About the Department

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.    

The City of Oakland is looking for Accountant IIIs to fill multiple vacancies. This is a citywide classification, and there are current vacancies in the Oakland Fire Department, Finance Department, and Department of Transportation. The resulting eligible list will be used to fill vacancies citywide for the duration of the eligible list.

Why join the Oakland Fire Department? 
As an Accountant III in the Oakland Fire Department (OFD) Fiscal & Administrative Services Division (FASD), you will play a critical role in the fiscal operation supporting the public safety of the Oakland Community. Under the direction and supervision of the Fiscal & Administrative Services Division Manager, the Accountant III is part of a fiscal team alongside two Accountant II’s, an Administrative Analyst II, and a Budget & Grants Administrator, and provides procure-to-pay services, grant and project management, and fiscal administration for an annual department budget of $234 Million. As lead fiscal support for one or more divisions of the Fire Department, the Accountant III will develop and refine fiscal oversight skills, including key tasks in all phases of purchasing, budget change requests, project and award creation, financial reporting, grant reconciliation, Labor Distribution, and other accounting journal adjustments. This position has supervisory responsibilities for Accountant II’s within the fiscal team and provides an opportunity for professional development of management and supervision skills in the applicant’s career path as a finance professional.

Why join the Finance Department?
As an Accountant III in the Controller’s Bureau of the Finance Department, you will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting function and year-end closing activities, including cash reconciliation, labor distribution adjustments, and general ledger adjustments. The Controller’s Bureau plans and coordinates the year-end audit process and prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the Single Audit Report, the State Controller’s Report, the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency report, and several legislative-mandated measure audits. The Bureau also provides fiscal monitoring and financial and specialized reporting for all City departments. As an Accountant III in the Controller’s Bureau, you will act as a gatekeeper and play a critical role in assuring the City’s financial reporting is timely and accurate in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This position is generally a step to a long and successful career as a finance professional with the City of Oakland.

Why join the Department of Transportation?
The Department of Transportation (DOT)'s mission statement is to “Envision, plan, build, operate and maintain a transportation system for the City of Oakland—in partnership with local transit providers and other agencies—and assure safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses, and visitors.” The DOT is responsible for planning, designing, delivering, and maintaining the transportation safety of Oakland’s residents, businesses, and visitors, using multiple funding sources, each with its own focus on improving and maintaining streets, sidewalks, roads, right-of-way, traffic signals & signs, and parking enforcement. As an Accountant III, you will be an integral part of planning and delivering solutions to meet Oakland’s transportation needs. In this role, you will be responsible for aligning transportation operations with budget plans and accurately reporting accounting and financial results. You will be exposed to the multiple and varying rules and regulations of these funding sources, enforcing their compliance, and assisting transportation engineers and professionals, as well as financial professionals, to match the most appropriate funding to meet the City’s highest priority transportation needs.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and technically strong accounting professional who understands GAAP/GASB and the compliance and use of bonds and special measures funds, demonstrates sound judgment, adapts well to evolving accounting standards and organizational changes, and brings strong analytical, organizational, and independent work skills while taking direction effectively.  If you have a passion for accurate financial reporting, problem-solving, monitoring, and enforcing compliance with the use of funds, and supporting strong internal controls in a dynamic public-sector environment, we encourage you to apply! 

We are looking for someone who:

• Can work independently while still functioning well in a team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrates diligence and a strong work ethic.
• Is knowledgeable of standard accounting and general ledger practices 
• Is adaptable and flexible in responding to multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Is respectful to their co-workers and stakeholders. 
• Is self-motivated and able to exercise a high degree of independent judgment.
• Has excellent time-management and organizational skills and is able to handle multiple tasks and deadlines. 
• Is a fast learner and can quickly adapt to new systems and processes.

• Reconciling subsidiary balances to the general ledger. 
• Understanding Internal Service Revenue rules and regulations.
• Local, State, and Federal grants, including reporting, drawdowns, and integration with grantee platforms. 
• Assisting with procurement of goods and services.
• Preparing timely invoice payments, including the needed requisitions.
  
• Bond measures and lease payments.  
• Creating master fee schedules.   
• Performing service and equity analysis. 
• Aiding in the preparation of comprehensive fiscal reports.
• Compiling and submitting reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assisting non-accountants with budgeting and planning the use of funds, and understanding the accounting results of their operations.
• Creating new reports that support budgeting, forecasting, expenditure tracking, and departmental information requests.

• You will collaborate and work with a team of colleagues and supervisors who bring decades of experience and are eager to support and train you.
• This is a stimulating job with great pay and benefits.
• You will have daily challenges and variety that keep things exciting.
• You will have opportunities to grow professionally within the City, as your experience in this position will qualify you for a range of fiscal positions across the City.
  
