College Financial Administrator
Job Description
Definition Plans, organizes, and coordinates a college's fiscal activities which involves the areas of accounting and financial reporting. Typical Duties Acts as custodian of and is responsible for the accounting of all funds generated at a college or allocated to a college. Directs all accounting functions of a college store and other auxiliary operation units. Controls and accounts for associated student financial operations and guides student officers in their responsibilities serving in an advisory capacity. Determines availability of funds prior to approving expenditures utilizing the encumbrance procedure, accounts for departmental budgets, accumulates and reports basic payroll data, supervises the input of data to the budget and accounting enterprise system, and analyzes and reconciles data base information. Directs and supervises the operations of a college's business office staffed with professional, supervisory, technical accounting, and clerical staff; may supervise a payroll timekeeping and reporting unit, personnel unit, purchasing unit, and fiscal aspects of farm functions. Plans, organizes, and supervises a college's accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. Participates in the implementation of new or improved financial and accounting enterprise management information systems that affect the assigned areas of responsibilities. Develops and/or directs the preparation of periodic and special fiscal reports, statements, summaries, and projections. Effectively utilizes integrated financial and accounting enterprise management information systems in the review and processing of accounting and financial data. Recommends changes within the assigned organizational units and to procedures in order to ensure cost effective and timely accomplishment of goals and objectives. Provides technical advice to college staff, managers, and administrators on areas such as accounting, budget maintenance, personnel and payroll, and purchasing. Accounts for all class related departmental funds such as purchases for production accounts, student material fees, sales of services to the public, and admission sales for theatrical or athletic events. Acts in a fiduciary capacity for scholarship grants of the United States government, the State of California, and trust funds of associations, companies, and individuals. Acts in the capacity of an agent for the Los Angeles Community College District and the State of California for the purpose of collecting, accounting, securing, and transmitting fees paid by students and others; collects and disburses District funds from non-tax sources. Responsible for college revolving fund and disburses funds incidental to sundry purchases within the framework of District policy. Receives, secures, and accounts for funds deposited by employee organizations and special projects approved by the District. Directs and/or assists in the preparation, implementation, monitoring, analysis, and control of the annual budget, as assigned. May oversee the inventory management of a college. May oversee the receiving function of a college. May supervise college store operations. Performs related duties as assigned. Distinguishing Characteristics A College Financial Administrator supervises and performs professional-level accounting and related fiscal activities at a college. The assigned organizational units include the business office, college store, and Associated Student Organization’s financial operations as well as additional areas such as a payroll timekeeping and reporting unit, personnel unit, purchasing unit, and fiscal aspects of the farm functions, and other functions. A Supervising Accountant supervises assigned professional, supervisory, and clerical employees and applies a thorough knowledge of principles and practices of governmental accounting in analyzing and resolving complex operating problems, and is responsible for preparing the more difficult accounting statements and reports. A Senior Accountant supervises the activities of a small unit engaged in processing accounting and other related documents, applies a working knowledge of principles and practices of accounting in resolving problems related to various accounts, and is responsible for preparing accounting statements and reports. Incumbents in the course of their work are responsible for identifying and reporting accounting process and system issues and contribute to the analysis and testing of system modifications and improvements under the guidance of a functional business systems analyst. Supervision General supervision is received from a classified administrator. Technical supervision is received from a District finance administrator or their designee. General supervision is exercised over assigned professional, supervisory, technical accounting, and clerical staff. Class Qualifications Knowledge of: Principles, practices, procedures, and theories of accounting with an emphasis on governmental accounting, including GAAP Accounting and fund accounting techniques Budget, disbursement, auditing methods, and financial analysis Accounting systems and fiscal management Office practices, procedures, and management techniques Operating units of a college Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and policies affecting accounting and financial systems Purchasing methods related to college related functions Finance and investments policies, regulations, and practices Current trends and developments in accounting and financial related fields Enterprise systems and software used in accounting and finance Organization, functions, and inter-relationships of operating units of the District Principles of supervision and training Organization and management of records Capabilities of computer software, systems, and hardware used in fiscal management Ability to: Plan, schedule, and coordinate a variety of accounting and financial related activities of a college Develop controlling methods for college service functions and plan and coordinate auditing operations Plan, organize, schedule, and direct the work of assigned staff Review records and analyze and interpret complex accounting and financial data, draw conclusions, and make sound recommendations Apply and interpret pertinent laws, rules, regulations, and policies related to accounting and financial systems Provide leadership and technical assistance to others Present complex and difficult technical information effectively both orally and in writing Deal with novel and difficult problems Effectively utilize integrated accounting and financial enterprise management information systems in the performance of duties Prepare clear, comprehensive, and concise reports and accounting and financial statements Consistently use and promote professional standards and practices related to assignments Maintain a focus on details, quality, and precision in the performance of duties Train others in accounting and financial practices and procedures Organize work to meet critical deadlines Evaluate work methods and performance Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with a diverse pool of District administration, staff and representatives of government agencies, and various private organizations Learn specialized software applications used in accounting and financial systems Travel to off-site meetings Entrance Qualifications Education and Experience: A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a major in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or a related field; OR a valid license to practice as a Certified Public Accounting in California. AND Four years of full-time, paid, professional level financial and accounting experience. Two years of the required experience must have been in a supervisory capacity. Experience in governmental accounting is desirable. Special: A valid Class "C" California driver's license. Travel to locations throughout the District is required. Benefits Medical and dental insurance and vision care plans are provided for employees and their dependents. A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided free of charge for each employee. New employees receive 12 full-pay days and 88 half-pay days of illness leave. 19 paid holidays per year. Vacation days accrue annually beginning at 10 days and increasing incrementally to 24 days depending on years of service with the District. Vacation days for management and confidential positions begin at 15, 20, or 24 days. Other paid time off includes: bereavement leave, personal necessity leave, court subpoena, and jury duty. Employees become members of the Public Employees Retirement System. Employees are also covered by Social Security. Employee Assistance Program Selection Process The examination process may consist of one or more parts which may include a training and experience evaluation, written test, performance test and/or oral interview. Reasonable Accommodations Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, they should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.*Please mention you saw this ad on AsiansinHigherEducation.*