Department Manager of Accounting (Limited-Term)

Southern California Association of Governments•Los Angeles, CA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is seeking a hands-on leader to fill the Department Manager of Accounting - Limited-Term position during an instrumental era of transformation for the agency as we embark on the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system over the next few years. The Department Manager of Accounting will be a self-starter who possesses excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving skills, and the proven ability to identify solutions for business challenges, lead organizational change, and foster a collaborative team environment. Under general direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Department Manager of Accounting will assume full managerial responsibility for the Accounting Department consisting of 19 full-time employees. This position is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating departmental operations, programs, and staff administration, and oversight of the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The Department Manager of Accounting will collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer, Division Heads, Finance Managers and staff to pioneer best practices and streamline finance processes to support Agency activities. It is crucial that the Department Manager of Accounting possesses strong leadership, strong knowledge of government accounting standards, good judgment and decision-making skills, excellent communication skills, employee management and development skills, and a customer-service orientation to serve as a resource to all SCAG divisions. The Accounting Department supports all agency programs through functions such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and financial reporting. The Accounting Department is responsible for accurately documenting various types of financial transactions, GASB implementations, and providing outstanding customer service.

Requirements

7 years of experience in government accounting
4 years of management or direct supervisory experience
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
Knowledge of governmental accounting principles, financial reporting practices, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Experience overseeing the preparation of the annual ACFR.
Knowledge of principles and practices of leadership and supervision.
The ability to strategically plan and coordinate the work of a department.
Knowledge of federal and state grant administration guidelines.
Experience developing and administering departmental budgets and managing organizational resources.
Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical information to all levels of staff and stakeholders.
High level of attention to detail with effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
The ability to identify opportunities for improvement and implement procedures to streamline processes.

Nice To Haves

CPA is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Assume management responsibility for all Accounting department services and activities.
Oversee key accounting functions including financial reporting, external audit administration, oversight of the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), payroll and tax reporting, grant billing and accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accounting operations.
Manage department staff including assigning and reviewing work, providing coaching and guidance, supporting professional development, and conducting performance evaluations.
Manage and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for Accounting Department programs and operations.
Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement and review with the Chief Financial Officer; direct the implementation of improvements.
Develop and standardize procedures, methods, and workflows to continuously monitor the efficiency and workload of staff ensuring continuity of operations during the implementation period of SCAG’s new ERP system.
Manage and participate in the development and administration of departmental budgets and forecast staffing, consultant, technology, and other resource needs.
Access financial data and information for preparation of reports pertaining to the General Fund, Special Revenue funds, and other reports to assess fund utilization by SCAG and use of resources available to SCAG.
Monitor, record and report OPEB and Pension Obligations.
Serve as a liaison for Accounting with the Regional Council, other SCAG departments and divisions, and outside agencies; negotiate and resolve significant and controversial issues.
Communicate directly with Federal and State administrators, contractors, subregions, and other stakeholders to support Accounting Department operations and agency priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned.