SENIOR DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Plans, directs, and oversees various functional areas of the Accounting Department, such as payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections, general accounting, project accounting, management and reporting and analysis, and financial information systems. Responsible in establishing and maintaining internal controls. Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures, and contractual or bargaining agreements.

Examples of Duties

• Establishes and implements agency-wide accounting policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls
• Ensures regulatory compliance with federal and state laws, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and agency policies
• Responsible for preparation and analysis of all external financial reports
• Manages Metro's annual financial and compliance audits, and other internal and external audits
• Authorizes fund transactions, including transfers across accounts, withdrawals under letter of credit for grants and subsidies, issuance of checks, and cash working funds
• Establishes and monitors the department's long-range goals, budgets, schedules, and strategies
• Develops, enhances, and maintains systems of internal controls to protect agency assets
• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction, including distribution and evaluation of work, motivating, training and development, coaching and mentoring for career advancement, and advising and planning
• Advises senior management on Metro's financial and accounting matters, including any new accounting pronouncements and regulations for recording and reporting financial information/transactions
• Participates in long-term strategic financial planning
• Represents the department at meetings, conferences, and public events
• Maintains, upgrades, and enhances the various accounting systems applications
• Improves the accounting and administrative processes, as well as maintains the department's policy and procedures manuals
• Works on special projects as requested
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience in accounting

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and/or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) preferred
  
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
  

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are notintended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications

• Experience overseeing at least two functional areas of the Accounting Department, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, general accounting, project accounting, and payroll for agencies with annual budget of at least $500 million
• Experience overseeing the timely delivery of financial information to support the requests made by the independent external auditors for the audit of financial statements or programs for agencies with at least $500 million in annual budget
• Experience establishing and implementing accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to achieve departmental goals in agencies with annual budgets of at least $500 million

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of governmental accounting, financial recordkeeping, reporting, and information systems, and budgeting
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations relating to governmental accounting and financial recordkeeping for a public agency
• Regulations governing payroll and credit/collections
• Financial reporting requirements
• Concepts of internal controls
• Modern management theories and practices
• Financial applications, Enterprise Resource Planning systems, and payroll systems
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Organizing, planning, and directing the work of accounting staff
• Performing and coordinating financial audits
• Setting and monitoring goals, strategic plans, schedules, and budgets
• Establishing and implementing policies and procedures
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Analyzing data and situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Preparing complex comprehensive financial reports and correspondence
• Interacting professionally with all levels of Metro staff and external representatives and customers
• Organizing and managing time
• Exercising leadership
• Operating computers and general office equipment

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Plan staffing and financial needs
• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Represent Metro before the public
• Make financial decisions within a budget
• Handle highly confidential information
• Direct, train, mentor, and motivate assigned staff
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
  
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
  
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
  
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
  

(CA)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan- Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance- PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance- PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance- 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays- 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP)- Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year30 days
Beginning of 16th + years35 days

Pension Plan- PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at www.benefits.metro.net .

Closing Date/Time: 9/9/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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