Senior Accounting Analyst

  • BART
  • Oakland, California
  • Mar 07, 2024
Full Time Accounting and Finance Administrative Analysis and Research
  • Salary: 118,792 USD

Job Description

Marketing Statement

Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.

Job Summary

Pay Rate

AFSCME Pay Band F

Annual Salary Range $ 118,792.71 (Minimum) - $ 154,431.88 (Maximum)
The negotiable salary offer will be between $118,792.71 - $140,710.67 /annually commensurate with experience and education.

Reports To
Payroll Manager

Current Assignment

First review of applications will be on January 23, 2024

The Senior Accounting Analyst is responsible for managing the biweekly CalPERS reconciliation and reporting process. This involves a thorough analysis of employee records and transactions, as well as a deep understanding of CalPERS regulations and guidelines. The Senior Accounting Analyst also provides leadership and guidance to the CalPERS reconciliation and reporting team, develops and implements new processes and procedures, collaborates with other departments, represents the department in meetings with CalPERS representatives, resolves complex reconciliation issues, and prepares and presents reports to management

Day-to-day duties:
Prepares biweekly ACH remittance to CalPERS by generating and analyzing CalPERS reports and interfaces.Ensures accuracy and compliance with CalPERS rules and regulations by investigating and resolving discrepancies between BART employee earnings records and CalPERS records.Collaborates with HRIS and CalPERS on employee earning records and other payroll-related matters.Processes employee earnings record corrections and adjustments received from HR.Corrects employee CalPERS contributions and issues collection letters or enters adjustments as needed.Reconciles receivables with payroll corrections to ensure accurate reporting.Reconciles payroll summaries with remittances to verify that all contributions have been sent to CalPERS correctly.Keeps payroll up to date with CalPERS Document History & letters to ensure that all changes are reflected in the payroll system.Develops and implements new procedures to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the CalPERS reconciliation and reporting process.Provides support to the payroll department as needed and performs other duties as assigned by the Payroll Manager.

Selection Process
This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Applications will be screened to assure that minimum qualifications are met. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will then be referred to the hiring department for the completion of further selection processes.

The selection process for this position may include a skills/performance demonstration, a written examination, and/or an individual or panel interview.

The successful candidate must have an employment history demonstrating reliability and dependability; provide copies of certificates, diplomas or other documents as required by law, including those establishing his/her right to work in the U. S.; pass a pre-employment medical examination which includes a drug and alcohol screen, and which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include a background check. (Does not apply to current full-time District employees unless specific job requires additional evaluations)

The selection process for this position will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Examples of Duties

Participates in the more difficult and complex tasks related to financial reporting, general accounting, capital and operating billing, investment accounting, capital asset accounting, payroll, and accounts payable.

Participates in the review, administration, monitoring and preparation of District-wide financial reports involving capital project costs; monitors funding agreements and project expenditures; ensures maintenance of expenditure records which conform to funding agency requirements and District policy. Prepares quarterly, semi-annual, or annual reporting required by funding agreements and provides support to related compliance audits.
Handles more complex construction or funding contracts and ensures capital grant billings are done in compliance with guidelines; tracks amounts billed and to be collected and coordinates with various grantors on the status of the billings. Analyzes and maintains project retention records for use in the capital billing. Resolves billing issues with project manager and addresses grantor inquiries.
Analyzes, reviews and reconciles all capital assets maintained by the District. Responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and accounting for transactions, including the required reconciliations, associated with leases and subscription-based information technology arrangement in compliance with GASB 87 and GASB 96.
Performs comprehensive review of all operating and capital revenue and expense accounts for monthly close and ensures cost center revenues and expenses are posted to the correct account and department.
In charge of more complex financial accounts including operating and capital grants and expenses. Prepares required journal entries to update financial records.
Participates in all financial audits, audits of financial statements, compliance audit, audits initiated by granting agencies and internal audit, and provides relevant analyses, roll forward schedules, and required audit supports.
Reviews Trial Balances of assigned Funds and ensures accuracy of account balances, reconciles account balances with related subsidiary ledgers and interfund balances with the District’s General Fund and other Funds, initiate adjustments of project costs, if necessary, ensures collections of receivables, and process fund closeout.
Prepares financial statements related to Post Employment Benefit Trust Account, specifically the Retiree Health Benefit Trust and the Survivor Benefit Trust. Prepares the National Transit Database Report, State Controller’s Report, Schedule of Federal Awards required for the Single Audit and other similar reports. Assist in preparing the District’s cash flow statements, Required Supplementary Schedules and Statistical Information included in BART’s audited Annual Financial Comprehensive Report.

