Principal Accountant

Principal Accountant

Salary

$103,872.00 - $126,216.00 Annually

Location

City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave, Pomona, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26-PA/1

Department

Finance

Opening Date

08/26/2026

Closing Date

9/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

VACANCY

APPLY IMMEDIATELY

This recruitment may close at any time without further notice.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? The City of Pomona is seeking an experienced and highly skilled accounting professional to join the Finance Department as a Principal Accountant. This recruitment is open to both external applicants and eligible City employees.

In this key role, the Principal Accountant performs advanced and specialized governmental accounting duties, oversees critical accounting processes and programs, and supports the Finance Department's leadership team. The position is responsible for complex financial analysis, budgeting, auditing, financial reporting, and accounting activities related to the Successor Agency, Pomona Public Financing Authority, and capital improvement projects.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of general and governmental accounting principles, financial reporting, budgeting, auditing, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional analytical skills, sound professional judgment, and the ability to identify and implement improvements to accounting systems, processes, and procedures.

The ideal candidate will also be an effective communicator who can explain complex financial information, develop positive working relationships, and independently manage high-level administrative and analytical assignments. Experience with Successor Agency activities, capital improvement projects, bond financing, and governmental audits is highly desirable.

Supervision Exercised

May exercise technical and functional supervision over professional and technical staff.

Why Pomona

The City of Pomona offers meaningful public service work, opportunities for professional growth, and an excellent benefits package, including:

• 4/10 work schedule (Fridays off)
• 6% education incentive pay for a master's degree or higher
• 80 hours of Executive Leave in addition to vacation and sick leave
• Competitive salary with a 5% increase effective October 1, 2026

If you are ready to advance your accounting career and contribute to the City's continued financial strength and accountability, we encourage you to apply.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY

Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting or a related field.
• Five (5) years of responsible accounting experience, including two (2) years government accounting experience.

Licenses

• Must possess or obtain a valid CA Class "C" drivers license.
• Desirable, not required: Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Core Competencies:

To excel in this position, one must possess a set of core competencies. These competencies include, but are not limited to the following:

• Mathematical Facility: Performing computations and solving mathematical problems

• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims

• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectation of customers

• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

• Allocating Resources: Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness

• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provide professional, specialized, complex, and advanced journey level staff assistance and coordination in support of accounting functions and programs.
• Participate in the development and implementation of complex, new, or revised accounting programs, systems, procedures, and methods of operation.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of budgets; provide fiscal forecasting; maintain and monitor appropriate budgeting and expenditure controls.
• Research, collect, compile, and analyze information from various sources on a variety of specialized accounting topics; prepare comprehensive accounting records, reports, and summaries to present and interpret data, identify alternatives, and make and justify recommendations.
• Audit account numbers and balance appropriations available for financial demands and purchase orders; review account balances and entries for errors; make journal entries.
• Review staff reports and resolutions for the Successor Agency and CIP; make corrections to staff reports and resolutions and coordinate necessary staff report changes with initiating department.
• Monitor Successor Agency and Pomona Public Financing Authority bond activity; participate in the issuance of bonds; draw bond proceeds to reimburse related projects.
• Prepare entries to record revenues, wire transfers, make payments to assessment districts, and correct expenditures.
• Monitor and balance various accounts verifying availability of funds and classification of expenditures; research and analyze transactions to resolve problems.
• Record year-end entries for Successor Agency and Pomona Public Financing Authority; work with auditors to provide details about records; review audit drafts for the Successor Agency and the Pomona Public Financing Authority.
• Prepare the Controllers Report for the Pomona Public Financing Authority.
• Perform cash flow analyses.
• Review general ledger transactions.
• Develop financial statements; audit accounting documents; analyze accounting and reporting requirements of reports; establish appropriate accounting procedures; prepare accounting-related reports.
• Initiate journal entries to record transactions; collect and compile information for capital improvement studies; prepare summaries, reports and recommendations.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

You can review the full job description by clicking on this link.

SELECTION PROCESS

Open & Promotional Recruitment

This recruitment is open to external candidates as well as any City of Pomona employee not serving an initial probationary period and any other hourly City employee.

Examination Procedure

Screening of qualifications and "most qualified" is based on the information provided on the official City Application. A resume may be attached to your application, but will not substitute for the completion of your application. Applications that are not entirely completed may be rejected. This recruitment may also establish a list for future vacancies.

Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application. The information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.

City Mission Statement

The City of Pomona is dedicated to improving the quality of life for our diverse community.

The City of Pomona offers the following generous benefit package. Employees serve a 12-month probationary period. The Salary Scale Plan is composed of five steps. Merit step increases are based on meets standards performance, except step 4 and 5, which requires exceed standards performance.

WORK SCHEDULE:

Most employees including certain Police Department employees work a 4/10 work schedule.

24-hour operations personnel may be assigned to a 12-hour (12/80) schedule.

City Hall Employees work Monday through Thursday, with City Hall being closed every Friday.

