PORT SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Oakland, CA

Salary: $12,058 - $14,937/Month (37.5 hr work week)

Your Port. Your Community. Your Career.

When you join the Port of Oakland, you become part of a proud local legacy, an organization that touches virtually every resident with its services and programs. The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (“OAK”), and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is one of the top ten busiest container ports in the U.S.; OAK is one of three major commercial airports serving the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas.

The Port is currently recruiting for two vacancies in the classification of Port Senior Accountant. Under direction, incumbents of this class are responsible for performing the most difficult accounting work. Incumbents solve complex accounting problems, design and maintain accounting systems, and provide direction to a work unit within the Port’s Accounting Department. The current assignments are in Grants and Capital Assets, and Payroll. Both assignments will report to the Port Controller.

The Port Senior Accountant in the Payroll unit will direct, supervise, coordinate and participate in all activities related to the Port’s payroll function, including bi-weekly payroll administration, preparation and review of quarterly and annual payroll tax reports ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, and submission of the Port’s pension report (CalPERS). In addition, this position will work closely with staff from Human Resources and the Enterprise Resource Planning Team to coordinate and implement benefit and payroll law changes in the payroll system.

The Port Senior Accountant in the Grants and Capital Assets unit will direct, supervise, coordinate and participate in all activities related to the management and administration of the Port’s grants and capital assets. This position works closely with staff from other departments to review and prepare financial and compliance reports required by funding agencies (e.g., federal, state, and local) by monitoring and analyzing grant expenditures to assess its eligibility for reimbursement. This position is responsible for preparing work papers and schedules required for the annual Single Audit, and to monitor any sub-recipients. In addition, this position oversees the Port’s accounting of capital assets by interacting with Engineering, Aviation, Maritime and other Port Divisions to evaluate the financial status of the CIP, and providing depreciation schedules for the CIP budget.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs and supervises the day-to-day work of a work unit and directs the clerical work involved; supervises, trains, directs and evaluates professional and support staff; conducts performance evaluations and provides feedback on an on-going and periodic basis; performs counseling, including progressive discipline if necessary.
• Maintains and recommends improvements to accounting procedures that establish adequate internal controls and conforms with federal or state laws and generally-accepted accounting principles; designs and recommends improvements to forms used for accounting purposes.
• Prepares and analyzes computer input and output data, conferring with computer programming personnel and operators regarding the processing of data; recommends and assists in developing new applications or changes to existing programs.
• Supervises and performs complex accounting duties, including responsibility for an accounting unit such as payroll, accounts payable, general ledger, or other major accounting function.
• Prepares, analyzes, and reviews financial information and financial reports including preparing or reviewing account reconciliations, budget reports, financial statement disclosures or statistical data.
• Supervises general accounting activities of the Port.
• Prepares special financial reports involving statistics, legal requirements, cost accounting and data processing.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

This examination is open to persons who have a combination of education and experience that would reflect possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.  A typical combination would include the following:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in accounting or closely related field.

Experience: Four years of professional work as an accountant. A CPA is desirable.

Additional Requirements:  The Port of Oakland requires each incumbent to successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check, which will include a fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) and a Security Threat Assessment (STA), prior to being considered for this position. This status must be maintained for the duration of employment at the Port.

The Port’s compensation and benefit program ranks among the best in the region for public jurisdictions and is designed to reward performance and promote a balanced lifestyle, both at the workplace and away from the workplace, for our employees and their families. The Port is committed to the health and well-being of its employees and has been recognized as a FIT-Friendly Employer by the American Heart Association. We offer a comprehensive benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 457 plan and paid leave. The Port offers retiree medical benefits for employees and dependents after 10 years of CALPERS service (including 5 years at the Port).

To apply for this exceptional opportunity, view supplemental questions and/or obtain more details, please visit us at https://www.portofoakland.com/business/job-center/. Apply by April 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Equal Opportunity Employer