Chief Accountant

The incumbent is deputy to the Controller, and as such, performs a full range of complex accounting, technical, financial, supervisory, management, and administrative duties and provides overall planning, coordination, and accountability for large, complex projects, in compliance with laws, regulations, authoritative literature, and policies. SALARY: Level III REPORTS TO: Controller POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Four to Fourteen

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsible for two or more of the following functions: accounts payable, grants accounting and compliance, capital assets, liaison with financial management software vendor, general ledger (including budget control), liaison with Computer Services department, cash reconciliations, internal/external financial reporting, office management. Schedule, assign, direct, coordinate, oversee, and review the work of these functions.
2. Interview, select, train and cross‑train, direct, supervise, motivate, evaluate, and discipline subordinate staff in accordance with Borough policies and procedures.
3. Prepare and maintain, or review, reconciliations, allocations, balancing operations, accounts maintenance functions, analyses, reports, statements, databases, spreadsheets, work papers, and schedules and perform other accounting tasks and special projects for both internal and external purposes. Work includes identifying and interpreting financial, technical, and other information and ensuring data integrity through self‑audit, analyses, and review.
4. Perform, assist with, coordinate, oversee, and/or review fiscal year‑end accounting and closing tasks, audit preparation, the annual financial and single audits, and preparation of the annual financial statements and reports.
5. Prepare and present formal training and information sessions.
6. Manage projects, including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, procurement, implementation, training, Boroughwide communications, and project debriefing.
7. Assist in the selection and maintenance of material for the Accounting library. Keep current on developments and authoritative changes affecting the Borough’s accounting and other financial activities. Research, interpret, apply, and implement authoritative directives to which the Borough is subject. Monitor economic trends and new governmental accounting and financial concepts and techniques. Provide expert accounting, financial, and management advice to the Controller and Chief Financial Officer, and to the Administration and Assembly as needed.
8. Troubleshoot and maintain the Borough’s financial systems. Plan, test, and implement new and updated vendor software. Supervise and/or train Borough staff in the use of the Borough’s financial systems.
9. Make recommendations and participate in the formulation and implementation of Division and Department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures and of Boroughwide financial policies and procedures.
10. Respond to financial and accounting related inquiries.
11. Perform other management, professional accounting, and financial functions or duties.
12. Job responsibilities require working additional hours outside the Borough’s normal business day, cyclically and for special projects and public meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, from an accredited institution or program, or a CPA. CPA is preferred. A Bachelor’s degree in Finance or equivalent may be considered provided coursework includes relevant accounting classes.
2. Five (5) years of professional accounting and/or financial auditing experience in positions of progressive responsibility and authority and at increasingly more complex levels of demonstrated proficiency and scope. OR CPA with three years professional accounting and/or financial auditing experience.
3. General ledger experience and internal and external financial reporting experience is required. Experience in the following areas is preferred: governmental accounting, (governmental) budgeting and control, (governmental) purchasing, encumbrance accounting, grants accounting and compliance and single audits, management of a (governmental) accounting or finance office, payroll, capital assets, accounts payable, and cash reconciliations. Cross training or experience in any of the following functions is desirable: information technology, financial auditing, governmental finance, electronic procurement and payment processing, human resources and labor contracts, banking services, accounts receivable and cash handling, and (governmental) treasury and investments.
4. Two (2) years supervisory experience is required. Demonstrated supervisory, planning, problem solving, and decision making skills and the ability to plan, coordinate, and direct work of subordinate staff. One (1) year management experience is preferred.
5. Must have a verifiable background in automated accounting systems on mainframe/mid‑range computers. Automated accounting system experience in a governmental or large‑sized entity is desirable. Must have recent extensive and verifiable analytical experience and demonstrated ability to perform complex analyses using a sophisticated, integrated financial management system with knowledge and judgment of inter‑relationships of financial data and other information.
6. Experience in project management is preferred. Project management experience or participation in activities related to vendor‑developed financial management software is desirable.
7. Demonstrated proficiency with recent versions of Microsoft Excel and Word is required. Experience with recent versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC, Microsoft Windows and the remainder of the Microsoft suite (Outlook and Access) preferred. Must be accurate and proficient at keyboarding and be able to use a 10‑key calculator accurately by touch.
8. PREFERRED: Ability to have and maintain a valid driver’s license and to meet insurance standards and maintain insurability under the Borough’s insurance program. If personal automobile is used for Borough business, proof of insurance at statutory limits must be provided. (A CURRENT COPY OF DRIVING RECORD WILL BE REQUIRED UPON REQUEST)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

1. Knowledge of GAAP and GAAS relating to accounting and auditing, and to grants and other compliance areas, is required. Must have an understanding of internal controls and ability to incorporate appropriately into the workplace. Knowledge of governmental accounting is required. Knowledge of governmental budgeting is preferred.
2. Demonstrated integrity, leadership, and maturity. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to use independent judgment in applying guidelines to varied situations.
3. Ability and temperament to contemporaneously organize, prioritize, coordinate, oversee, manage, and perform multiple functions, projects, and tasks, whose priorities change frequently. Ability to perform these work activities accurately, efficiently, and timely with minimal direction, sometimes under stressful situations and short deadlines.
4. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Borough management and staff, and to deal effectively and harmoniously with outside entities, professional colleagues, elected officials, other state and local governmental agencies, and the general public.
5. Ability to understand and interpret federal, state, and local laws and regulations; contracts and other legal documents; and other authoritative sources relevant to Borough accounting, grants, payroll, and accounts.
6. Must be able to communicate courteously, professionally, clearly, and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

OTHER

1. A proficiency test may be administered.
2. This position requires a criminal background investigation and a credit history background check.

JOB CONTACTS

All levels of Borough management and staff; federal, state, and local agencies; non‑profit grantee agencies; FNSB School District finance staff; banks, vendors; auditors; professional organizations; Assembly members; service area and other Borough commissioners; individual citizens.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY

See basic functions and typical duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

General office where conditions are pleasant, good and clean. Conditions where accidents/hazards are negligible; requires short periods of moderate lifting, pushing or pulling (26-50 lbs). #J-18808-Ljbffr Fairbanks North Star Borough