Accountant

Accountant Position

The Accountant supports the financial operations of the Jefferson County Health Department. This role is responsible for performing professional accounting duties including financial reporting, grant accounting, budgeting support, accounts payable/receivable, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Accountant ensures accurate financial records that support the department's mission to protect and promote community health.

We offer a competitive starting rate of $18.72 - $20.23 per hour, depending on relevant skills and previous experience in the field.

Essential Activities:

• Financial Management & Reporting
• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and financial records in accordance with GAAP and applicable Missouri statutes.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for internal leadership, the Board of Trustees, and external stakeholders.
• Reconcile bank accounts, credit card statements, and other financial accounts
• Assist in the preparation of the annual budget and monitor expenditures against approved budgets.

Grant & Program Accounting

• Track revenues and expenditures for federal, state, and local grants, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and allowable cost principles.
• Prepare and submit grant reimbursement requests, financial reports, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain audit-ready files for all grant and contract-funded programs.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Process vendor invoices, purchase orders, and payments in accordance with procurement policies.
• Maintain vendor files and ensure proper documentation for all disbursements.
• Prepare and issue invoices for billable services; monitor and follow up on outstanding receivables.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of the health department.

Compliance & Audit

• Assist with annual external audits, including preparation of schedules, documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries.
• Ensure compliance with Missouri Sunshine Law requirements for financial transparency.
• Maintain internal controls to safeguard public funds and support operational efficiency.

Behavior Competencies:

• Attendance: Employee is expected to adhere to the JCHD Policy and Procedures for attendance and breaks and communicate with your supervisor about anticipated modifications.
• Communication Skills: Understand and communicate professionally and effectively with others using a variety of contexts and formats, which include writing, speaking, reading, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Dependability: Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, and stays focused under pressure.
• Integrity: Earns the trust and confidence of coworkers and customers through honest communication, ethical behavior, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Problem Solving: Breaks down problems into smaller components, can simplify and process complex issues, can identify and understand root cause.
• Productivity: Manages a fair workload, prioritizes tasks, develops good work procedures, manages time well, and handles information flow.
• Quality: Is attentive to detail and accuracy, is committed to excellence, looks for improvements continuously, monitors quality levels, finds root cause of quality problems, owns/acts on quality problems.
• Teamwork: Contributes to meeting team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a cooperative team atmosphere

Requirements

Qualifications & Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Two or more years of professional accounting experience (government or nonprofit experience preferred).
• Knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, and grant management principles.
• Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and internal control frameworks (preferred)
• Experience working in a Missouri political subdivision or public health agency (preferred).
• Familiarity with federal and state grant and contract programs (e.g., CDC, HRSA, Missouri DHSS) (preferred).
• Experience with governmental budgeting and audit processes (preferred).
• Valid driver's license.

Foundational Public Health Services:

Ability to follow the Missouri Foundational Public Health Services model's capabilities and areas of expertise as necessary for this position.

Continuing Education:

Although not mandatory, completing continuing education coursework is encouraged to maintain currency in the discipline. Additionally, emergency response training courses must be completed within established time frames, as identified by ordinance, statute, or administration. Annually, JCHD administration will require various coursework completions, not specific to any discipline; that is deemed beneficial to the organization as a whole.

Work Conditions:

This position entails work that may be required at multiple locations, involving minimal lifting/carrying. There may be occasional evening and/or weekend work, and individuals should be prepared to work in reasonable adverse weather conditions such as snow, rain, or heat. May require extended hours during budget season, audits, or grant/contract deadlines. Position may involve handling confidential and sensitive information. All staff at JCHD are designated as first responders during public health emergencies. Therefore, employees must be available 24/7/365 if called upon during an emergency event.

Additional Notes:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other Health Department-related duties requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.