Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

The Senior Accountant reports to the Director of Administrative Services. This employee is responsible for monitoring the City's revenue and budget process, and preparation of financial reports to include an overview of monthly revenues and expenditures, bank reconciliation, utility billing and payroll and benefits management. This employee must maintain a cooperative and professional relationship with all city employees, community members, vendors, management representatives, and elected officials. They work closely with all departments and provide direct support additionally to the Mayor and Community Development & Planning Director. All employees are responsible for working with a high degree of professionalism when performing their job duties per the City's Guiding Principles and Personnel Polices. This position works Monday – Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. On occasion you will be required to present financial reports during a budget meeting workshop or during council meetings. These meetings can and do occur after hours during the evening. City of La Center employees are responsible for demonstrating the values as stated in the City's Guiding Principles, working cooperatively and collaboratively with colleagues, and delivering services to customers with a high degree of professionalism. This position is represented by the Teamsters Local 58 (union).

Essential Job Duties/Primary Job Duties

• Responsible for processing and managing the City's financial transactions, records, statements and reports in compliance with the accounting principles of Washington State's Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting Systems (BARS).
• Coordinate the development of the City's annual budget processes and development for by the Mayor and City Council.
• Develop accounting systems, reporting structures, internal controls and financial reports that satisfy internal needs and the requirements of a wide range of regulatory agencies (L&I, DRS, DOR). Serve as the internal auditor of all financial reports, computerized accounting journals, and ledgers per policies and procedures.
• Design and implement solutions, in conjunction with members of the Senior Leadership Team, to address and resolve on-going revenue and budget challenges.
• Ensure the integrity of the general ledger and subsidiary accounting systems are maintained, and all fund accounting requirements comply with the restricted and non-restricted revenue sources.
• Monitor the activities and progression of the City's investment portfolio, prepare an overview of investments and the recommendations of the third-party advisors for consideration and action by the Managers of Administrative Services and elected officials.
• Design and prepare financial analyses, projections, reports, policies and procedures, and preparation for a wide range of financial statements.
• Coordinate with other departments to analyze and complete grant fund documentation and invoices are completed and submitted to ensure timely fund reimbursements.
• Research legal materials relevant to accounting problems and solutions.
• Perform statistical computations and financials analyses, prepares financial reports, computerized accounting journal entries (using Springbrook).
• Evaluate transactions and budgets; analyze internal controls and correct errors, implement controls to comply with audit recommendations and internal control standards and policies.
• Research and maintain a working knowledge of GAAP, BARS and Washington State Cash-Based Accounting requirements as well as federal, state and City regulations relevant to purchasing, accounting and finance.
• Monitor, prepare and process complex reconciliations (i.e., bank reconciliations, cash, and investment activities), to ensure accuracy, completeness and timeliness.
• This list is not all-inclusive
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications/Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Business Administration, Banking or similar field
• A minimum of five (5) years' working experience in accounts payable, payroll, banking reconciliation, revenue projection and investment management
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience completing a wide range of accounting tasks withing a government environment to include revenue, investing, A/P, grant tracking and funding, utility billing/payments, payroll and employee benefits management
• Three (3) years working with a computerized accounting system to include bank reconciliation, utility billing, and payroll.
• Experience in state audits
• Experience in Springbrook is preferred!
• Proven success in managing multiple assignments concurrently and meeting critical and time-sensitive deadlines
• Must be competent in using BARS and GAAP Principals
• Must possess a WDL and be insurable
• Maintain and respond to internal and external customers in a professional manner in accordance with city policy and guiding principles.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Deal with difficult people and situations in a professional manner;
• Perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers and other City personnel, contractors, and the public.
• Must successfully pass all phases of the pre-employment hiring process, including but not limited to, credit check, reference checks and a criminal background check.

Work Environment

• Sitting for extended periods of time viewing computer screens, entering data into a computerized accounting system.
• Operate standard office equipment inclusive of large printers, copiers and electronic mailer.
• Standing, reaching, and bending down to retrieve documents and files at low levels, including the floor. Occasionally walking a 3-4 block radius of the city
• Driving a city vehicle within the county or throughout the state to attend work related conferences or meetings.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of La Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified employees will be considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, sensory, mental or physical disability or veteran status, or any non-job-related factor as defined by law. Any person requiring special accommodation should advise the city via email of their needs by the application closing date.