Senior Accountant - Disbursement ERP Project

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority•San Jose, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Accountant is a project position that supports the ERP Accounting Activities with an anticipated end date of 6/30/2028. The VTA accounting team seeks a Project Senior Accountant for the Disbursements team. This role supports the implementation of a new financial system and requires expertise in accounts payable, payroll transactions, payroll tax activities, and general ledger reconciliation. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with labor laws, wage regulations, and tax requirements; filing tax returns; reconciling general ledger accounts related to payroll and accounts payable; managing monthly and annual closings; and performing additional duties as needed during the financial system implementation. The ideal candidate is adaptable, detail-oriented, and possesses a broad range of accounting knowledge to ensure VTA meets its financial reporting and compliance standards during the legacy system replacement.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field
Four years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience
At least one year of which was in a lead or supervisory capacity
Experience in a public agency is preferred
Ability to operate a computer using word processing and spreadsheet and other standard business and financial software
Ability to analyze and evaluate complex financial and accounting information and reach sound professional conclusions and recommendations
Ability to evaluate financial and accounting systems and programs and make recommendations for improvement
Ability to understand, interpret, explain, and apply VTA policies, state and federal laws and regulations, and applicable professional standards regarding VTA financial accounting, reporting, and record keeping
Ability to develop and implement financial procedures and internal controls
Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive financial statements, schedules, reports, and other written materials
Ability to exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines
Ability to plan, direct, and supervise the work of others
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, staff, auditors, vendors and others encountered in the course of work
Knowledge of principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund and governmental accounting, including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting
Knowledge of internal control and audit principles and practices
Knowledge of laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of public agencies and transportation authorities in the State of California
Knowledge of laws and regulations governing fund transfer agreement compliance and their application to governmental accounting and budgeting
Knowledge of VTA functions and associated financial management and reporting issues
Knowledge of principles and practices of business data processing particularly related to the processing of accounting and financial information
Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision and training

Nice To Haves

A Master's degree in Business Administration with emphasis in accounting or Certified Public Accountant license may be substituted for one year of the required experience
License as a Certified Public Accountant is desirable
Enterprise Resource Planning System experience is desirable

Responsibilities

Ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal labor laws, wage regulations, and tax requirements
Filing local, state, and federal tax returns, including W-2s and 1099Rs
Reconciling general ledger accounts related to payroll and accounts payable expenses
Managing monthly and annual closings
Performing system tests to ensure old data is user-friendly in the new system
Preparing internal reports for management and external reports for compliance
Evaluating the performance of assigned staff
Interviewing and recommending selection of job candidates
Orienting and training unit staff
Establishing and/or recommending performance requirements and personal development targets
Regularly monitoring performance and providing coaching for performance improvement and development
Recommending disciplinary action, up to and including termination
Planning, organizing, controlling, integrating, and evaluating the work of staff in assigned areas, including budget control, cash management and operations, capital projects and accounts receivable, treasury, general ledger, payroll, fixed assets, and revenue services
Developing, implementing, and monitoring work plans to achieve goals and objectives
Supervising and participating in developing, implementing, and evaluating plans, work processes, systems, and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives, and work standards
Planning, coordinating, supervising, and/or participating in the preparation of special and/or detailed financial and accounting reports
Performing highly technical and complex accounting analysis, research, calculations, and data compilation in compliance with VTA, state, federal and other reporting requirements
Planning, reviewing, and ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of accounting data in assigned areas
Analyzing and evaluating information, presenting findings, and/or recommending courses of action to management
Planning, organizing, and ensuring timely completion of monthly and year end financial closings
Supervising or generating and reviewing monthly and year-end financial statements, along with supporting schedules and reports
Reviewing statements, schedules, and reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and professional standards
Participating in developing, maintaining, and ensuring optimal utilization of SAP financial accounting information systems
Verifying the accuracy and completeness of information generated
Identifying, diagnosing, and resolving problems
Recommending system improvements
Training departmental staff on the operations and reporting capabilities of the system
Assisting other departments in formulating queries and generating special reports
Designing and implementing controls for data input and output
Designing and creating custom financial reports
Creating, maintaining, and updating procedures manual related to accounting functions
Consulting with and providing expert assistance to VTA management, other departments, internal and external auditors, and vendors
Working with staff of other departments to resolve technical accounting issues and problems
Maintaining, reviewing, and participating in developing and recommending improvements to accounting policies, processes, and procedures
Designing, implementing, and improving daily work and month-end processes and procedures to ensure accurate and complete information within established time frames
Monitoring professional developments in the field, evaluating their impact on VTA policies and operations, and recommending changes and improvements where warranted
Performing related duties as required