The Accounting Services division is divided into three sections that provide professional accounting, payroll, benefit administration, accounts payable and contract management services to City departments, the Housing Authority and the Redevelopment Agency. Additional professional services provided include: supporting the City's chief negotiator in evaluating cost of employee benefits, monitoring the City's deferred compensation programs, providing technical support during bond sales, establishing various assessment tax liens, providing support to City departments, the Housing Authority and the Redevelopment Agency, and providing interpretations of various federal and state laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Davis-Bacon Act, and Public Employees’ Retirement System regulations.

The Financial Reporting section maintains the financial records for the City of Santa Rosa, and the Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Rosa. This requires the accomplishment of tasks ranging from routine journal voucher posting to producing the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

In addition to the various reports produced by this Section for other agencies, there is a fiscal year annual audit performed by an outside firm of certified public accountants selected by the City Council. The results of each audit are discussed in a management letter addressed to the City Council. Also, the Financial Statements are reviewed by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for conformance to standards set in order to receive the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The annual award of this certificate is expected.

This Section also provides City departments professional accounting and financial reporting services. This requires daily contact with various City personnel at all levels within the organization. These services range from answering questions concerning an accounting or budgeting problem to representing the City organization when responding to a federal or state agency.

The Payroll & Employee Benefits section maintains the City's payroll system and produces all payments for the various employee benefit programs. This requires producing a biweekly payroll for the City and verifying and paying monthly benefit costs. There are several outside reporting requirements of payroll related information to federal and state agencies that occur biweekly, quarterly, and annually. Additional tasks performed by this Section are: the management of the City's deferred compensation program, enrollment and billing for employees' and retirees' health benefit programs, monitoring the Dependent Care Assistance Program, administering various uniform voucher programs, and monitoring and processing travel requests.

The Accounts Payable & Contract Administration section processes all the accounts payable requests relating to contracts, purchase orders, field requisitions and miscellaneous payments.

Additionally, contracts are monitored for adherence to insurance requirements and to ensure payments are properly documented and the requirements of the federal and state laws are satisfied.

Lawrence Chiu
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (707) 543-3089
lchiu@srcity.org