Department Goals

To effectively and efficiently manage the fiscal affairs for the City of Downey, the Community Development Commission, SEAACA (Southeast Area Animal Control Authority), and the Downey Cemetery District. Serve the financial needs of Downey’s citizens, management and employees through centralized accounting, auditing, Treasury, business licenses, water customer service, animal licenses, purchasing, information technology, and City ambulance collections. In addition, the Finance Department continues to administer the City’s risk management program through active involvement in Independent Cities Risk Management Authority (ICRMA).

Department Responsibilities

Administration

The Administration division provides advice and analysis on financial matters affecting the City. The division prepares the Annual Budget, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and other financial reports. The Administration Division is responsible for oversight of all departmental activities and staff. The Division manages the City’s investments, budget and fiscal reporting, auditing and is also responsible for business tax and transient occupancy tax collections.

Accounting

The Accounting division effectively controls, reviews, and administers the City’s accounting system and financial functions in accordance with the Government Accounting Standards Board. Accounting provides other departments with general, grant and capital project accounting services, in addition to assisting with City financing, annual budget and special projects at the direction of the Director of Finance. The functions of payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivables reside in the Accounting division.

Purchasing

The Purchasing Division’s responsibilities include acquisition of products and services, mailroom, and the print shop. Purchasing's goal is to ensure the acquisition of quality goods, materials and services at the lowest total cost to the City. The division also oversees the competitive bidding process, the monitoring of specifications to ensure maximum use of competitive acquisitions, the responsibility for ensuring quality standards for commodities and services purchased and the supplier selection for all City departments. The greatest emphasis, however, lies in maintaining excellent customer service practices.

To ensure an open and competitive supplier selection process, a "Supplier Library" has been developed. The Supplier Library is a system that allows vendors to register for consideration for future bidding opportunities.

Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To conserve time and ensure you adequate attention, please make an appointment before coming to the Purchasing Division. Routine "courtesy" visits are not encouraged, as staff may not be available due to the daily division responsibilities.

Information Technology

The Information Technology division for the City of Downey is responsible for providing hardware and software support to all City department operations, help desk operations, data processing support, programming services, network support services and the processing of production systems such as Water Billing, Business Licensing, and Animal Licensing. The division plans, coordinates, and directs the City of Downey’ s electronic data processing to provide integrated computer services in a distributed, networked environment.

Cashier

The Cashier counter is located on the first floor and its hours of operation are 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday. The Cashier division is responsible for a number of functions for the City of Downey:

• Processing of water payments
• Issuance of garage sale, film and alarm permits
• Business registration applications and renewals

Finance Department
11111 Brookshire Avenue
Downey, CA 90241
T: (562) 904-7265
F: (562) 904-7270