Senior Accountant

The District:

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is a progressive, values-driven agency, with an international reputation for its leading-edge financial management practices, water recycling program, water use efficiency practices, water banking, urban runoff treatment, and energy generation and storage. Established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the California Water Code, IRWD is an independent special district serving central Orange County. IRWD provides high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to its customers. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager. Additional information can be found at the District's website: www.IRWD.com.

IRWD Values

Irvine Ranch Water District believes that its values drive the character, culture, and capacity of our organization. IRWD was built on values, and we weave them into the fabric of everything we do. Values are the ingredients in our recipe for both institutional and individual success. They are a code of conduct to promote positive outcomes for others and ourselves. They are more than words on a wall or a website. We live by them every day. We pledge to keep them relevant in an ever-changing world.

IRWD's employees enjoy working in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they form strong bonds with fellow employees. To ensure effective communication and promote a collaborative team environment, employees report to work each day in the office or in the field, depending on their positions.

The Position

Perform accounting and analytical duties with responsibility for one or more of the following areas: General Ledger, Accounts Payable and iExpense, Accounts Receivable, Payroll Administration and Accounting, Project and Grant Management, Fixed Assets, Year End Processing and Financial Reporting.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises technical and functional direction over and provides training to lower-level staff.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level classification in the professional accounting series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of accounting duties assigned to classes within this Accountant series including serving as a lead worker over assigned staff, managing projects and initiatives, serving as a subject matter expert in specific accounting and finance functions, and performing the most complex professional accounting duties which require a thorough understanding of governmental financial practices and regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs and oversees the general ledger period end closing processes, including subledgers.
• Prepares and reviews analysis of general ledger accounts.
• Prepares, reviews, and approves journal entries including proper supporting documentation.
• Understands and resolves issues on subledger(s) / general ledger interfaces and provide recommendations.
• Prepares and reviews complex accounting transactions such as debt-refunding, pension, other post-employment benefits, swaps and capitalized interest.
• Completes year-end processing of relevant accounting functions including preparation and review of lead audit schedules for the annual external audit.
• Coordinates with auditors as appropriate.
• Prepares, reviews, and completes the relevant annual report (ACFR) sections.
• Understands and applies current knowledge in GAAP, FASB, and GASB.
• Researches accounting issues and determine/recommend proper accounting treatments and make recommendations.
• Ensures activities are in accordance with District policy, procedures, regulations, and guidelines.
• Identifies issues and make recommendations for business process improvements.
• Formulates, establishes, and maintains processes and procedures to maintain appropriate internal controls.
• Oversees and administers the payroll processing functions; perform all payroll functions for the District including deductions, adjustments, analytical review and audit and reconciliation.
• Prepares, processes and reviews all payroll related quarterly and year-end reporting such as State Controller’s Report and Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements.
• Coordinates with all internal District departments as needed; provide superior service to internal and external customers.
• Prepares and reviews outside reports as appropriate.
• Comply with safety work-related practices and attend relevant safety training.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, Irvine Ranch Water District employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.

Experience:

Three (3) years of experience in a general accounting environment, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable and iExpense, Accounts Receivable, Payroll Administration and Accounting, Project and Grant Management, Fixed Assets, Year End Processing and/or Financial Reporting is required. Experience in governmental accounting environment preferred.

Licenses/Certificates Required:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

Certified Payroll Professional preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of governmental accounting and public finance administration.
• Government accounting, GASB regulations, and GAAP.
• Complex accounting functions including payroll, capital asset management, debt compliance, and project accounting.
• Methods and techniques of coding, verifying, balancing, and reconciling accounting records.
• Principles and practices of fiscal, statistical, and administrative record keeping and reporting.
• Standards and regulations governing public sector financial reporting.
• Methods and techniques of analyzing general ledgers and preparing journal entries.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems; ability to evaluate and improve system processes.
• Basic knowledge of SQL queries preferred.

Ability to:

• Create and maintain spreadsheets, amortization schedules, databases, and flowcharts including the use of financial functions.
• Communicate effectively with all levels of office/field employees and management. Represent District in a professional manner when dealing with outside customers and suppliers.
• Explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well established policies, procedures and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple and difficult requests from others.
• Effectively listen and communicate with customers.
• To add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate percentages. Ability to apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.) and Governmental Accounting Standards (G.A.S.) to all analytical duties.
• Use good personal judgment and discretion in performing all job functions. Ability to use good judgment in decision making with customers. Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Lead, train, and support other finance staff in achieving departmental goals.

IRWD offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits!

Apply online, https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/irwd