ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Job Description:

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Description

DESCRIPTION

The first 40 applications received will be reviewed. If additional applications are submitted beyond this number, they will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Penske Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk, and Director of Police Oversight. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments. The City is supported by a FY 2025 total budget of $3.6 billion with a General Fund budget of $752 million. More than 6,000 full- and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven recognized employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .

THE DEPARTMENT
Long Beach Utilities provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water, gas, and sewer services to the Long Beach community. The service area supports 500,000 customers, represented by 90,000 water accounts, 145,000 gas accounts and 90,000 sewer accounts in 52 square miles. This service area includes Long Beach’s downtown core, waterfront accounts, suburban areas and dense multifamily portions of the region. The department also provides natural gas service to residents and businesses in the City of Signal Hill.

Water. Every day, Long Beach Utilities treats 32 million gallons of drinking water at the Long Beach Groundwater Treatment Plant (GWTP) and distributes this water after blending with imported water, to 90,000 households and businesses throughout the City of Long Beach. The GWTP also hosts a California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation as a Certified Water Quality Laboratory, which performs 60,000 to 70,000 water quality testing to ensure the high quality of the drinking water.

Gas. As a municipal utility, Long Beach Utilities’ natural gas rates and policies are established by the Board of Utilities Commission, consisting of five residents of Long Beach. The City Charter requires Long Beach rates to be comparable to the rates charged by surrounding gas utilities for similar types of service. In the region, the Southern California Gas Company is the only other natural gas utility providing similar service and serves as the market benchmark. The City of Long Beach natural gas service territory includes the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill, and sections of surrounding communities including Lakewood, Bellflower, Compton, Seal Beach, Paramount, and Los Alamitos.

Sewer. Long Beach Utilities owns, operates and maintains over 700 miles of sanitary sewer lines, safely collecting and delivering over 40 million gallons of wastewater per day to the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County for treatment.

To learn more, visit LBUtilities.org .

THE POSITION

The City of Long Beach Utilities Department is seeking a talented and organized Accounting Manager to lead and oversee accounting and finance operations, including financial reporting, auditing, and internal controls. This hands-on leader will coordinate with divisions, external agencies, and senior management to enhance efficiency, guide audits, and maintain financial systems.

The ideal candidate has proven expertise in accounting, inventory control, financial planning, and policy development, with strong skills in analyzing and improving business processes. A collaborative, innovative self-starter, they excel at building relationships, driving change, and managing complex projects. Working closely with the Utilities Finance Management team, this role offers an opportunity to shape department policy, support staff growth, and lead critical functions in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Success requires a flexible, patient leader who communicates effectively in both technical and lay terms, understands the big picture, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced, and results-driven setting. With a talent for designing and managing projects, they bring innovative and practical solutions to complex challenges.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assume management responsibility for assigned activities of the accounting section, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash handling, reconciliation, bond drawdowns, grant transactions, interdepartmental fund transfers, and financial reporting.
• Manage and participate in the development, implementation, and administration of organizational goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; oversee and participate in assigned budget development, including forecasting resources, monitoring and approving expenditures, and implementing necessary adjustments.
• Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend, within departmental policy, appropriate service staffing levels.
• Advise and participate in the upgrade of automated financial information systems and train users on system changes.
• Oversee the preparation of month-end close preparation, cash flow and performance forecasts, financial schedules, general ledger transactions, fixed assets, and debt management; ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), federal, state and local rules and regulations.
• Direct and oversee the annual year-end close and audit process and the development of financial statements and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); coordinate all internal operational and contract audits for the department; respond to audit inquiries; monitor contractors’ compliance with audit findings.
• Improve department funds by developing ways of tracking and projecting liquidity and projecting cash available for investment in the short, medium, and long-term.
• Assist the Utilities Finance Management Team in developing and implementing strategies for issuing and managing debt; coordinate with City Treasury to facilitate the issuance process; maintain detailed records of all debt obligations including payment schedules, interest rates and covenants.
• Develop internal control procedures, and monitoring deposit and withdrawal banking activity.
• Oversee and manages the Chart of Accounts (COA) and the cash reconciliation functions.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop, execute, and lead a structured business and process change management plan; explore process improvements, monitor progress, follow through on key initiatives, and celebrate successes and organizational initiative accomplishments.
• Respond to internal and external stakeholders and resolve difficult and sensitive public and vendor inquiries and complaints.
• Manage the relationships with and information flow to all rating agencies (Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch) on all debt issuances.
• Supports development of annual budgets for LBUD and LBER.
• The Accounting Manager will assist in the development of annual and periodic disclosure documents for municipal bond financing activities and present accounting practices to ensure conformance with established policies and procedures applicable to GAAP and GASB.
• Conducts and coordinates all financial analysis
• Administers fee and cost recovery efforts.
• Prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Travel to the Water, Treatment Plant, and Gas campuses to attend and participate in professional group meetings;
• Continuing to forge a partnership between Budget and Accounting personnel to better understand and report on the practical financial and budget status of the department’s funds and operations
• Coordinate with outside consultants for cost of service revenue development.
• Represent the Finance Director at interdepartmental meetings and makes presentations when appropriate.
• Select, train, mentor, motivate, and evaluate personnel; plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate quality of work, projects, and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; set and evaluate performance standards for staff.
• Perform related duties as required.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowled g e of:

