City of Fresno

  • Principal Accountant (Open Until Filled)

  • CITY OF FRESNO, CA
  • 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, California 93721 United States View Map
Come join the City of Fresno in Building a Better Fresno!

Want to see what it’s like to work here? Explore our We Work For You video series to discover the real stories, passion, and purpose of the team behind Fresno’s success.

Position Description

RECRUITMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED OR UNTIL A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. Recruitment may close at any time.

Step into a leadership role where your accounting expertise drives meaningful impact for an entire city! The City of Fresno is seeking a dynamic Principal Accountant to lead key financial operations, guide talented teams, and impact accounting practices. If you’re ready to bring your professional insight, strategic thinking, and supervisory experience to a role that truly matters, apply now!

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

- Lead and coordinate key accounting operations

- Supervise and guide accounting staff

- Manage preparation of the City’s Annual Financial Report

- Serve as liaison with external auditors

- Maintain and monitor financial records and budgets

- Improve accounting methods, systems, and procedures

- Provide guidance on financial policies and practices

- Oversee specialized financial reports and analysis

- Apply tax law updates to ensure compliance

- Performs related duties as required

Duties and schedules may vary by assignment, please inquire about specific duties and/or schedules if called upon for an interview.

Explore the job specification for additional position details.

The current vacancy exists in the Finance Department. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the City's discretion. If the examination process is suspended for this recruitment, the eligible list may be limited to three (3) months. Please note that future vacancies may have a different assignment and varied duties than listed above.

The Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the posted filing deadline in order to qualify for the examination and does not assure a place on the eligibility list:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field;

AND

Two (2) years of supervisory experience, preferably in a public sector organization.

Applicants MUST ATTACH A COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS for education verification. Applications lacking the attachment may be rejected.

Additional Requirements

Possession of a valid license as a Certified Public Accountant issued by the State of California Board of Accountancy is desirable.

Eligibles certified for consideration for this position will be required to successfully pass a Department interview and a Department of Justice fingerprint process prior to employment with the City of Fresno.

The Selection Process

The examination process may consist of the following:

APPLICATION REVIEW - Qualifying Only: Applications which meet the minimum qualifications will be reviewed and a limited number of the MOST qualified candidates will be invited to the oral examination. Selection of the most qualified candidates will be based upon those applications demonstrating the greatest breadth and depth of applicable education, experience, skills, and training. Therefore, applicants are urged to submit sufficiently detailed information in their application materials for a proper evaluation.

Oral Examination - 100%: A panel of subject matter experts will conduct a job-related oral examination to evaluate a candidate which may include, but is not limited to, the following areas: Accounting and Technical Expertise, Leadership and Supervision, Process Improvement and Analytical Skills, Interpersonal, Communication Skills, and/or other job-related topics.

Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list.

The oral exam is to be determined.

Veteran’s Preference

If an examination is conducted for a position within the classified service, qualified veterans who pass the examination will have five (5) points added to their final score. Candidates must submit a copy of their DD214 Member 4 form or electronic copy indicating honorable discharge with each application prior to the filing deadline.

How To Apply

For information on how to complete an online application, please visit the Help & Support tab. For NEOGOV Application Assistance, please call 1-855-524-5627 or email support@governmentjobs.com. ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS ARE ACCEPTED and must be submitted by midnight on the closing deadline, or they will not be accepted for any reason.

Required licenses, certifications, and education must be verified with supporting documents. Foreign education must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Please ensure all relevant attachments are uploaded with your application.

For the work experience section, provide detailed descriptions of job duties for each position related to the specific role you are applying for. Resumes are not a substitute for completing this section and will only be reviewed as supplemental information, not for determining minimum qualifications.

For other City of Fresno employment opportunities, please view our Careers Homepage . If you have recruitment questions, please call our office at 559-621-6950. Our office is located at 2600 Fresno Street, Room 1030, Fresno, CA 93721.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Fresno is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Should you need a special accommodation due to a qualifying disability, please contact the Personnel Service Department at (559) 621-6950 in advance of the examination.

