Assistant Comptroller

Position Overview

This position is located in the Finance Department/Accounting Office and is responsible for professional-level accounting duties in support of the Comptroller. This work involves the maintenance, reporting, and review of accurate and complete financial records for the County. The position reports to the Comptroller, serves as a backup to the Comptroller, and provides lead direction to Accounting Clerks.

Assists the Comptroller in monitoring and evaluating county financial activities by researching and analyzing problems and needs and helping design solutions. Helps develop and implement accounting methods and procedures by researching and analyzing the impacts and effects of changes and carries out recommendations approved by the Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer.

Helps review pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Local Government Assistance Division to determine their applicability to county financial accounting and to identify necessary changes to report formats and accounting practices. Supports the Comptroller in coordinating the timing and implementation of those changes so they are reflected in financial accounting policies and practices.

Analyzes county financial records monthly and at fiscal year-end to ensure accuracy and completeness. Reviews and prepares correcting journal entries.

Performs monthly closing and comparison of subsidiary records to trial balances, including analysis of Treasurer downloads for accuracy and completeness. Assists with year-end closing procedures and prepares necessary adjustments.

Provides information and guidance to county elected officials, department heads, staff, and the public on accounting issues and questions.

Assists the Comptroller, Finance Director, and Chief Financial Officer with budget adjustments for county departments by performing account transfers and other adjustments to implement financial management objectives.

Helps review, monitor, and update the policy and procedure manual for the Accounting Department.

Provides information and assistance to external auditors to facilitate their review of county activities.

Maintains the General Ledger in the financial accounting software system.

Assists in preparing the year-end General Purpose Financial statements for Gallatin County, including combined and combining statements and the notes to the financial statements.

Helps establish formats for the presentation of financial information based on GAAP, GASB, state, and county accounting policy to ensure user needs are met and to ensure County compliance with state and federal law.

Evaluates the intended use of reports (for example, the County Annual Report, evaluation by bond rating agencies, specific information requests from county management, and requests for fiscal notes), helps analyze statutes and policies to identify restrictions and appropriate reporting of state and federal funds, and helps develop financial report formats.

Serves as backup to the Comptroller and carries out the Comptroller's duties during absences as assigned. Provides lead direction and training to Accounting Clerks and may supervise assigned accounting staff, including assigning and reviewing work, providing technical assistance, and assisting with performance evaluation.

Perform a variety of other duties as assigned by the Comptroller or Chief Financial Officer. This includes working with the County Treasurer, the Finance Coordinator, and other departments on various financial projects, providing backup for other staff in the office, representing the office at meetings and conferences, and attending continuing education, training, and seminars to obtain information and education on governmental accounting matters. If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatening disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, or flood, County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

Qualifications

The position requires considerable knowledge of public sector accounting theory and GAAP, with emphasis on governmental accounting and financial reporting principles, as well as public sector financial statement preparation, financial analysis, general ledger, accounts payable, fixed assets, and the use of financial software. The position also requires knowledge of county accounting systems and funding structures, research methods and techniques, statistics, tax policies and procedures, and local, state, and federal budget and financial reporting requirements. The position requires the ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences with diverse levels of understanding, to analyze and interpret project accounting data and problems, to provide lead direction to staff, and to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Education & Experience

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in accounting with coursework through intermediate or advanced accounting and auditing, or equivalent, plus two (2) years of related work experience, preferably within a local government.

Supplemental Information

As a condition of hire, the final candidate will be required to successfully pass a criminal history check and driving screening.

To please be prepared to attach the following required documents to be considered:

• Resume
• Three (3) work references
• Cover Letter

Gallatin County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, or sex when the reasonable demands of the position do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, or sex distinction.