What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Accountant (Payroll)- Department of Finance position at City of San José?
Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.
The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.
About The Department
The Finance Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Senior Accountant vacancy in the Accounting Division. If you are interested in this position, please apply!
The mission of the Finance Department is to manage, protect, and report on City of San José financial resources to enhance the City’s financial condition for residents, businesses, and investors.
The Finance Department has five core divisions:
The Finance Department works in partnership with the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, and Public Works as the City’s Strategic Support City Service Area to effectively develop, manage, and safeguard City fiscal, physical, technological, and human resources to enable and enhance the delivery of City services and projects. The Finance Department has a $27.4 million operating budget and 128 budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
Position Duties
This position independently performs critical payroll functions to ensure the accurate and timely processing of the City’s bi-weekly payroll. The role is responsible for maintaining compliance with State and Federal laws, City policies, and negotiated labor agreements, while supporting financial operations that directly impact City employees and departments.
The main functions are as follows:
Minimum Qualifications
(These qualifications are typically required. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be substituted.)
Education
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, including at least 18 semester units in accounting subjects.
Experience
Four (4) years of experience at the working level of a professional accountant.
Acceptable Substitution
None
Other Qualifications
Competencies:
Job Expertise -Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, PeopleSoft and payroll system expertise, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, and federal and state rules and regulations.
Analytical Thinking - Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach
Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan.
Planning - Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; Defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.
Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills?-?Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Social Awareness-Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people’s emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
Additional Information:
Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.
Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.
AI and the Hiring Process
We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.
The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.
About The Department
The Finance Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Senior Accountant vacancy in the Accounting Division. If you are interested in this position, please apply!
The mission of the Finance Department is to manage, protect, and report on City of San José financial resources to enhance the City’s financial condition for residents, businesses, and investors.
The Finance Department has five core divisions:
- Accounting
- Administration
- Debt & Treasury Management
- Purchasing & Risk Management
- Revenue Management
The Finance Department works in partnership with the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, and Public Works as the City’s Strategic Support City Service Area to effectively develop, manage, and safeguard City fiscal, physical, technological, and human resources to enable and enhance the delivery of City services and projects. The Finance Department has a $27.4 million operating budget and 128 budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
Position Duties
This position independently performs critical payroll functions to ensure the accurate and timely processing of the City’s bi-weekly payroll. The role is responsible for maintaining compliance with State and Federal laws, City policies, and negotiated labor agreements, while supporting financial operations that directly impact City employees and departments.
The main functions are as follows:
- Coordinate with the Information Technology Department to define, document, test, and implement changes within the Oracle PeopleSoft HR/Payroll System.
- Manage and oversee payroll operations including general ledger interfaces, reporting, and payroll system compliance.
- Ensure compliance with IRS, Department of Labor, State, Federal, and other governmental regulations, as well as negotiated labor agreements and City policies.
- Oversee the preparation and completion of financial and payroll-related reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable laws and regulations.
- Assist in the preparation of the City’s annual financial reports and coordinate with external auditors and government audit agencies.
- Provide direct supervision to assigned staff, including assign and review work, provide training and guidance, monitor performance, and ensure compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
- Other Senior Accountant duties, as needed
Minimum Qualifications
(These qualifications are typically required. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be substituted.)
Education
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, including at least 18 semester units in accounting subjects.
Experience
Four (4) years of experience at the working level of a professional accountant.
Acceptable Substitution
None
Other Qualifications
Competencies:
Job Expertise -Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, PeopleSoft and payroll system expertise, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, and federal and state rules and regulations.
Analytical Thinking - Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach
Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan.
Planning - Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; Defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.
Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills?-?Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Social Awareness-Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people’s emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
Additional Information:
Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.
Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.
AI and the Hiring Process
We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.