Senior Staff Accountant

Job Purpose Statement:

The Senior Staff Accountant position involves accounting functions such as analyzing, monitoring, preparing and reconciling financial information to reflect the condition of the organization and provide financial and other statistical data to control operations as well as preparation of financial reports to meet internal and external reporting requirements. 

The Senior Staff Accountant uses professional accounting concepts as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of accounting practices and organizational policies and procedures to resolve complex assignments where analysis of data requires a review of a variety of factors and multiple sources, exercises judgment within defined accounting procedures and practices to determine appropriate action, normally receives general instructions, with detailed instructions provided on complex new assignments and initiatives, has contact with internal and external resources on a regular basis, and demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

Essential Functions:

• Compliance
  • Analyze and evaluate accounting procedures and recommend improvement; study, evaluate and participate in implementation of GASB pronouncements.
  • Helps in the maintenance of BCH Oakland chart of accounts and UCOP mapping.
  • Prepares and provides analysis during interim and fiscal year-end audit processes for both external and internal auditors. 
  • Instrumental in ensuring that the quality of internal controls is adequate and functioning as designed, collaborate with stakeholders to continually improve accounting processes and reporting.
• Data Collection and Analysis
  • Under supervision of manager/supervisor, may have responsibility for preparing summary and analytical schedules, and either answering questions or coordinating answer gathering.
  • Apply advanced accounting concepts to perform highly complex technical analysis to understand past performance and determine present and future performance and/or resource allocations.
  • Perform balance sheet reconciliations on a monthly basis and perform first level review of peers¿ to increase cross training and quality assurance levels.
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual variance analysis ¿ budget and trend.
  • Guide and advise less-experienced analysts and/or accountants.  May lead cross-functional teams to solve complex business or systems issues.
• Financial Management and Control
  • Apply advanced accounting concepts to perform highly complex technical analysis to understand past performance and determine present and future performance and/or resource allocations.
  • Develop, implement and/or maintain one or a combination of general accounting systems.
  • Prepare journal entries, maintain and reconcile complex ledger accounts, including cash, payroll, and credit card transactions.
  • Generate appropriate schedules and worksheets to support financial transactions.
  • Review and reconcile balance sheet accounts as assigned.
• Insights and Reporting
  • Interpret reports and records for administrators and managers.
  • Actively participate in the re-engineering and implementation / upgrade of new and current financial systems and processes to ensure that adequate controls are incorporated.
  • Propose and implement manual and automated process changes and improvements to ensure efficient and effective reporting and operations.
  • Coordinate and provides analysis in special projects, as necessary. Perform other duties as assigned.
• Customer Service
  • Serve as lead in providing customer service to BCH Oakland and affiliated entity departments and offices to ensure they have the financial reporting, ad-hoc queries, and other financial information useful for their financial management of operations. Services can include responding to difficult technical accounting questions, data mining, accounting research, problem solving and coordinating resolutions.
  • Provide guidance and training to BCH Oakland and affiliated entity departments and offices in order to record information according to BCH Oakland policies and procedures.
  • Respond to requests for information and assistance from employees, BCH Oakland clients, regulatory agencies, management, auditors and outside agencies.

People Leadership Responsibilities: 

• This role does not have any formal people leadership responsibilities, but the incumbent may be expected to train or mentor new or more junior colleagues.

Financial Responsibilities: 

• This role prepares monthly, quarterly and annual variance analysis against budget.

Technical Knowledge

• Ability to independently gather, organize, and perform accounting-related analysis to complete work assignments.
• Proven ability to effectively present information verbally and in writing.
• Thorough knowledge of financial transactions and systems, as well as related policy, accounting, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Thorough knowledge of common desktop / web applications such as Microsoft Office Suite
• Thorough knowledge of analytical procedures used in accounting projects of moderate to semi-complex scope.
• General understanding of GAAP application

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Accounting or Business Administration or Masters¿ Degree preferred

Minimum Experience: 1-2 yrs public accounting or 3-5 years private industry accounting experience.

Additional Minimum Requirements: CPA preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Sit: Up to 8 hours/day
• Stand/Walk: 3-6 hours
• Bend/Stoop: Up to 3 hours
• Reach: Up to 3 hours
• Rep Use of UE/Grasp: Up to 8 hrs
• Lift/Push/Pull: 15 lbs
• This job requires the ability to hear alarms, clients, and/or instruction. The ability to see accurately from 20 inches to 20-ft. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function of this position.