Handles the biweekly reporting and reconciliation of CalPERS contributions. Analyzes employee records and reconciles BART records with CalPERS records. Communicates and coordinates with internal departments and CalPERS to ensure earning records are in accordance with CalPERS rules and regulations. Handles and processes corrections of employee records with CalPERS.
Analyzes, monitors, and accounts for invoices that are needed to be accrued at the end of the fiscal year to ensure that the District’s records conform with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Analyzes construction in progress account per project and coordinates with project managers to ensure completed projects are properly capitalized to ensure correct reporting and disclosure in the financial statements.
Analyzes and accounts for transactions associated with bond issuances and or refunding, including the accounting of bond proceeds, property tax collected for debt service, periodic accrual of interest expense and interest income on funds held, amortization of bonds/investments premiums or discounts, bonds refunded, and revaluation of investments to fair market value. Analyzes the refunding and calculates the deferred loss or gain. Prepares cash and investments schedules in accordance with GASB 40, debt related roll-forward schedules, and handles the associated annual audit and required footnote disclosures.
Develops and recommends improvements to computerized financial management system and accounting procedures for efficiency, to conform with federal or state laws and generally accepted accounting principles, and to strengthen internal control.
May train assigned employees in their areas of work including cost collection and analyses.
Represents their division at various meetings with other departments and divisions; communicates information and activities with others as appropriate and participate in special projects
Perform other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education
A Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, economics or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. CPA certification is preferred.

Experience
The equivalent of three (3) years of fulltime, professional level relevant general accounting, financial reporting, and/or auditing experience.

License or Certificate
A valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred.

Substitution
Additional professional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for- year basis.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of :
  • Advanced principles, practices and procedures of Accounting and Financial Reporting.
  • Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of public agencies and transportation authorities in the State of California.
  • Principles of financial and operational analysis.
  • Principles of Construction in Progress and asset capitalization.
  • Federal, State and local funding programs, associated guidelines and processes.
  • Principles and practices of project costing and how labor and non-labor data flow and are accounted for in the District’s financial reports.
  • Principles of Project Cost billing.
  • Principles of Operating Cost billing.
  • Organization of voluminous financial data using advanced Excel and macros.
  • Accounting for Investments and how transactions are presented in the financials.
  • Accounting for Trust accounts.
  • Principles and practices of financial record keeping and reporting.
  • Principles of Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines.
  • Current office procedures, methods and equipment including computers.
  • Applicable financial computer software applications.
  • Related Federal, State and local codes, laws and regulations.

Skill in :
  • Independently performing the most difficult financial and accounting analyses and data organization.
  • Interpreting and explaining department policies and procedures.
  • Leading, organizing and reviewing the work of staff from various departments in finance, specifically Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Financial Reporting.
  • Analyzing account issues and problems, identifying alternative solutions and implementing recommendations.
  • Performing accurate complex financial calculations.
  • Utilizing, maintaining and updating computerized financial/project management systems and reports.
  • Developing, organizing, reviewing and analyzing financial data related contracts and reports.
  • Exercising a high degree of individual initiative, discretion, diplomacy, accuracy, and judgment.
  • Understanding and following oral and written instructions.
  • Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including internal departments, vendors, and consultants.


Equal Employment Opportunity GroupBox1

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and above), religion, national origin (including language use restrictions), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), ancestry, marital status, military status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics and information), or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by emailing at least 5 days before your examination date at employment@bart.gov .

Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran's credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veterans must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran's Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran's Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs .

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) prides itself in offering best in class benefits packages to employees of the District. Currently, the following benefits may be available to employees in this job classification.

Highlights
  • Medical Coverage (or $350/month if opted out)
  • Dental Coverage
  • Vision Insurance (Basic and Enhanced Plans Available)
  • Retirement Plan through the CA Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
    • 2% @ 55 (Classic Members)
    • 2% @ 62 (PEPRA Members)
    • Reciprocity available for existing members of many other public retirement systems (see BART website and/or CalPERS website for details)
Money Purchase Pension Plan (in-lieu of participating in Social Security tax)
  • 6.65% employer contribution up to annual maximum of $1,868.65
Deferred Compensation & Roth 457 Sick Leave Accruals (12 days per year) Vacation Accruals (3-6 weeks based on time worked w/ the District) Holidays: 9 observed holidays and 4 floating holidays Life Insurance w/ ability to obtain additional coverage Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Survivor Benefits through BART Short-Term Disability Insurance Long-Term Disability Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts: Health and Dependent Care Commuter Benefits Free BART Passes for BART employees and eligible family members.

Base Pay

118,792

Job Address

Oakland, California United States View Map