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Job Description
Description:
Are you an experienced professional passionate about financial stewardship and providing excellent customer service?
We are seeking Finance Manager to join our vibrant team.
Apply today!
The City's Administrative Services Department (ASD) is recruiting a dynamic leader to serve as the Finance Manager and oversee a 14-person accounting division. As a full-service Charter City with a council-manager form of government, Palo Alto has a reputation for being progressive and innovative while maintaining high-caliber financial reporting of its operating budget of $1.2 billion and capital budget of $442 million for fiscal year 2025.
The ideal candidate will exemplify our community's values by focusing on innovation and delivering high-quality service, while maintaining the financial rigor necessary to uphold excellence in regulating agency reporting requirements. This role requires strong technical skills, particularly in public sector accounting, with experience in leading the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and managing the operations of the Accounting Division. This position will report directly to either the Assistant Director or Director. Key areas of oversight for this position include accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, payroll, and enterprise accounting.
The City's diverse business activities - including managing a full suite of utility services, an airport, and typical City services such as public safety - offer employees exposure to a wide range of professional development opportunities. This position provides the chance to explore new technical areas, work on innovative cases within your field, present to senior management and Council members, and learn from a variety of expertise across the organization. Therefore, effective communication skills, experience collaborating with stakeholders, and a commitment to continuous learning and growth are highly desirable.
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click Here .
Compensation (Management): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click Here .
Schedule: Enjoy a hybrid, 9/80 work schedule (with every other Friday off).
Essential Duties:
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited, to the following:- Oversees the automation of accounting and financial functions for the City's centralized accounting system, as well as the conversion of existing data, either in manual or in automated form, to the new system.
- Supervises the timely preparation of financial reports to city, county, state, and federal agencies, banks, and other financial institutions.
- Interacts with external and internal audit staff in reviews of accounting systems and controls and oversees implementation of recommended changes to such systems or control procedures.
- Manages, trains, and evaluates assigned staff, cultivates career development within the finance profession.
- Administers financial provisions of all major expenditure contracts; monitors all capital improvement project expenditures and expenditure of grant funds.
- Ensures compliance with federal laws (including IRS regulations), state laws, and municipal codes as determined by the City Attorney.
- Implements pronouncements approved by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Minimum Qualifications:
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or other closely related field.
- Five years experience involving increasing responsibility in accounting and financial work including considerable management and supervisory experience.
- Master's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Public Administration
- Government accounting experience
- Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License
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.
- 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.
Recruitment Timeline:- Minimum Qualifications Review: Ongoing
- On Demand Interviews: Week of January 6, 2025
- Department Level Interviews: To be determined.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
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.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Compensation Plan HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 1/5/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
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. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long 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.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, 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 with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
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.
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