Bargaining Unit 13

Management Non-Confidential and Non-Management Confidential

City of Fresno Profession Employees Association (CFPEA)

BENEFIT

DESCRIPTION

HEALTH INSURANCE

The City contributes toward monthly premiums for PPO medical, dental and vision for employee and dependents.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT

IRS 125 Plan for health and dependent care expenses.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION

Voluntary 457 plan with Fidelity Investments to increase your retirement savings.

ANNUAL LEAVE

15.5 - 20 hours per month based on years of service with cash out provisions.

LIFE INSURANCE

Benefit equal to annual salary with a maximum of $150,000; premium paid by the City.

SUPPLEMENTAL SICK

40 hours per fiscal year.

80 hours lifetime maximum.

MANAGEMENT LEAVE

60 hours per fiscal year with cash out provisions, for exempt employees only.

HOLIDAYS

10 City-observed annual holidays, plus birthday and 2 personal days.

LONG TERM DISABILITY

Benefit equal to 66.66% of monthly salary up to $7,500 per month after 30 days of disability; premium paid by the City.

BUS PASSES

Provided to Supervisors in FAX Operations.

BILINGUAL PREMIUM

$100 per month upon approved certification

HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT (HRA)

Eligible retirees can use the remaining Sick Leave balance, in excess of 240 hours, at 80% of hourly rate and other qualified leave balances, tax free, to reimburse health insurance premiums and other qualified medical expenses.

RETIREMENT - City of Fresno Retirement Systems, one of the best funded public systems in the state. Reciprocity with other public California systems. Vested in Retirement benefits after 5 years of service. City employees do not participate in Social Security.

DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program): an optional, voluntary program that allows an employee to deposit retirement benefits in a special savings account within the Retirement System while continuing to work for the City of Fresno for up to 10 years. Participation minimum is age 50 and vested. Benefits include ownership of accumulated funds, compound interest earnings, and alternative distribution options.

Additional information regarding the City of Fresno benefits is available at

https://www.fresno.gov/personnel/human-resources-support/#tab-1

Please note that the benefits package described above is specific to permanent full-time employees. Employees engaged on a part-time, temporary, limited, or other basis may have different entitlements.

Closing Date/Time: 11/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Fresno

City of Fresno

The City of Fresno is the largest city in the San Joaquin Valley and the fifth largest city in California, with a population of more than 545,000 residents. Fresno is the financial core of the San Joaquin Valley, and its economy relies on its large-scale agricultural production. Revitalization of Downtown Fresno's core and the construction of High Speed Rail are two of many exciting projects that continue to successfully support Fresno's growing economy.

 Click HERE for a video about the great City of Fresno.

Located in the geographical center of California, Fresno offers many sights. From fertile agricultural fields, an abundance of lakes, and the snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range, the scenic variety in Fresno is large. Fresno also features a diverse selection of dining, shopping, farmers markets, vibrant arts and culture, wineries, as well as a variety of attractions. With 300 days of sunshine a year, the climate in Fresno is the source of its agricultural productivity, and allows year-round recreational activities including sailing, snow and water skiing, fishing, backpacking, and golfing.

Los Angeles is approximately four hours south and the San Francisco Bay Area is approximately three hours north. Fresno is located in proximity to three sites of natural beauty: Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park. Residents and visitors alike enjoy these scenes and others, including the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Another advantage to living in Fresno is the exceptional housing that is available at lower price levels than California's other large metropolitan areas. There are four large school districts in the Fresno area: Fresno Unified, Central Unified, Sanger Unified and Clovis Unified. Fresno is the home of California State University, Fresno, as well as a number of other colleges and universities.

The people of Fresno enjoy a wide variety of social, cultural, athletic, educational and recreational activities in an affordable and clean living environment.

City Government

Fresno is a full-service charter city operating under a strong mayor form of government. There are seven Council Members. The Council appoints the City Attorney and the City Clerk. The Mayor is elected at- large and does not serve on the Council, but has veto power over certain actions taken by the City Council. The City Manager, who is appointed by the Mayor, is responsible for appointing all other department heads in the City.

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