Finance Department
The Finance Department provides effective and efficient management of the City’s financial resources. It is responsible for the collection, monitoring and disbursement of City revenues and all funds required to be in the custody of the city treasurer.
The Finance Department works to ensure a strong financial foundation for the City of Berkeley and its community members. It operates the Finance Customer Service Center and provides direct services to the entire Berkeley community, which includes approximately 102,000 residents and more than 11,000 businesses. The department also provides a wide variety of support services, including financial analysis and reporting, billing and collection, procurement, contract administration and vendor transactions for all City departments.
The Finance Department's mission is "To conduct all of our responsibilities with integrity, warrant and receive the trust of colleagues and constituents, and to positively support the delivery of quality services to fulfill the City’s mission and citywide priorities. Within the framework of full disclosure and quality customer service, our principal obligations are to safeguard City assets, maximize revenues, manage the business of City programs, and provide accurate, timely, and complete financial information.”
Divisions
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Office of the Director and Finance Administration
The Finance Director serves as the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Investment Manager, and City Treasurer. The Director’s Office provides expert, professional assistance to City management and City Departments on financial, accounting, and related matters; provides business administration and technical assistance to City departments; administers the annual budget and directs day-to-day financial operations; provides revenue and economic forecasting to City policymakers and stakeholders; manages the City and retiree medical plan investment portfolios; designs and implements an automated and integrated financial accounting system; makes presentations of the City’s financial status and operations to the City Council and other regulatory agencies; serves as the lead for Payment Card Industry compliance; and monitors developments related to finance and accounting matters and evaluates their impact on City operations and financial programs.
Address: 2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor, Berkeley CA 94704
Phone / TDD / Fax: Phone (510) 981-7300 / TDD (510) 981-7250 / FAX (510) 981-7390
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Email Address: finance@cityofberkeley.info -
Treasury
The Treasury Division is responsible for receipt recordation, deposits, and investments of City monies. It also assists the Finance Director in investing short and long-term investments of surplus City funds; maintains fiscal accountability for all City monies; manages the City’s banking relationship; coordinates implementation of the City’s online payment programs and electronic deposits; and serves as the lead for the City’s cash handling policy compliance. The Treasury Division acts as the City’s centralized cashiering operation and accepts deposits from all City cash acceptance locations and departments. It also acts as the main payment processing center for mail-in payments for Citywide billing and other revenue sources. It is responsible for revenue development, audits, and collection of delinquent accounts.
Address: 2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor, Berkeley CA 94704
Phone / TDD / Fax: Phone (510) 981-7200 / TDD (510) 981-7250 / FAX (510) 981-7210
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Email Address: finance@cityofberkeley.info -
General Services
The General Services Division manages a centralized Purchasing function. This division works with departments to identify equipment, goods, and services that will meet the City’s needs; creates cost-effective purchasing and maintenance agreements; issues and awards all non-construction bids and Request for Proposals; and opens all construction bids to obtain the best competitive pricing for purchases while adhering to the City’s purchasing policies. It also enforces compliance of City polices involving the following social responsibility programs: Non-discrimination, Nuclear Free, Oppressive States, Sanctuary City, Living Wage, Equal Benefits, Sweatshop-free, Contract Compliance, and other procurement restrictions. This division maintains the Purchasing information on the City’s website and assures that customers and vendors have online access to needed information and forms. The division is also responsible for mail services.
Address: 2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor, Berkeley CA 94704
Phone / TDD / Fax: Phone (510) 981-7320 / TDD (510) 981-7250 / Fax (510) 981-7390
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Email Address: purchasing@cityofberkeley.info -
Accounting
The Accounting Division serves as advisor, consultant, and an information source to other departments on financial management items and Finance Department policies and procedures. It directs the maintenance of the City’s automated accounting system, including the general ledger and all required subsidiary ledgers. The Accounting Division reviews and ensures adequate internal controls throughout the City, performs bank reconciliations, and assists in the development of the Finance Department work plan. It is responsible for the preparation of various financial and accounting reports, including the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), State Controller’s reports, quarterly grants report, sales tax returns, payroll, and the city’s indirect cost allocation plans. Accounting has an Accounts Payable unit which controls disbursements made from City funds, excluding those for investments, payroll, payroll liability, and the workers’ compensation administrator. This unit ensures that all disbursements are timely, accurate, and are made in compliance with all internal controls and established City policies and procedures.
Address: 1947 Center Street, 1st Floor, Berkeley CA 94704
Phone / TDD / Fax: Phone (510) 981-7200 / TDD (510) 981-7250 / Fax (510) 981-7370
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Email Address: finance@cityofberkeley.info -
Revenue Collection
The Revenue Collection Division provides billing services for refuse and most other City services; prepares the City’s and Berkeley Unified School District’s special property tax rolls for inclusion on the annual property tax bill; processes transfer tax, seismic retrofit, very low-income, and private sewer lateral refunds; prepares and processes annual business licenses and residential parking permits; schedules business license appeals; supports the Customer Service Counter with business license applications; administers and issues street vendor, massage, and food vendor permits; and maintains the City’s land management database. It confers with City staff and management in analyzing proposed rate structures of various City revenues.
The Customer Service Counter is a unit within the Revenue Collection Division. It provides counter service to the Berkeley community and processes walk-in/drop-off payments for various Citywide billings, business licenses, residential parking permits, parking citations, copies of birth and death certificates and assists customers in the community service program for Project 22. This unit prepares and submits all payments received from customers to Treasury for posting in the City's financial system. The staff provides support for updating customers’ records in the City’s parking system, maintains records of community service agreements, and processes tow and boot releases and account maintenance for parking related payment inquiries.
Address: 1947 Center Street, 1st Floor, Berkeley CA 94704
Phone / TDD / Fax: Phone (510) 981-7200 / TDD (510) 981-7250 / Fax (510) 981-7210
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Email Address: finance@cityofberkeley.info
Contact
Henry Oyekanmi
Director of Finance