In order to maintain service to the public, departmental effectiveness, productivity and/or efficiency, a Department Director may assign an employee a different work schedule that is in compliance with the requirements of FLSA with Human Resources and Association approval.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS: Provided by the California Public Employees Retirement System. Every regular employee becomes a member immediately upon employment. New employees who become a "new" member of CalPERS for the first time on or after January 1, 2013 will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 62, FAS 3 Plan. New members will be required to pay at least 50% of the normal cost [Govt. Code Section. 7522030(c)]. However, a new employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 60, FAS 3 Plan. Currently, all new employees shall pay the CalPERS members retirement contribution of 7.5%. City of Pomona employees do not contribute into Social Security.

PAID HOLIDAYS: 13 paid holidays & 2 floating holidays are provided per year.

VACATION LEAVE:

• 1-3 years = 80 hours
• 4-5 years = 120 hours
• 6-8 years = 160 hours
• 9-15 years = 200 hours
• 16 years plus = 240 hours (maximum)

SICK LEAVE: 12 days per year (prorated if on any leave without pay).

EXECUTIVE LEAVE: Provided to Group C (exempt) employees. Accrue 80 hours per year.

GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAMS: These programs include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances.

• HEALTH INSURANCE: $700 per month; cash-in-lieu program available

• DENTAL: $75 per month

• VISION: Voluntary participation by the employee

• 125 BENEFIT PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS: City paid contributions that goes towards medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. They are applied in addition to the other contributions listed above.

• Waiving coverage = $45 per month

• Single coverage = $205 per month

• Two-party coverage = $1,075 per month

• Family coverage = $1,775 per month

• LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: 66 2/3 of base salary for a maximum of 2 years after 60 days

• LIFE INSURANCE: $50,000 policy plus AD&D

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PLANS are available for eligible employees to develop their knowledge and abilities.

• TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: $3,500 per year, provided employee is not receiving Education Incentive.
• EDUCATION INCENTIVE: This benefit is provided to qualifying employees for a degree from an accredited college when such a degree is higher than the minimum degree required for the position. Provided employee is not receiving Tuition Reimbursement or after one (1) year from date employee received Tuition Reimbursement.
• 2% for an associates degree
• 4% for a bachelors degree
• 6% for a masters degree

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: A voluntary deferred compensation 457 plan is available.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS: are available where employees use pre-tax salary to pay for regular child care, adult dependent care and/or medical expenses.

LEGAL PROTECTION AND IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION: Offered by LegalShield under two separate plans, provides the protection and peace of mind your family needs and deserves. LegalShield provides a variety of legal services, while IDShield is focused on identity theft protection. These offerings may be purchased individually or bundled together.

PET INSURANCE: Offered by Nationwide, allows you to select from two pre-made plans, or create a customizable plan that addresses the specific needs of your beloved pets.

CREDIT UNION membership is available to all City employees and provides access to low interest loans.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.

For a more detailed overview of the benefits, review the PMMCEA Memorandum of Understanding.

FIVE-YEAR VISION STATEMENT: Pomona will be recognized as a vibrant, safe, beautiful community that is a fun and exciting destination and the home of arts and artists, students, and scholars, business and industry.

CORE VALUES: The City of Pomona values Cultural Diversity; Fiscal Responsibility; Focusing on the Future; Excellent Customer Service; Leadership; Quality of Life; and Clear and Open Communication.

01

Tell us about your level of education.

• I do not have a High School Diploma or GED equivalency
• I have a High School Diploma
• I have some college level course work
• I have an Associates degree
• I have a Bachelors degree
• I have a Masters degree or higher

02

Do you possess a valid drivers license at time of application?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess an active Certified Public Accountant license? (Desirable)

• Yes
• No
• In progress

04

Tell us about your experience in the accounting field.

• 0-1 years accounting work experience
• 1-2 years of accounting work experience
• 2-3 years of accounting work experience
• 3-4 years of accounting work experience
• 5-6 years of accounting work experience
• 6 years or more of accounting work experience

05

Tell us about your government accounting experience.

• I have no government accounting work experience
• I have 1 year of government accounting work experience
• I have 2 years of government accounting work experience
• I have 3 years of government accounting work experience
• I have 4 or more years of government accounting work experience

06

In 200 words or fewer, describe your experience preparing financial reports and performing related accounting activities, including budget development, reviewing and analyzing fiscal records, monitoring transactions, preparing documentation for audits, and working with accounts receivable and accounts payable. Clearly identify your responsibilities in each applicable area. If you do not have this experience, enter "N/A." Responses such as "See resume" will not be accepted.

07

In 150 words or fewer, describe your specific experience with governmental accounting, including the type of public agency and accounting functions you supported. If you do not have this experience, enter "N/A." Responses such as "See resume" will not be accepted.

Required Question

Employer City of Pomona

Address 505 S. Garey Avenue

Pomona, California, 91766

Phone (909) 620-2291

Website https://www.pomonaca.gov/