Accountant II/III - General Ledger/Cash Accountant

The Position

The City of Encinitas is seeking a detail-oriented cash accountant with excellent customer service skills to support the finance department of the city. This role maintains the daily cash position reports to the Finance Manager and works closely with the Finance Director to maintain the funding needs of the city. The ideal candidate is detail oriented, organized, a problem solver, analytical thinker, reliable, and able to work independently while managing multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced public environment. Join a collaborative finance team responsible for safeguarding the City's financial resources. This position offers opportunities to lead accounting initiatives, improve financial processes, work directly with City leadership, and contribute to strategic financial planning while maintaining a strong work-life balance. Enjoy working in this beautiful coastal region of San Diego.

Accountants are responsible for coordinating professional level accounting projects, providing internal and external advice, providing analytical support to management and internal and external staff, and training employees in general accounting or budgeting procedures. This position focuses on general ledger accounting and cashflow management.

Examples of Important & Essential Duties (included but not limited to)

Essential Duties: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)

• Monitors general ledger activities, which includes coordinating tasks; establishing workflow; coordinating and reviewing work and results; preparing and entering journal entries for various adjustments and corrections; analyzing and resolving accounting issues; preparing, reviewing, and distributing financial reports for City departments; conducting year-end closings; and performing other related tasks.
• Performs a variety of accounting functions, which includes assisting with cash management activities; serving as a liaison with outside agencies; and performing other related tasks.
• Reviews journal entries; balances general ledger accounts to detailed listings.
• Leads in major job functions and has demonstrated competency when applying expert knowledge of local and professional laws, codes, regulations and procedures;
• Maintains daily cash positioning and investment activities, including monitoring daily bank balances and identifying funding needs. Forecasts short-term cash requirements to ensure adequate liquidity for operations.
• Responds to internal accounting inbox requests and provides excellent customer service to other departments.
• Prepares monthly bank reconciliation and daily cash flow report, decisions positive pay daily, initiates stop payments and wire transfers.
• Identifies and investigates unusual transactions, duplicate payments, unauthorized refunds, altered payee information, and other potential indicators of fraud.
• Assists in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial report by preparing note disclosures, supporting schedules, analyzing financial data for accuracy and compliance, gathering documentation from departments, performing analytical review procedures, and ensuring completeness and consistency across all report sections.
• Supports other departments with accounting matters by adjusting the general ledger, researching program improvements, tracking revenues and expenses, creating new funds, developing procedures, and performing related tasks.
• Leads in analyzing and implementing procedures for automated accounting software packages; reviews programs and trains staff in maximizing the use of automated systems.
• Supports budget preparation by reconciling revenues and expenditures, supplying financial data as needed, and carrying out additional related tasks.
• Consults with Finance Division managers and provides recommendations about the design of changes to the accounting system and accounting practices.
• Conducts independent professional research on behalf of the Finance Division to assure compliance with auditing and accounting standards.
• Writes and updates changes to the City's Administrative Manual for Finance Division policy and procedures and trains representatives of other departments as changes are implemented.
• Leads implementation and testing of financial software modules and upgrades.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

Click HERE to read the full job description.

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, plus 4-6 years accounting related experience. Applicants that hold a CPA or a CPFO certification are highly desirable.

Application Process and Deadline

A completed application with an attached resume AND cover letter is due by 5pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Don't delay, apply today!

• Incomplete application packets will not be accepted **
  
  

The City of Encinitas and the San Dieguito Water District provide equal opportunity employment for all persons without regard to race, color, religion/religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, age, physical disability, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, political affiliations, veteran status, Family Leave Act status, AB60 CA Driver's License status or status with pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding. The City and Water District encourage minorities, disabled persons and women to apply. Qualified applicants who move to the next level of the selection process must notify the Human Resources Office if accommodation is needed. A thorough background check will be conducted for the candidate(s) seriously considered for the position including fingerprinting and reference checking. A contingent job offer may be given pending the results of medical evaluation, which includes a physical, TB test and drug and alcohol screening. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. All employees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.

