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Job Description
Description
Support the Financial Operations That Keep the City Running
The Opportunity
The City of Palo Alto is seeking a detail-oriented and highly motivated Accounting Specialist to join the Administrative Services Department in the Accounts Payable Division.
This role performs advanced accounting clerical and technical work supporting high-volume financial operations, including recordkeeping, reconciliation, and transaction processing. It requires strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and a consistent commitment to accuracy and internal controls in a public sector environment.
As an Accounting Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting core accounting functions and ensuring financial activities are completed accurately and in compliance with City policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. You will collaborate with internal departments, vendors, and the public to resolve issues, respond to inquiries, and help ensure processes run efficiently and effectively.
Depending on assignment, you may support functional areas such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, or financial reporting, gaining exposure to a range of Citywide financial operations.
This role is best suited for someone who enjoys working with detailed financial data and takes pride in producing accurate, reliable work.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will:- Process a high volume of financial transactions, including invoices, payments, and journal entries
- Reconcile accounts, identify discrepancies, and research issues to resolution
- Review financial documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with City policies and internal controls
- Maintain organized, auditable records to support reporting and audit requirements
- Assist with month-end and year-end close processes, including preparing reports and summaries
- Support accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger activities as assigned
- Respond to inquiries from departments, vendors, and the public, including resolving complex or sensitive issues
- Support audit requests by gathering and preparing required documentation
- Review travel and expense reports for policy compliance
- Maintain vendor records and support data integrity within financial systems
- Assist with sales and use tax reporting and related filings, as needed
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate brings experience in full-cycle accounts payable and thrives in a fast-paced, detail-driven environment where accuracy and follow-through are critical.
They are:- Highly organized with strong time management skills
- Detail-oriented, with a sharp eye for accuracy and consistency
- Comfortable managing high volumes of transactions while meeting deadlines
- Able to work independently, using sound judgment to research and resolve issues
- Proactive, with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through
- Skilled at communicating clearly and professionally with internal teams, vendors, and the public
- Able to balance independent work with collaboration across teams
Technical Skills:- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
- SAP experience is preferred
About the Administrative Services Department (ASD)
The Administrative Services Department (ASD) provides proactive financial and analytical support to City departments and decision-makers across Palo Alto. Our team safeguards public resources and helps ensure they are used effectively to support City services.
ASD is a transparent, innovative, and service-oriented organization that partners across departments to deliver accurate, timely, and reliable financial support. We are committed to strong internal controls, continuous improvement, and being a trusted resource to those we serve.
The Accounting division processes, records, reports, and analyzes Citywide financial transactions that keep operations running smoothly.
Why Work for the City of Palo Alto?
The City of Palo Alto offers the opportunity to do meaningful work in service of a vibrant and engaged community-while building a stable and rewarding career.
As part of ASD, you will support the responsible stewardship of public resources and the financial operations that enable City services.
The City offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including CalPERS retirement, health coverage, and opportunities for professional growth. Employees are part of a collaborative, mission-driven organization that values accountability, innovation, and public service.
Join Us
If you’re someone who takes pride in accurate, detail-driven work, we encourage you to apply!
Join a team that plays a vital role in supporting City operations.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Computes data or figures using arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and fractions with use of business machines.
- Compiles, tabulates, verifies, interprets and adjusts data from a variety of source documents and arrays data in presentable or prescribed format
- Checks data in documents against source materials for accuracy and reconciles errors.
- Records or posts information, data or figures, maintains a variety of manual and automated records.
- Prepares batch-entry materials for automated data processing of accounting or payroll-related systems by coding worksheets according to established processes.
- Prepares monthly or quarterly reports using prescribed formats.
- Provides training and guidance to other employees related to payroll or accounting processes.
- Types letters, memos, brief reports according to standard format.
- Discusses problems, conducts research in files and records to trace sources, and resolves problems using independent judgment.
- May interact with public or employees in resolving sensitive problems or issues.
- Handles money transactions, accepts payments, consolidates and prepares bank deposits, and responds to inquiries.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:- Ability to use independent and sound judgment to resolve problems; communicate effectively and tactfully verbally and in writing; follow verbal or written instructions.
- Ability to operate office machines; prepare, adjust, and close journal entries.
- Ability to communicate with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
- Knowledge of basic arithmetic, bookkeeping, accounting principles and practices; banking procedures; ten-key, calculator or adding machines.
- Ability to verify or post, compile, reconcile, balance, and interpret data.
- Ability to operate office machines; prepare, adjust, and close journal entries.
- Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include sitting for extended periods of time and operating assigned office equipment.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time after the posting closes.
- The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Our online application system is provided byNeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contactNeoGov'sLive Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).
Compensation (SEIU) :Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more clickHERE.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 5/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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