Senior Accountant

Salary : $117,187.20 - $142,480.00 Annually
Location : 123 Main Street, P.O. Box 520, Pleasanton, CA
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: 11/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 1000

The City of Pleasanton is excited to announce an opportunity for two dedicated financial professionals to join our Finance Department as a Senior Accountant with one position in the Budget, Revenue & Treasury Division and one position in the Accounting & Payroll division. In these roles, you will support the City's financial planning and decision-making through budget development and monitoring, general accounting, financial reporting, revenue analysis, contract and procurement review, treasury-related work and payroll processing in the Accounting & Payroll division. These are dynamic positions for someone who enjoys solving problems, interpreting financial information, and helping identify practical solutions that support effective municipal operations!

We're Looking for Someone Who Is

• Analytical and curious, with strong problem-solving skills and an interest in understanding how financial decisions affect City operations.
• Comfortable working across a broad range of finance assignments rather than in a narrowly defined accounting role.
• Skilled at organizing complex information, identifying trends, and communicating findings clearly.
• Collaborative and customer service-minded when partnering with departments, management, and the public.
• Adaptable and dependable, able to manage recurring budget and financial reporting deadlines while responding to emerging priorities.
• Interested in public-sector finance and the opportunity to contribute to responsible stewardship of public funds.

In This Role, You Will

• Serve as a lead staff member handling and coordinating tasks associated with the month- and year-end close, as well as the interim and annual audits.
• Assist with the development, administration, monitoring, and analysis of the City's operating and capital budgets.
• Prepare expenditure and revenue projections, historical comparisons, trend analyses, employee-benefit cost analyses, and personnel tracking.
• Research and analyze budget variances, prepare budget amendments, and balance budgetary spreadsheets to financial records.
• Partner with City departments to provide guidance, training, and assistance in preparing and monitoring departmental budgets.
• Prepare spreadsheets, tables, charts, graphical presentations, and financial reports for City management, public meetings, and other stakeholders.
• Perform general accounting activities, including complex general ledger entries, reconciliations, account analysis, and financial reporting.
• Support treasury functions, including cash-flow analysis, investment-related work, and required reporting.
• Assist with reviews of contracts, procurements, and related financial information.
• Prepare reports required by other public agencies and provide information and schedules for internal and external audits.
• Evaluate financial processes and internal controls, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend practical solutions.
• Respond to financial and budget-related questions from City departments, management, and the public.
• Assist in processing payroll for city staff

A Few Reasons You'll Love Working With Us

• You will have a direct role in helping the City plan, monitor, and responsibly manage the financial resources that support services for the Pleasanton community.
• You will work on a diverse mix of budget, revenue, treasury, accounting, reporting, analytical assignments and payroll processing
• You will gain broad exposure to municipal finance and work with departments across the organization.
• You will have opportunities to turn financial data into useful recommendations that inform City operations and decision-making.
• You will join a team that values thoughtful analysis, collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.

A Few Challenges You Might Face

• Balancing long-term budget planning and analytical work with recurring deadlines, financial reporting needs, and time-sensitive requests.
• Moving between budget, accounting, treasury, contract, procurement, and revenue assignments that may fall outside a traditional accountant role.
• Explaining complex financial information clearly to audiences with varying levels of financial expertise.
• Identifying and recommending solutions when information is incomplete, priorities shift, or a financial issue requires further analysis.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• Experienced in one or more public-sector finance functions, such as budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, revenue analysis, treasury, procurement and payroll processing.
• Skilled in analyzing financial data, identifying trends and variances, evaluating alternatives, and recommending solutions.
• Knowledgeable in generally accepted accounting principles and practices; governmental accounting and budgeting experience are highly desirable.
• Proficient with financial systems and advanced electronic spreadsheet preparation.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced municipal environment.
• An effective verbal and written communicator who can develop clear reports, presentations, and responses to financial questions.
• Familiar with local government, special district, or other public-agency operations.

For more information about the position, please refer to the job description by visiting the following link Senior Accountant
Minimum Qualifications
Education:

• Four-year college degree in Business, Accounting, or closely related field.

Experience:

• Four years responsible experience in accounting financial systems, in either the public or private sector, is required. Public sector experience is desirable
• CPA is desirable

Recruitment Process

Application: To be considered for this position, please submit your application through our online application process at www.cityofpleasantonca.gov. Click on "Job Opportunities".

SELECTION PLANApplicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentativeand subject to change based on the need of the Agency:
TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN
Application Filing Deadline:
11:59 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Review of Minimum Qualifications:
Week of November 9, 2026
Phone Screens:
Friday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Virtual Panel Interview:
Wednesday, December 4, 2026

• Choice of One of Four Comprehensive Health Plans
• Dental and Vision Coverage Plans
• Life Insurance and AD&D Coverage of $35,000
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Short/Long Term Disability Plans
• Annual Vacation Beginning with 10 Days
• Education Incentive Pay
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, City Contribution - no required employee contribution
• Section 125 Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• CalPERS Retirement

01

How many years of progressively responsible accounting, budgeting, payroll, treasury, or financial-analysis experience do you have in a public agency environment, such as a city, county, special district, school district, or other governmental entity?

• No public-sector finance experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 7 years
• 7 or more years

02

How many years of experience do you have performing governmental fund accounting, general ledger analysis, journal entries, account reconciliations, or month-end/year-end closing activities?

• No experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 7 years
• 7 or more years

03

How many years of experience do you have administering, reviewing, reconciling, or supporting payroll in a governmental or similarly complex organization?

• No experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 7 years
• 7 or more years

04

How many years of experience do you have assisting with or leading operating budget development, capital improvement program (CIP) budgeting, budget monitoring, revenue or expenditure forecasting, and/or budget variance analysis?

• No experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 7 years
• 7 or more years

05

Which statement best describes your experience preparing governmental financial reports, supporting annual audit activities, implementing accounting or financial-system improvements, or strengthening financial processes and internal controls?

• I have no experience in these areas.
• I have limited experience assisting with one or more of these activities.
• I have at least two years of experience independently performing one or more of these activities.
• I have at least five years of experience independently performing multiple activities, such as financial reporting, audit support, process improvement, internal controls, or ERP/system implementation.
• I have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience leading or serving as a subject-matter resource for multiple activities, such as financial reporting, audit support, process improvement, internal controls, or ERP/system implementation.

Required Question