Staff Accountant / Finance

Accounting Position

This position performs professional-level accounting work in support of the City's financial operations under the general supervision of the Controller. Responsibilities include a broad range of accounting functions such as general ledger reconciliations, bank reconciliations, treasury activities, capital asset coordination, payroll processing, journal entries, and financial reporting. The position also assists with budget preparation, annual audit support and workpapers, franchise and hotel/motel tax reporting and reconciliations, and the maintenance of grant documentation. This role collaborates with other departments to ensure fiscal integrity and compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides professional accounting support to the Controller, including assistance with financial operations, reporting, and audits.
• Assists with the preparation and submission of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and assists Controller with coordinating the annual external audit.
• Maintains compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and municipal financial regulations.
• Perform reconciliations between accounts maintained in the general ledger and the subsidiary ledgers, including monthly bank reconciliations.
• Assists with preparation and data entry of annual budget compilations and budget amendments, as well as budget reporting.
• Maintains capital asset records, reconciles the asset module to the general ledger, and conducts the annual capital asset inventory.
• Assists in the preparation and submission of the annual budget to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program.
• Assists with payroll processing.
• Maintains, reconciles and audits a variety of ledgers, reports (such as 941 reports, W-2 processing, TWC reporting, etc.), and accounting transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Records the receipts of franchise and hotel/motel payments and reconciles to the general ledger.
• Maintains the accuracy of vendor files and corrects any discrepancies.
• Prepares journal entries for daily activities.
• Researches and reconciles discrepancies in accounts, bank statements, or fund balances, and reports findings.
• Maintains and monitors monthly activities on grants to ensure proper account coding and proper use of funds under grant terms.
• Assists with month-end closing and reports.
• Assists Controller in overseeing the City's Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system functions and application of software performance.
• Assists with financial transparency initiatives in accordance with the standards of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to support the City's Transparency Stars Awards.
• Reconciles deposits from Cooke County Appraisal District (CCAD) with the general ledger.
• Provides lead support to Accounting Technicians, including reviewing work and assisting with problem resolution.
• Attend and participate in supervisory training as necessary or requested.

Additional duties:

• Assists customers as requested.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Accounting principles and practices.
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) related to municipal finance administration and program development.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Microsoft Office computer software, specifically Excel and Word programs.
• Maintaining complex computerized general ledger systems or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Knowledge of Tyler Enterprise ERP (Munis) software preferred.

Ability to:

• Effectively perform a variety of accounting functions.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Interpret and prepare various reports and statements for State and Federal governmental agencies.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative-working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience and Training Guidelines: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities may be considered qualifying. A typical way to obtain the necessary knowledge and abilities would be:

• Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible technical accounting experience is required.
• Government accounting experience, including knowledge of governmental budgeting and accounting principles, is strongly preferred.
• A Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field may substitute for the required experience.

Education/Training:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Certified Public Accounting (CPA) designation is preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, hand, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear.
• Occasionally required to walk; stand; stoop; reach; crawl; crouch.
• Regularly requires a great deal of hand and arm movement in computer entry.
• Occasionally move and/or lift computer paper which weights up to 50 pounds.
• Vision requirements include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with frequent use of a computer and standard office equipment.
• Work requires a high level of concentration, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Regular interaction with staff across departments is required.
• Occasionally work time outside of regular business hours may be required during peak period such as fiscal year-end, audits, and budget preparation or for special projects with pending deadlines.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.