• General accounting theory, principles, and methods, including their application to diverse financial programs and transactions, with emphasis on governmental and municipal accounting, budgeting, auditing, financial management, and statistical reporting.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as Microsoft Office (i.e. Excel, Word, etc.) and financial ERP and reporting systems (e.g. MUNIS, Simpler, and BlueZone).
• Maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the fields of finance and accounting; incorporate new developments as appropriate.
• Financing methods and resources;

Skills, must have:

• Demonstrated leadership skills that include maturity, vision, and an ability to articulate the organization’s vision and mission to others.
• A strong customer service orientation, a background of effective partnerships and problem solving and the ability to fit well within an energetic and dedicated team.
• A collaborative work style that fosters teamwork and high motivation and commitment.
• Impeccable integrity with a high commitment to the code of business ethics, willing to make difficult decisions based on what is right, and not just the status quo.
• Requires ability to establish, build and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees, including top, middle and executive levels of management.
• Be able to handle confidential information with complete discretion; use a high degree of tact, diplomacy and discretion required.
• Be sought out by others for advice and solutions.
• Be calm under pressure, possessing a positive attitude and a good sense of humor.
• An approachable leader who is an active listener and is able to build trust.
• Effective in delegating duties that enhance employee growth and achieve departmental goals.
• Must be proficient speaking and making presentations in both small and large group settings.
• Requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and an ability to effectively communicate ideas in a clear, concise, and professional manner.

Abilit y to:

• Participate in the development and administration of division goals, objectives, and procedures; prepare and administer large program budgets;
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports;
• implement audit recommendations;
• Develop, maintain, and implement accounting procedure manuals and maintain accounting data and records;
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals, while researching, analyzing, and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques;
• Requires the ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field. Proof required at time of application. Applicants who possess degrees from colleges or universities from outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalency. Professional experience beyond the minimum qualifications may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Five years of increasingly responsible professional accounting and finance experience including three years of administrative and supervisory responsibility
• A valid driver’s license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Current registration as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant
• A working understanding of governmental accounting and financial controls.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59PM PST, on Thursday, July 31, 2025 . To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-2410.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-2410.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

Employee Benefits

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally. As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

• Retirement: California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% @55 for "Classic" members and 2%@62 for new members as defined by PEPRA. Subject to employee contribution. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.
• Health and Dental Insurance: The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.
• Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
• Disability Insurance: City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Management Physical: Annual City-paid physical examination.
• Vacation: Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.
• Executive Leave: Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.
• Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
• Holidays: Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
• Transportation Allowance: Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;
  • Department Head $650.00
  • Deputy Director/Manager $550.00
  • Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA: $450.00
  • Executive Support Staff: $300.00
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation). City contributes 1% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) plan; effective September 30, 2022, the City will contribute 2% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) account. Employees may opt to contribute up to the IRS annual limits as well.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: Available (subject to City Manager approval).
• Paid Parental Leave: After six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).

Management positions - Refer to the Job Posting brochure included in the job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 7/31/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$142,844.06 - $199,981.68 Annually