Principal Accountant
City of Moreno Valley, CA
Moreno Valley, CA
Join Our Team as a Principal Accountant!
Are you an experienced accounting professional with a passion for leadership and public service?
The City is seeking a dynamic Principal Accountant to oversee the accounting operations that support our community’s growth and financial health.
This recruitment will close at 5:00 p.m. (PST) on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Assessment tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026
THE OPPORTUNITY
As a key member of our leadership team, you will oversee the City’s external audit process, collaborating closely with auditors for compliance and timely completion of audits. You will also identify and implement process improvement opportunities, including optimizing financial software to enhance operational efficiency. With a strong focus on leadership and team development, you will provide coaching and performance evaluations to your staff, fostering a dynamic, customer-oriented culture within the Accounting division.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Click here to access the complete classification description, including the experience, education, and physical and mental requirements for this job.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Accountant to lead our dynamic division. This high-impact role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to the City’s financial performance and strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in municipal accounting, a strong foundation in financial management, and a proven track record of leading teams and driving operational excellence. In this position, you will manage a diverse team of professional accountants and support staff, guiding them through complex accounting tasks and overseeing key financial processes, including month-end closes, budget preparation, audit coordination, and internal control compliance. You will play a crucial role in ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting, developing and optimizing accounting procedures, and managing the City’s financial systems to meet regulatory standards.
MINIMUM AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field; OR, equivalent related work experience; AND
- A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, which includes:
Experience in:
- At least five years' experience in a supervising or lead accounting capacity in a government accounting environment.
- Leading and/or managing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report process for a multi-agency (such as Redevelopment Agency, Community Services District, Municipal Utility or the like) and multiple fund local government agency is required.
- Local government auditing, with a CPA credential desired.
- Supervising subordinate staff.
- Performing complex account reconciliations.
- Project management, including awareness of project management principles and steps.
- Working extensively with financial software systems, including experience with system implementation.
- Extensively working with monthly and annual close processes, including in-depth awareness of required entries and reconciliations to complete a closing process.
- Demonstrated ability to work at a very high level with Excel, Database Inquiry and Report Writing software.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
- A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s vehicle insurance policy.
WHO WE ARE
The City of Moreno Valley prides itself on delivering quality service to our residents and businesses efficiently and effectively through Collaboration, Innovation, Customer Service, and Human-Centric Design. Strategically located in Southern California’s Inland Empire, Moreno Valley is the second-largest city in Riverside County and is close to major hubs such as Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. This spacious, thriving, and diverse City has a population of over 200,000 residents and offers a variety of business opportunities. For additional information regarding the City, please click here.
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL & MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The Financial & Management Services Department manages the City’s finances and safeguards its assets. We provide a wide range of support services to other City departments including budget coordination; financial reporting; payroll; billing and accounts receivable; purchasing and central stores; accounts payable; cash management and investing; cashiering; technology services including network administration and security, enterprise systems and database administration, geographic information systems, backbone infrastructure and telecommunications; and maintenance service for all City facilities.
For more information about the Financial & Management Services Department, please click here.