City of Encinitas & San Dieguito Water District

2026 Benefits Summary

Service Employees International Union, Local 221 (SEIU)

Cafeteria Health Plan

The employer’s “Flexible Benefit Plan” contribution will make available for each employee a monthly amount equal to the high median of the monthly premiums of all CalPERS health plans available in San Diego County. Under the City’s Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan qualified benefits include: health, dental, vision, dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and healthcare FSA. The remaining balance is available as additional taxable income capped at one-half of the monthly cafeteria contribution

Retirement

The City contracts with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS):

Retirement Tier – Local Miscellaneous Retirement Formula

Tier 2 – Classic2.0% @ 60

Tier 3 – New Member2.0% @ 62

Retirement Tier – Other Safety (Lifeguards)Retirement Formula

Tier 2 – Classic3.0% @ 55

Tier 3 – New Member2.7% @ 57

457 Deferred Compensation

The City offers a 457 and/or 401(a) deferred compensation. These accounts are voluntary and employee funded.

Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

The City provides Basic Group Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D). Group Term Life Insurance is equal to 1x your basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $150,000. AD&D is up to the amount of your Group Term Life Insurance.

Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

STD benefits are 70% of your weekly earnings up to a maximum of $3,500 per week.

Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

LTD benefits are 66% of monthly earnings up to a maximum of $8,000 per month. San Dieguito Water District employees pay for their LTD premium.

Sick Leave

Employees accrue nine (9) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of paid status (4.153 hours per pay period). New employees are granted a beginning balance of (9) hours. Less than full time employees accrue sick leave in an amount prorated by FTE status. Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.

Vacation Leave

Employees earn vacation hours based on the following years of service:

Years of Service Annual Accrual

Hire - 5 Years 104 hours

6 - 10 Years 128 hours

11 - 15 Years 152 hours

16 Years 184 hours

Credit is given to new employees for related continuous prior public service employment at the rate of one year for every two years worked.

Paid Leave for Family Member Illness

Each new full-time employee is granted a beginning balance of fourteen (14) hours of paid time off to attend to family member(s) in need of the employee’s assistance in times of illness or parental leave to bond with a new child; 1.3846 hours of additional paid leave is accrued each pay period. The maximum accrual is about eighty three (83) hours.

Parental Leave (Baby Bonding)

Employees who qualify for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) baby bonding will be eligible for twelve (12) weeks of employer paid leave. Available leave is prorated based on FTE status.

General Election Leave

Employees shall be provided a half day of paid leave to vote at the employee’s polling location or a full day of paid leave to volunteer for the County Registrar of Voters for a General Election.

Holiday Closure

Each year, City Hall is closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.

Holidays

Employees receive thirteen (13) fixed holidays and five (5) floating holidays (45 hours) per fiscal year.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Confidential services are available to employees and household members to assist with personal and professional issues. Five sessions per issue are available each calendar year.

Computer Purchase Program

The City will loan employees who successfully complete the probationary period of employment an interest free loan of up to $3,000.

Tuition Assistance

Eligible employees may receive up to $1,200 in reimbursement per fiscal year for approved coursework tuition, required textbooks and registration.

Social Security and Medicare

The City does not participate in the Social Security program. The City and employees each pay 1.45% to Medicare Insurance.

This document is intended to provide a general summary of benefits available to employees of the City of Encinitas and San Dieguito Water District. Exact benefits an employee is entitled to receive are determined by the City Council through collective bargaining agreements between the City and the union representing the employee's classification, as well as through various Resolutions and Ordinances. If there is a conflict between the information in this summary and the official plans/contracts, the official documents will prevail.

01

I hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting or a related field.

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

How many years of prior experience do you have reconciling bank statements and performing cash flow analysis?

03

Do you enjoy detail-oriented work and resolving discrepancies? Please describe a time when you identified and resolved a reconciliation issue.

• Required Question