Accounting Technician III

Job Title

Johnston County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Description

This position is an intermediate accounting position as a member of the Johnston County Public Utilities Department. An employee in this class performs a variety of general accounting and financial analysis tasks in support of the financial operations of the Public Utilities Department. Work involves applying established accounting or administrative procedures, principles of bookkeeping, and basic fund accounting to the review and processing of accounting and other financial documents. Work is characterized by use of automated accounting ledgers, registers, statements, vouchers, spreadsheets and other financial documents. Work includes processing invoices, data entry of payroll and timekeeping information, journal entries, reconciling accounts or cash, handling accounts receivable, budget review, and compiling a variety of reports. Judgment and initiative are required in the performance of duties. Work is performed under supervision of the Finance Services Group Manager or Accountant and is evaluated through conferences, accuracy and completeness of records and reports, and by independent audit of financial records.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Duties and responsibilities are varied.
• Review and accurately enter incoming invoices into the accounting system which includes adding expense coding and sales tax calculations.
• Identify and resolve issues with invoices, purchase orders and reconcile monthly statements for accounts payable to ensure that vendors are paid accurately and in a timely manner.
• Process weekly timesheet data and enter information to calculate gross earnings for various job classes (exempt, non-exempt, hourly, salaried, and shift schedules. This process includes reviewing accuracy of information from departmental payroll summaries and calculating regular and overtime hours.
• Maintain personnel data quality and partner with Payroll to ensure accuracy of employee data for all employees in the Public Utilities Department.
• Prepare and review accuracy of Personnel Action Forms and routes to Finance Services Group Manager for approval.
• Assist Human Resource and Finance Staff in maintaining employee training records, probation benchmarks and personnel data accuracy.
• Process receipts for accounts receivable related to bulk billing accounts and miscellaneous revenue.
• Monitor actual expenditures against budget and communicates variances.
• Make daily deposits of funds coming into the Public Utilities office.
• Record journal entries into financial systems and use auditing protocols to ensure accuracy.
• Prepare various accounting, financial, or fiscal statements, reports, or other supporting documents. Prepare accounting, revenue collections, and other fiscal data for entry into financial system.
• Produce monthly financial reports and submit them to Public Utilities Department Division managers.
• Maintain organized filing systems for both accounts payable and payroll documents. File and maintain all employee related documents; including Personnel Action Forms, leave reporting, payroll attendance timecards and payroll reports.
• General accounting practices are refined to manage and support the administration of the utility business operation focusing on financial oversite and integrity.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required. Must be able to create and maintain complex spreadsheets and workbooks.
• Attention to detail and organization skills are crucial for accurately processing invoices and payroll data.
• Ability to stay focused on key/priority tasks and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to take initiative and complete work accurately.
• Ability to analyze accounts payable and payroll data to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• General knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures.
• General knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, policies and practices to follow in the accounting function. Working knowledge of accounting systems, policies, and procedures.
• Working knowledge of automated systems and their application to accounting practices and procedures. Ability to understand and apply policies to the maintenance of a variety of financial records and reports. Ability to use a calculator and a computer for the maintenance of accounting and other fiscal records.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations accurately and with reasonable speed.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare a variety of reports.
• Ability to verify accounting and other financial documents and forms for accuracy and completeness.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with financial staff, division managers, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.

• Serves on various committees and projects, as assigned.
• Assists other staff in the department, as requested.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, kneeling, reaching, walking, fingering, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare data and statistics, work with accounting processes, and operate a computer terminal.

Desired Education and Experience

• Graduation from a community college with an associate degree in business or accounting and experience in an accounting or fiscal office environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two to three years of accounting coursework.
• Microsoft Excel and Word knowledge and spreadsheet construction skills must be demonstrated.
• Financial experience in any related utility business is desirable.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned.

Important Pre-Employment Information:

• If the position requires a degree, official transcripts must be submitted within 30 days of hire.
• A pre-employment reference check will be conducted.
• A background check may be required and may include criminal history, motor vehicle records, sex offender registry checks, pre-employment drug screening, SBI fingerprinting, and, if applicable, a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) check.
• A conviction record does not automatically disqualify you from employment, unless otherwise required by state law. Each situation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.