Accounting Specialist

Hourly Rate of Pay For This Position is $24.92 Come to a City that Builds Careers! As one of the largest cities in Broward County, the City of Hollywood provides an energetic, innovative and collaborative work environment for its employees. Want Top Notch Insurance? We offer low cost health insurance giving you the best value - Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Plans. Need Work Life Balance? We have got you covered with a 4-Day Work Week and an Award Winning Wellness Program. And We Don’t Stop There. The City of Hollywood provides a generous Paid Time Off Program inclusive of 13 Paid Holidays, Vacation Leave, Personal Leave, and Sick Leave. Repaying Student Loans? Employees at the City with 10 years of public service and on-time payments qualify for the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program. Let’s Partner Together and Come Grow with the City of Hollywood. For more information about this position and our competitive pay, benefits package and pension plan, refer to this job posting or our City website at JOB SUMMARY: This is complex sub-professional accounting, auditing and technical work in fiscal operations. Employees in this class are responsible for accounts payable and other accounting operations of their assigned area, as well as the preparation of routine and special information reports and proofreading financial statements. Knowledge of purchasing policies and procedures, payment/discount terms and department functions is crucial to this position. Work in this class is normally in accordance with established procedures; however, the incumbent must use some independent judgment and knowledge of accounting practices and policies in interpreting procedures, recording and reporting transactions and preparing financial statements. Work is subject to automatic and periodic verification through systems of internal controls, pre-audits and post-audits and to supervisory review for conformity with established regulations and policies. Decisions regarding new procedures or unusual situations are referred, with appropriate recommendations, for final determination to a technical or professional supervisor. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Processes invoices, purchase orders, contracts and all other payment request types. Reviews all submissions for accuracy, required authorizations and compliance with City policies and external audit compliance. Maintains pending payment files; monitors payment terms and due dates; notifies departments of pending and past due items; prompts departments and vendors for necessary action. Assembles unpaid invoice detail for submission directly to Department Director for inclusion in monthly "Over 45 Days Report". Takes additional steps to identify missing invoices and misapplied payments by reviewing statements and researching past due amounts. Identifies discrepancies, if any, between vendor invoices, purchasing authorization and City policies. Determines action required to resolve discrepancy. Communicates issues to vendors and appropriate departments. Documents actions taken and steps needed for problem resolution and follows through to discrepancy resolution. Responds directly to vendors, citizens and other departments regarding inquiries and complaints. Provides information, interpretation of procedures and independently determines course of action needed to resolve all payment issues. Works directly with Accountants to verify appropriate payment request format, payment amount and budget year. Inputs data on a daily basis into the City’s ERP system; maintains daily and cumulative balances; reconciles work of multiple staff members with computer generated report totals. Controls, coordinates and produces large, weekly accounts payable check run. Prepares manual checks when needed. Generates check production runs and reviews reports for accuracy. Updates final postings to general ledger. Tests and implements new accounting packages, check writing software and all vendor upgrades affecting the Accounts Payable system. Prepares monthly sales tax returns and appropriate supporting documentation for Accountant review and approval. Remits sales tax return and payment electronically to State. Assembles purchase and usage documentation to support monthly fuel inventory. Independently resolves discrepancies as appropriate. Assembles monthly supporting documentation for postage and monthly fuel consumption for City vehicles and equipment. Assembles documentation for retail fuel sales at City Marina and calculates profit on sales. Resolves discrepancies, if any, with division’s personnel. Prepares and enters journal entries into City’s ERP system for above activities. Submits entries to Accountant for review and update. Prepares and remits quarterly fuel tax returns with supporting documentation to State. Follows up to ensure payment is subsequently received. Prepares State of Florida tag and title work for all new and confiscated City vehicles and equipment; verifies receipt of funds and processes title transfers for all City vehicles auctioned or otherwise disposed of. Monitors receipt of tags and titles and distributes to appropriate division(s) upon receipt. Reviews requests for miscellaneous fee refunds for compliance with City policies. Ensures appropriate charges are levied prior to issuance of refunds. Must effectively and positively represent the City in delivering and performing work with colleagues and clients, irrespective of gender, race, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or sexual orientation. Must maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers. Performs related work as required for this position description only. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Required High School Diploma or GED equivalent plus coursework in accounting, or business practices, supplemented by two (2) years responsible clerical accounting work or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Preferred Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting or related appropriate discipline or bookkeeping and/or accounting related college level courses, supplemented by four (4) years responsible clerical accounting work. Additional education and experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be substituted for the above requirements. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Valid Driver’s License: With proof of automobile insurance Background Check: Must have an acceptable background record Driving Abstract: Must have an acceptable driving record KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES: Knowledge of principles and practices of accounting and bookkeeping. Knowledge of departmental and municipal rules, ordinances, regulations, and policies controlling accounting procedures and fiscal operations. Knowledge of modern office practices, terminology, methods, procedures and equipment. Ability to assimilate, analyze and summarize data relative to the accounts payable function. Ability to research, collect and compile data for administrative and annual reports. Ability to make decisions and interpretations in accordance with established rules, policies, and procedures. Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, subordinate personnel, and the public. Ability to communicate information tactfully and impartially, orally and in writing. Skill in fundamental computer operations including Microsoft Word, Excel and accounting software. Ability to maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors, managers and the public. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical abilities described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to conduct sedentary work, light work, crouch, finger objects, grasp, handle, hear, kneel, make rational decisions, reach, use repetitive motion, speak, talk, and visualize. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed primarily in an office environment that requires the employee to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Required Education and Background Information: Look over the announcement carefully to determine your eligibility. Please note minimum education and experience requirements. Closed competitive positions are open only to employees while open competitive positions are open to anyone who meets the minimum qualifications for the position. Evidence of a GED test score is required if submitted for high school diploma. Applicants are responsible for clearly documenting work experience and/or providing all relevant information at the time of application. Additional information will not be accepted after the announcement closing date. Veteran's Preference: The City values the service that veterans and their family members have given to our country, and as such, proactively recruits and hires veterans and qualified spouses to the greatest extent possible. Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such servicemembers and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. To obtain veteran's preference, candidates MUST submit a copy of separation papers (DD214) and meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by the Florida Statutes. For additional information, please refer to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. All successful applicants will be required to pass an extensive background which may include criminal history searches, driving history checks, credit report, courthouse searches, education verification, employment verification, professional license verification, or other search methods as deemed necessary for the position. In addition, the applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination, which may include a drug screening, prior to appointment. EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES: The relative must have competed in an appropriate examination process as determined by Human Resources and be placed on a civil service eligibility list; The relative must be among the top three ranked candidates available on the certified eligibility list unless expanded by the Civil Service Board; The Department or Office Director and the Director, Human Resources must demonstrate that it is in the best interests of the City of Hollywood to hire the relative of a public officer or employee. As of 12/15/2005 the City will require all newly hired employees to sign an affidavit affirming non-usage of tobacco or tobacco products within the last year prior to submission of application and will continue to be a non-user of tobacco products throughout employment with the City of Hollywood. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The Employment Office will make reasonable efforts in the examination and workplace to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources of special needs by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io. All applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, abilities, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity and expression (except as limited by law, Personnel Rules, Collective Bargaining Agreements, or bona fide occupational disqualifications). The City of Hollywood is an Equal Opportunity / Equal Access Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr