Accountant I

Who We Are 

The City of Beverly Hills has a long-standing reputation for providing superior customer service to residents, businesses, and visitors. This characteristic, combined with outstanding staff in all departments, has been a hallmark of success for this high-performance organization. The municipal government (approximately 1,000+ full-time and part-time employees) provides the highest quality safety services, recreational activities, municipal services, and physical environment.

What We Do

The Finance Department’s mission is to provide sound fiscal analysis, support services, and reporting in an accurate, timely, cost-effective, and professional manner to City officials, departments, residents, and businesses.  The Finance Department provides a variety of services through the operation of four major divisions: Budget, General Accounting, Purchasing, and Revenue.  The Finance Department is responsible for the management and oversight of the City's budget, accounting activities, preparation of annual financial statements and facilitating their respective audits, accounts receivable and payable, procurement assistance and compliance reviews, investment management, business tax collection business and transient occupancy tax collections, cashiering functions, and utility billing.   

Who We're Looking For

A successful incumbent in this position will possess a strong commitment to public service, a thorough understanding of accounting and payroll principles and practices, attention to detail, critical thinking skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, high integrity, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers. The incumbent will be required to perform complex financial analysis, reconciliations, identify control deficiencies, and recommend and implement improvements as a member of the Finance Department. This person will report to the Accounting Manager.       

Detailed Job Description

Accountant I Job Description

Selection Process

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and whose interests and experience appear to meet the desired qualifications of the position will be invited to participate in the next steps of the recruitment process which may include:

• Supplemental Questionnaire
• Online Multiple Choice Test (tentatively scheduled 01/17/2025-01/21/2025)
• Departmental Interview (tentatively scheduled 01/31/2025)

Eligibility List 

The candidates who pass the examination successfully will earn placement on an eligibility list, which may be used for current and future vacancies in the job classification. The eligibility list established for this recruitment may also be used to fill a lower-level position. 

The City of Beverly Hills is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible work environment for all our employees. If you require a reasonable accommodation to assist with the application, examination or interview process, please contact our Human Resources department at human.resources@beverlyhills.org . Please note that this request must be made at least three business days prior to any test or interview in the selection process. 

Conviction History

As a finalist for a job, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction (or arrest, in limited circumstances) conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you are a finalist. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be contacted to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.    

Conclusion Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City of Beverly Hills.

Disaster Service Workers

All City of Beverly Hills employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency. 

Applicant Support

For Government Jobs account and/or application issues contact Applicant Support at 855-8524-5627.

An Accountant I performs accounting and payroll work; records and reports financial transactions and budgetary control for assigned funds and city departments; reviews fiscal records and prepares financial reports, statements and analysis under the direction of the Principal Accountant.

Some duties include but are not limited to:

• Participates in the preparation, posting, balancing and reconciliation of journal entries, General Ledger, and subsidiary accounts.
• Prepares and maintains complex accounting clerical records such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, general accounting and payroll.
• Assists with annual changes in budget codes and in the conversion to New Year budget codes, and other New Year activities.
• Assists with routine closing of the general ledger. 
• Monitors interfacing of accounting information from sub-ledgers into the general ledger and identifies internal control deficiencies relevant to interfacing activities.
• Interacts with other City divisions to ensure proper posting and reconciliation to the General Ledger.
• Prepares work papers for financial statements, for various Federal, State, other outside agencies' reporting requirements, internal users, and other stakeholders. 
• Reports on the status of State and Federal grants; works with departments, documents compliance with grant contracts, amendments, and other documents. 
• Monitors and maintains records of City's fixed assets; coordinates with other City divisions to ensure proper recording of fixed assets. 
• Assists departmental personnel with budget activity, proper expenditure coding, document preparation and other accounting related activities. 
• May provide functional or technical guidance to lower level accounting personnel. 
• Prepares accounting work papers to help support financial information flowing into all financial reports.
• Implements procedures to resolve issues stemming from reconciliations with other City divisions or with external suppliers.
• Delivers training sessions to various City staff on new or existing financial policies or procedures.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, business administration or related field
• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible accounting experience comparable to that gained by an Accounting Technician.

• Accounting principles and practices to include principles of financial record
  keeping and reporting.
• Modern office practices, procedure methods and equipment to include 
  computer systems and applications.
• Revenue and expenditure business cycles.

• Interpreting contractual obligations and grant guidelines.
• Examining, analyzing and verifying financial documents and reports.
• Communicating clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.

• Interpret existing and emerging accounting standards.