Accountant (22/23-9707)



Accountant (22/23-9707)

Salary

$80,760.00 - $98,172.00 Annually

Location

1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica 90405, CA

Job Type

Full-time, 12 months

Job Number

ACC2022

Department

Various Departments

Opening Date

01/26/2023

Closing Date

2/28/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

This is a Merged Promotional and Open Competitive Recruitment.  

ACCOUNTANT


WELCOME TO SANTA MONICA COLLEGE!  Thank you for your interest in joining the SMC team as an Accountant! 
Positions in this classification perform a full range of complex, professional accounting duties, including but not limited to maintaining and auditing accounting records, reconciling, reviewing and preparing transactions, initiating reports and performing the month-end and year-end budget processes.  The position is scheduled to work Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., 40 hours per week, 12 months per year at the Santa Monica College District Offices.

What You Will Bring to the College
The ideal candidate will possess broad knowledge of professional accounting concepts, including those related to governmental accounting, experience performing varied professional-level accounting work, demonstrated proficiency with common business computer programs, including Microsoft Excel, a proven ability to work independently and effectively with a variety of stakeholders, and the ability to attend to highly detailed information.  This candidate will be adaptable to change and possess the skills necessary to build effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals. 

Why Work at SMC?
At SMC, you will work beside a diverse group of individuals who leverage their combined talents and passions to accomplish something great.  No matter what department you are in, or what job you have, your contributions will be critical to helping our students fulfill their dreams.

Some details about us:

  • We are currently the number one transfer college to UCLA, USC, the University of California system, and Loyola Marymount University
  • We are committed to sustainable practices and are accessible via environmentally-friendly transportation options, including the Expo Line and Big Blue Bus.
  • We are one of the select community colleges in California approved to award a Bachelor's degree. SMC currently awards a Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design.
Please visit www.smc.edu/aboutsmc to learn more about us and why we are Proud to Be SMC!

Benefits
We value our employees as individuals, and recognize the value of work-life balance, the health of you and your family, and professional development. We offer a variety of benefits and perks to support new members of our team, including:

  • 18 paid holidays*
  • 12 paid vacation days*
  • 12 paid illness days*
  • Fully paid medical, dental, and vision-care coverage (including eligible dependents)
  • Free mental health support through the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) program.
  • Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS)
  • 5% increase in base pay for every 5 years worked with SMC, up to 40 years of service.
  • Waived tuition fees for classes taken at Santa Monica College.
  • Reimbursement for related classes, conferences or workshops to empower your professional development.
  • Free Big Blue Bus access and monthly incentives for eligible employees through the Sustainable Transportation Incentive Program
  • CSEA Chapter 36 Union Membership Option
*Benefits, holidays, vacation, and illness days listed above assume a 12-month, 40-hour per week schedule. Benefits, vacation and illness days are prorated for other work schedules.

Salary Placement
New Employees: Generally, new employees start at the first step on the salary schedule. A new permanent classified employee may request a higher salary placement based on recruitment issues and/or additional training and experience which greatly exceeds the minimum requirements. Please note that salary placement above the third step requires additional approvals by Santa Monica College executive staff.

Current Employees: Upon promotion, the new salary for a current, permanent employee is based on Merit Rule 12.2.8. In accordance with this rule, employees are entitled to at least a one-step (5%) salary increase, and may be eligible for advanced step placement in accordance with established criteria.

About the Selection Process
The selection process consists of a Written Exam (pass/fail) and a Qualifications Appraisal Interview, which includes a Technical Project (weighted 100%). Candidates must be successful on all examination parts to be placed on the eligibility list.  
The eligibility list created from this recruitment will be used to fill any vacancies that occur during the one year life of the eligibility list, including permanent and temporary positions.

Santa Monica College reserves the right to modify the stated test components and weights prior to the administration of any test.

Communication for this recruitment will be via e-mail. You must check your e-mail on a regular basis to be informed of your status for this recruitment.

Test Retake Policy
Based on the District’s hiring needs, we may administer multiple recruitments for this job classification (or a related job classification that uses the same test(s)) within the next several months. Candidates must wait a period of 90 calendar days between testing appointments before retesting. Candidates who are ineligible to participate in an upcoming test or interview due to the provided retake period will be notified via email, and will have their highest valid score(s) on any non-weighted (pass/fail) test parts applied toward that recruitment.
 
The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District's Board Policy 3120 (Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment) may be accessed at: http://bit.ly/smc-hr-bp3120.

Equity Statement
"Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity, and inclusion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC, and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment."
  

