Controller Job at City of Santa Barbara
City of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93101
$133,115 - $161,803 a year
DESCRIPTION
OUR COMMUNITY
Santa Barbara is among the world's most desirable places to work and live. Quietly nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara represents the essence of Southern California - the art and culture of a metropolitan city with the heart and hospitality of a small, beautiful coastal town. Located just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara provides a unique living environment. The City offers its approximately 90,000 residents a year-round mild climate with an average temperature in the 70s, magnificent beaches, mountains and parks within minutes of a bustling downtown.
Among the City's many amenities are excellent healthcare services, abundant shopping and dining, harbor facilities, a municipal golf course and a newly renovated municipal airport. Institutions of higher learning include the University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, and Antioch University. With so many choices of restaurants, cultural events, outdoor recreations and leisure activities, Santa Barbara offers something for every taste and lifestyle. Santa Barbara is a truly a magnificent and unique place to live and work.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Santa Barbara is managed by the Council/City Administrator form of government. City government services are provided by fourteen departments: Airport, City Administrator, City Attorney, Community Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Parks and Recreation, Police, Public Works, Sustainability & Resilience and Waterfront. The City Administrator is also the appointed City Clerk/Treasurer. Santa Barbara has 1,064 full-time equivalent employees, a $477 million budget for fiscal year 2023, and nine recognized bargaining units. The seven-member City Council includes a Mayor, who is elected at-large, and six council members, who are elected by district.
The City provides a full scope of services to the community, including public safety (fire and police), library, parks, recreation, planning, engineering, water, storm drain, refuse, and wastewater; and includes a municipal airport, golf course, and harbor.
Santa Barbara serves as the county seat as well as the county's financial and retail center. Research and development, high tech, and light industry businesses play an important role in Santa Barbara's economy. Year-round tourism also produces jobs and revenue for the City.
ABOUT US
At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here.
The mission of the Finance Department is to provide financial guidance to City Council and departments and manage the City’s financial operations. Read more about the Department of Finance here.
THE POSITION
The City of Santa Barbara
Finance Department is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable
Controller. Under direction of the Finance Director, this position plans, organizes, coordinates, and manages the City’s General Accounting Division, including general ledger accounting, accounts payable, payroll, disaster recovery, grants, debt management, audits, and prepares a variety of statutory and internal accounting reports; establishes and ensures adherence with internal accounting procedures.
The Controller plays a vital role in the long term, fiscal sustainability of the City. The Controller will collaborate with staff across the entire organization to deliver process improvements and operational efficiencies that will benefit City staff and the public. The Finance Department has focused on delivering services to the community in new, efficient ways though automation, electronic processing and more transparent, real-time information, such as the City’s online budget. The Controller will provide leadership on multiple projects including electronic vendor payment processing, future debt issuances for critical City infrastructure and grant management.
Typical duties include: establishing and maintaining uniform accounting policies for all accounting operations in the City; coordinating the year-end close and the annual audit; preparing the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the State Controller's Reports, annual Street Report, monthly financial statements, annual Continuing Disclosure Debt Reports, and other financial reports. The Controller also works closely with all City Departments, providing financial support, expertise and information and; routinely prepares written and verbal financial reports to the City Council and Finance Committee.
Salary: $133,115 - $161,803 annually pending council approval.
Work Schedule:
Finance Department staff enjoy a flex-work, “9 day-80 hour” schedule with every other Friday off work. The Controller will work in-person most days with an option for remote work on certain days, as approved.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will possess a combination of technical, managerial and communication skills. As a division head, the candidate must have experience in leading, motivating and directing the activities of multiple professional and clerical staff. Although each of the functions is overseen by a supervisor, the Controller is expected to be engaged and knowledgeable about all aspects of the accounting operations.
The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background and experience in accounting and financial reporting of a government entity, particularly with respect to the preparation of annual financial reports. The City prepares its own Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in collaboration with the City’s auditor, and the Controller plays a large role in its completion.
The ideal candidate will have an active certified public accountant (CPA) license in the State of California.
The ideal candidate will have strong technical and analytical skills that are applicable to a variety of special projects and assignments. In addition, the candidate must possess strong writing skills and have the ability to present complex financial information in an understandable and effective manner to the City Council and related sub-committees.
BENEFITS
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of
:
- Federal and State tax laws and payroll reporting requirements.
- Federal Single Audit Act and audit standards and practices.
- Generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
- Automated general ledger systems.
- Government or related budgeting and accounting methods.
- Principles and practices of government and debt accounting, general accounting, financial reporting, finance administration, and tax accounting.
- Research methods and statistical techniques and applications.
- Principles and practices of program development and administration.
- Project management principles.
- Supervisory principles and performance evaluation practices; employee motivation techniques.
Skills:
- Operate personal computer hardware and use financial information systems and related word processing, database, and spreadsheet software programs; operate a calculator.
- Operate a motor vehicle.
Ability to
:
- Develop and administer Accounting Division goals, objectives, and procedures and internal financial controls.
- Prepare, analyze, and interpret comprehensive general financial and accounting records and reports.
- Plan, organize, and supervise general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, and meet accounting deadlines.
- Select, train, supervise, coordinate and evaluate staff.
- Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Interpret, explain, and apply federal, State and local policies, laws, regulations, and ordinances.
- Prepare clear, concise, and complete administrative and financial reports.
- Work cooperatively with staff, management, customers, City Council, budget advisory committee representatives, contractors, vendors, and others encountered in the course of work.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Make public presentations.
- Exercise judgment with general policy guidelines.
- Work independently.
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
Five (5) or more years of professional general accounting experience, including three (3) or more years of supervisory experience.
Education and/or Training:
Possession of a Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements:
State licensure as a Certified Public Accountant is desirable.
A valid Class C California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City's Vehicle Insurance Policy.
SELECTION PROCESS
It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.
The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.
The first round of panel interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of June 12, 2023.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There is currently
one (1) vacancy within the Finance Department.
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.
OPEN & CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT: Because this recruitment is open and continuous, applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications as soon as possible. The filing period for an open and continuous recruitment may be closed at any time.
FOR FIRST CONSIDERATION
CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2023
.
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