Accounting Specialist – Lead (Promotional Opportunity)
City of Palo Alto Palo Alto, California, United States
- Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
- Categories: Accounting and Finance
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Apr 29, 2026
Job Description:
Accounting Specialist – Lead (Promotional Opportunity)
Description
Description*This is a promotional opportunity for current City of Palo Alto Employees Only*
The Position
The City of Palo Alto is currently recruiting for an Accounting Specialist-Lead to support the administrative functions for our Enterprise Accounting division. This position provides lead direction, performs complex Enterprise Accounting reconciliations, and supports capital asset activities, including Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) analysis, capitalization, retirement and related reporting.
Ideal Candidate
- Team player with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, curiosity, and humility.
- Exceptional relationship-building skills to deal effectively with individuals at all levels of responsibility and authority.
- Excellent customer service, emphasizing professionalism, patience and a “people-first” attitude.
- Adaptable and resourceful in a dynamic environment.
- Superior written and oral communication skills, including the ability to identify and correct errors in English usage, grammar, and arithmetic calculations.
- Master multi-tasker: ability to work effectively under pressure, multi-task, and organize workflow to deliver high-quality products within established deadlines.
- Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
- Self-starter: can take even the smallest project and run with it to successful completion.
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click here.
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.
This is a Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) position.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs onsite audits and training at the City's cash handling facilities.
- Coordinates office work of control/accounting specialists to assure timely and accurate processing of revenue collections, payroll or general accounting functions.
- Analyzes CIP general ledger accounts and cost centers, records and reviews capital asset transactions, prepares supporting documentation for capital asset purchases and construction activities; and assists with other capitalization activities.
- Performs and analyzes bank, clearing, and general ledger reconciliations, and researches and resolves discrepancies.
- Reviews general ledger transactions and prepares journal entries to correct discrepancies or record adjustments.
- Assists accountants and senior accountants with accounting analysis, reporting, and preparation of schedules and supporting documentation for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and year-end audit.
Related Functions:
- Assists supervisor on special projects as needed.
- Interacts with public and/or employees in resolving sensitive problems or issues.
- Types letters, memos and brief reports according to standard format.
- Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
To see the full job description click here.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
- Graduation from high school or equivalent, with some college or business school preferred.
- Two years of experience in a position involving payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger transaction processing, utility/treasury bookkeeping and general accounting.
- Experience working effectively with managers, staff members and the public.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:
- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
- The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Technical Support:
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 5/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific