Senior Accounting Associate

Job Summary

Perform a variety of paraprofessional accounting duties that impact city-wide financial records; assist in preparation of semi-monthly payroll; assist professional accounting and public works staff with monitoring and processing complex financial activities and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, policies and procedures; support cost accounting, capital improvement project monitoring and grant billing. This position has specialty areas that include accounting, timekeeping, and payroll support. Assignments and projects in these functional areas will vary between Associates and may change from time to time; however, the nature and scope of the work, specific procedures/processes applied and general knowledge requirements will be comparable. Principal Accountabilities

• Coordinate and assist with maintaining and processing information within key city-wide financial systems.
• Provide reports and analysis on accounting and financial information related to assigned responsibilities.
• Monitor assigned accounting activities to assure compliance with policies and procedures. Research transactions to ensure accuracy.

Essential Functions

• Respond to various internal and external requests for information. Produce regular or special reports and schedules as required. Verify information which may involve statistical tabulations and calculations in accordance with established formulas and procedures.
• Extract and provide information in support of the annual audit. Research auditor questions.
• Provide backup to other accounting and/or payroll staff, as needed. Serve as a resource in researching issues and questions regarding tax regulations, reporting requirements, payroll processing, and problematic records.
• Support capital improvement project budgeting and accounting, grant administration, and fund cost accounting.
• Serve as backup timekeeper; may have some primary timekeeping responsibilities.
• May assist with biennial budget preparation.

Detailed Accounting Functions Accounting

• Assist in preparation of annual financial report. Prepare and provide analysis of year end accounting spreadsheets for annual state audited financial statements.
• Oversee city-wide asset and liability account reconciliations. Coordinate with employees in multiple departments to verify that asset and liability accounts are balanced on a regular basis.
• Research and Prepare journal entries for review by the Accounting or Financial Planning Manager as needed.

Why Kirkland?

Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!

If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they will tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive leadership and City Council, and innovation.

We also invest in you!

Competitive Wages: We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

Awesome benefits: The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.

Childcare Programs: To help address the challenge of reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has agreements with two local childcare providers that offer discounted rates for our employees at 10 locations within 20 miles of Kirkland. Learn more!

Training and Career Development: The City of Kirkland believes in developing its employees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work accurately and efficiently with attention to details.
• Knowledge of general accounting and fund accounting, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Ability to create complex spreadsheets.
• Ability to operate automated financial software and timekeeping system and document management system.
• Ability to perform complex reconciliations using a variety of data sources.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as calculator, typewriter, and personal computer.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and communicate sensitively and effectively with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to understand and implement laws, regulations and labor contracts related to payroll processing.
• Ability to work under pressure and/or continual interruptions, and to deal with a variety of deadlines of both an immediate and flexible nature.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and other employees, both verbally and in writing.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications AA degree in accounting or related field and 5 years experience in bookkeeping/accounting/ payroll processing in a union environment or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Experience with automated financial management systems and public sector accounting rules preferred.

Other

Working Conditions Perform work in an office environment. Prolonged periods of sitting and computer keyboard entry is a routine part of this job.

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled. Job is open until filled with first review by 15th day of original posting date.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call View phone number on click.appcast.io or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 711.