Examples of Duties

Analyzes, prepares and implements financial controls and reporting procedures involving budgeting, allocating, receiving, disbursing and accounting of funds

Reviews, analyzes and compiles accounting and reporting requirements of federal, state, privately, and locally funded programs; verifies accuracy of month-end reports, distributes reports and conducts meetings regularly with program managers

Works closely with District managers to reconcile accounts and ensures all reports and claims are filed with funding agencies in accordance to applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Utilizes computerized systems in the processing of accounting related data such as journal entries and budget journals

Reviews purchase requisitions and other financial related documents to ensure proper account coding of revenues and expenditures in compliance with District policies, federal, state and local agency regulations and reporting; advises program managers, department managers or student club officers as to record keeping requirements

Reconciles accounts receivable, accruals and payroll clearance with the general ledger; prepares reconciliations for financial aid payments to students

Provides technical information and assistance to District personnel regarding financial, accounting and statistical record keeping procedures, conducts research, prepares verbal and/or written answers to inquiries regarding accounting procedures and policies, account balances, encumbrances, and resolves discrepancies

Participates in year-end closing activities; completes and files reports and claims with funding agencies; prepares financial statement as necessary

Compiles data and prepares reports required for budgetary planning, examines budget estimates and proposals for completeness, accuracy and conformance with established procedures, regulations and organizational objectives, monitors the budget by reviewing reports and accounting records to determine if allocated funds have been spent as specified

Participates in program review process to meet department goals, assists in reviewing, documenting and developing changes to improve accounting systems, procedures and controls affecting assigned area of responsibility

Manages cash and transfers funds within accounts; reconciles subsidiary ledgers with the general ledger.

Prepares bank reconciliation of checking accounts; may prepare certificates of Deposit, governmental accounts and credit card settlement accounts

Prepares cash and credit card receipt journals and journal entries; may review entries prepared by Accounting Specialist II's and Accounting Technicians

May record and prepare reports of District and Associated Student Body investments

May compute taxes owed, and prepare and remit tax returns, including bookstore monthly and quarterly sales tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting or other tax requirements.

May prepare purchase orders for Auxiliary Services for equipment, supplies and operating services

May meet with students to answer inquiries regarding remittance balance

May answer telephone, assist in front office functions; set-up and close cash register and prepare cash for deposit; reconcile credit card changes

Performs other related duties as requested or assigned.

Examples of essential duties are descriptive and not restrictive in nature, and are generally listed in descending order of importance.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirement:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or Economics, which included the successful completion of a minimum of twenty four (24) semester units of accounting coursework.

Experience Requirement:
Three (3) years of recent, paid work experience performing professional level accounting or auditing work, including research, analysis and evaluation of accounting processes and procedures. Governmental accounting is desirable.

Education/Experience Equivalency:
An additional two (2) years of experience in accounting or auditing work may substitute for the required education. To qualify for equivalency, the applicant must possess a minimum of an associate's degree in Accounting which includes the successful completion of a minimum of twenty four (24) semester units of accounting coursework.

Licensure and/or Certification:
None

Santa Monica College offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for permanent positions. Permanent full-time positions of 35 hours or more receive fully paid District benefits. Permanent position assignments of 20 to 34 hours per week receive a pro-rated benefits package as outlined in CSEA Chapter 36 Bargaining Agreement.

Temporary positions and permanent position assignments of less than 20 hours per week do not have a benefits package.

For more information visit the following link: click here

01
How do you meet the education and experience requirements for this position?
  • I possess a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or Economics, which included the successful completion of a minimum of twenty four (24) semester units of accounting coursework, AND have three (3) years (40 hours per week) of recent, paid work experience performing professional level accounting or auditing work, including research, analysis and evaluation of accounting processes and procedures.
  • I possess an Associate's degree in Accounting, which includes the successful completion of a minimum of twenty four (24) semester units of accounting coursework AND 5 years (40 hours per week) of recent, paid work experience performing professional level accounting or auditing work, including research, analysis and evaluation of accounting processes and procedures.
  • I do not meet the education and experience requirements for this position.
02
Describe your work history performing professional-level accounting or auditing work, including research, analysis and evaluation of accounting processes and procedures, as well as experience with reconciliation of ledger accounts. For EACH JOB, list: (1) Employer name (2) Beginning/ending dates of employment and hours worked per week (3) Job title and the specific professional-level accounting or auditing duties you performed. If you do not have relevant experience, please type "N/A".
03
Please attach a copy of your official or unofficial college transcripts verifying degrees you have earned and units you have completed, as indicated on your application. Failure to submit required transcripts may result in the disqualification of your application for this position. I understand and agree to comply with these instructions.
  • Yes
  • No
04
The written exam for Accountant will be administered in person. Please note, we do not provide off-site or online testing for this position. Make up exams are administered ONLY if a candidate has a verifiable reason. I understand this statement.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
Santa Monica College
Address
Office Location - 2714 Pico Blvd., SM, CA 90405
Mailing Address - 1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, California, 90405
Phone
(310) 434-4410