  

• You will be expected to work independently and manage your assignments with limited day-to-day oversight.
• You will work in an ever-evolving environment that can be demanding and require you to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• You will navigate a complex financial system that requires thoroughness, strong problem-solving skills, and a methodical approach.
• You will be responsible for meeting data and reporting deadlines while managing multiple priorities, which can be stressful.

• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Delegating: Sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing thing
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Mathematical Facility: Performing computations and solving mathematical problems
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on time, on budget, and achieve their objectives
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals 
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Position Duties

Minimum Qualifications

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process. 

• Experience in governmental accounting
• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant license 

Other Qualifications

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position. 

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications. 

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to take an online multiple-choice test (weighted 100%). You’ll have 7 days to complete the test once the link is sent to your email. This is tentatively planned to launch the week of July 6th, 2026.

Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by clicking on this link or by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it:https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf. Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst, Alanna Butler, at [email protected].

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass. 

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour work weeks
• 15 paid holidays 
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security 
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans 
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents 
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents 
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

*Benefits described here do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Benefits

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions.  Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan – Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation

* Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit.  Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information  Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

 

Supplemental Questions

01

Please be sure to answer the supplemental questions thoroughly and accurately. Applicants are responsible for clearly, completely, and accurately identifying their qualifications. Responses to the supplemental questions may determine your application status. By answering "yes" to this question, I certify that I have read and understand the statement above concerning submission of supplemental question responses.

• Yes
• No

02

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

Are you a current full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City of Oakland employee?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are a current City or Port of Oakland employee, what is your employee ID number? If you are not, type "N/A".

04

Have you previously been employed by the City of Oakland?

• Yes
• No

05

If you were previously employed by the City of Oakland, please list the dates and titles of the positions previously held. If you have not, type "N/A".

06

Do you confirm that the address on your application matches your current residency?

• Yes
• No

07

If the address on your application does not match your current residence, please enter your address and update it in your application profile. If your address matches, type "N/A".

08

What is the highest degree or level of education that you have completed?

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some college credits
• Completion of an associate's degree
• Completion of a bachelor's degree
• Completion of a master's degree
• Completion of a doctorate degree
• Other

09

If you indicated your highest educational achievement is "Some college credits", how many units of college level coursework have you completed?

• 1-14 semester / 1-21 quarter units / or equivalent
• 15-29 semester / 22-44 quarter units / or equivalent
• 30-59 semester / 45-89 quarter units / or equivalent
• 60-89 semester / 90-134 quarter units / or equivalent
• 90+ semester / 135+ quarter units / or equivalent
• N/A

10

If you selected "Other", please list the major for your degree. If you did not select "Other", type "N/A".

11

For your highest degree, what was your major?

• High School Diploma/GED (no major)
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Other

12

If you selected "Other", please list the major for your degree. If you did not select "Other", please type "N/A".

13

If you have more than one degree, please list the level of each degree and major. For example, a bachelor's degree in Business and a master's degree in Public Administration. If you don't have multiple degrees, please type "N/A".

14

How many years of professional accounting experience do you have?

• I do not have any experience
• I have less than 1 year of experience
• I have 1 or more years of experience, but less than 2 years
• I have 2 or more years of experience, but less than 3 years
• I have 3 or more years of experience, but less than 4 years
• I have 4 or more years of experience, but less than 5 years
• I have 5 or more years of experience, but less than 6 years
• I have 6 or more years of experience, but less than 7 years
• I have 7 years or more of experience

15

Please describe your professional accounting experience and the related duties you performed. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A".

16

This is a citywide position, and vacancies may occur across multiple departments within the City. To learn more about each department, visit https://www.oaklandca.gov/Government/Departments

Please indicate the departments to which you would like to be referred for an interview.

Please note that your selected department(s) may not have a vacancy at the time candidate names are referred. In addition, you must be placed on the eligibility list before you can be considered for referral. If you would like to update your selection, contact Human Resources Management at [email protected]. Selections may be updated at any time until the eligibility list expires.

17

Acting assignments: If you have served in an Acting assignment that you would like considered as experience towards the minimum qualifications requirement, please list the Acting assignment(s) separately in the "Work experience" section of your application. For each Acting assignment, the description must include the Acting job title (use the word Acting as part of the job title), dates and hours served, and duties performed.

I understand the above statement and will list any Acting assignments separately in the "Work experience" section of my application form.

• Yes
• No

18

Answers to the above supplemental questions MUST be supported by information contained in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of this application. Answers not supported by information contained in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of this application will NOT be considered.

I have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer

City of Oakland

Address

150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza - 2nd Floor








Oakland, California, 94612

Phone

(510) 238-3112

Website

http://www.oaklandca.gov/