initiatives, and system enhancements through completion.
Support financial system implementations, upgrades, releases, and process-improvement initiatives.
Reconcile banking records, general ledger, subledger reports, and back-office system reports.
Investigate financial and reconciliation variances, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
Validate financial transactions and general ledger use cases supporting revenue recognition and operator settlements.
Review trial balances, accounting entries, and financial reports, and support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities.
Evaluate financial control design and operation and recommend updates to accounting policies, procedures, business rules, and process documentation.
Monitor compliance with applicable accounting and auditing standards, banking requirements, contract provisions, and agency procedures.
Support internal and external audits by preparing schedules and evidence and coordinating information requests.
Track control, reporting, and process issues with vendor and internal owners through resolution; document and validate corrective actions.
Review financial procedures, user guides, reconciliation documentation, and operational manuals for completeness, clarity, consistency, and usability, and recommend updates.
Analyze high-volume financial and transaction data using Microsoft Excel, Power BI, or comparable analytics tools to identify trends, exceptions, and improvement opportunities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.