Accountant 1

Northampton County•Easton, PA

About The Position

The Accountant 1 – Fiscal position performs accounting and budget transactions and analyzes and reports accounting records for assigned programs under the direction and supervision of a supervisory accounting or administrative position, or a higher-level accounting position. The role is not responsible for supervising other employees. The position maintains general ledgers, accounts payable and/or receivable, and other fiscal systems; supports budget development and administration; establishes billing systems; reviews and reconciles accounts and payments; and prepares reports for County, Court, state, and Federal offices. The employee may assist lower-level technical or clerical staff with accounting tasks and keeps higher-level personnel informed of issues. Employees assigned to this title perform a majority, but not necessarily all, of the duties listed.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 21 semester credit hours in professional accounting courses (which may include municipal or government accounting), and at least three years of full-time professional public-sector work experience using accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience; examples include public-sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 21 semester credit hours in professional accounting courses (which may include municipal or government accounting), and at least one year of full-time professional public-sector work experience using accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience; examples include public-sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis.
Knowledge of accounting methods, techniques, and requirements commonly used in governmental financial systems.
Knowledge of accounting goals, objectives, principles, and practices related to budget development and administration.
Basic knowledge of Federal and state accounting procedures governing participation in governmental fiscal programs.
Ability to prepare statistical, accounting, and financial statements.
Ability to learn accounting methods, techniques, and requirements governing governmental financial systems.
Ability to use a personal computer to enter and retrieve information using established data-processing, spreadsheet, word-processing, database, and graphics programs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, operating-office officials, and others involved in accounting and budget work.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

Maintain general ledgers, accounts payable and/or receivable, and other accounting or fiscal systems in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, requirements, and established control procedures.
Establish and implement billing systems for user agencies, contractors, grantor agencies, Federal and/or state reimbursement, and similar revenue sources.
Reconcile accounts and review and approve, or recommend approval of, payroll, vendor, and other payments.
Review operating-office budget submissions for compliance with instructions, completeness, and adequate explanations and justifications for changes to base data.
Work with submitting officials to clarify and complete budget submissions.
Compile and enter budget data into a computer system.
Identify spending trends and budget issues and notify higher-level accounting or administrative officials.
Assist operating-office staff in using established computer systems to maintain accounting records.
Prepare reports for internal use and submission to County and/or Court offices and state and Federal agencies.
As needed, assist lower-level technical or clerical staff with posting transactions, balancing ledgers, and similar functions; ensure the completeness and accuracy of their work and provide advice and assistance.
Keep higher-level personnel informed of problems encountered.