Principal Accountant

Job Req ID: 866

Division: Budget Monitoring

Salary Range: $184,205.00 to $184,205.00

Job Type: Unclassified

Business Area: Department of Finance

Personnel Area: Department of Finance

Closing Date: 07/03/2026

Under the general direction of the Financial Operations Managers in the Department of Finance, the Principal Accountants are responsible for coordinating the accounting, budget, disbursements, and financial reporting functions in the Department.

The City is recruiting for two Principal Accountant positions. One position will lead the Budget Development section and is primarily responsible for the planning and development of the City’s Proposed and Adopted Budgets. The second position will lead the Budget Monitoring section and is primarily responsible for administering the citywide quarterly budget monitoring process. Candidates may be considered for either assignment based on their qualifications and experience. This recruitment may be used to fill any future vacancies in the Department.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in accounting, finance, or business administration or a related field;
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible management experience;
• Municipal government experience, accounting, and grant management experience are highly desired; and
• Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates these qualifications may be qualifying.

Desirable Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Experience in the preparation, administration, and monitoring of operating and/or capital budgets;
• A Master's Degree in a related field is highly desirable;
• Experience in Government Accounting and Reporting;
• Knowledge and experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning systems;
• Strong quantitative analytical abilities, including a thorough understanding of common data analysis tools and programs;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information in a simple, clear, and straightforward manner, including the use of graphs and tables as needed;
• Ability to communicate effectively to different audiences, including elected officials, various levels of City management, and members of the public;
• Ability to comprehend technical details and understand how they relate to and impact the “big picture”;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with tight time constraints;
• Interest in municipal activities and services and how they impact the community;
• Highly ethical and objective, with the ability to navigate in a political environment without being political; and
• Energetic and motivated with the ability and desire to take initiative.

The Department

The Department of Finance is responsible for providing oversight of City fiscal management; financial reporting; internal controls review and monitoring; centralized accounts payable processing and payroll services; and budget preparation, administration, and maintenance for the City. The Department is made up of three divisions, Financial Planning, External Financial Reporting, and Debt Management & CIP, and consists of approximately 140 professional and administrative support services staff to carry out the duties of the office as outlined in the San Diego City Charter. For more information, please visit this link.

The City

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan".

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2025 operating and capital budget of approximately $5.65 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Benefits

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.).
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service…