ACCOUNTANT 1 @ FINANCE, 8 HRS, CONT.

Spokane School District • Spokane, WA

41d

About The Position

As a Spokane Public Schools staff member, you'll uphold our commitment to creating a loving and collaborative learning community where all students belong and thrive. We are looking for team members who embrace differences, have a desire to work with a diverse community of learners, have a heart for the humans they serve, work as a team, grow and reflect through feedback, are lifelong learners and positive problem solvers. This position supports district financial operations by monitoring accounts payable, ensuring accurate vendor payments, maintaining financial data integrity, and supporting district-wide financial operations. This role is critical in maintaining positive vendor relationships and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and district policies.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability and aptitude to perform the responsibilities listed.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or closely related field.
• Three years of responsible accounting, bookkeeping, or budget experience requiring financial, statistical, personnel and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of accounting, program budgeting and financial analysis.
• Excellent quality customer service skills including skill in problem resolution and decision making, as well as ability to lead and train staff effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to relate and work effectively with staff, parents, and other school district patrons. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multicultural, diverse socioeconomic setting.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare financial reports and make effective presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, evaluate, and create administrative procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to work under minimal supervision using independent judgment to organize, prioritize, and complete tasks timely with a focus on precision and accuracy.
• A valid Washington State driver's license and a personal vehicle.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification in accounting (e.g. CPA, CMA, CGFM) and experience in a school district/governmental environment is preferable.
• Demonstrated proficiency using technology for accounting, budget preparation, monitoring, and analysis. Ability to develop custom reports and ad-hoc data pulls, and to analyze the results

Responsibilities

• Recording daily financial transactions, managing accounts payable invoices and providing customer service on invoice questions from departments and vendors.
• Processing electronic files for import/upload into financial system. Reconciliation of data and identification of discrepancies and/or invalid data.
• Validate transactions for processing including proper documentation, coding and approval.
• Work closely with purchasing on processing transactions on purchase orders and closing purchase orders upon final payment.
• Monitor workflow within the finance software for the accounts payable department to accurately and efficiently maximize the use of time and personnel while maintaining a check and balance system for greatest accuracy:
• Review input by accounts payable clerks and correct errors.
• Review for consistent data entry standards.
• Review for use tax and 1099 reportable transactions.
• Distribute (post) accounts payable batches to the general ledger daily
• Reconcile vendor accounts, investigate difference and prepare any necessary journal entries.
• Train staff to effectively research and process more complex transactions. Assist in working with other departments to expedite the payment process.
• Maintain electronic and paper files in accordance with the Washington State Archivist requirements.
• Researching and reconciling vendor statements and various accounts.
• Preparing financial reports and statements:
• Perform the validation of warrant registers for the county treasurer and accounts payable records.
• Accurately prepare reports of audits for board approval at semi-monthly meetings.
• Prepare custom reports and ad-hoc data pulls as needed.
• Tracking unprocessed travel expenditures and processing payments.
• Review contracts payable file for timely payment of contracts. Maintain a history of payments by contract.
• Perform internal audits of school district activities and programs as assigned; investigate and resolve accounting problems and prepare correcting entries. Design and implement recommendations for improving internal controls, policies, and procedures to ensure efficiency and compliance as needed.
• Close the accounts payable fiscal year-end transactions and update and prepare all details for access in the new fiscal year.
• Maintain vendor database and corresponding IRS Form W-9 information.
• Ensuring adherence to accounting principles, OSPI School District Accounting Manual Guidance, School District Policies and Procedures, and financial legislation.
• Assist other Accounting department staff with related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Benefits--Medical/Dental/Vision through SEBB (School Employee Benefits Board) are provided for employees who work at least 630 hours per academic year.
• Additional benefits may include vacation, sick, personal days, and paid holidays.
• Often, positions have additional pay provisions above what is represented on the salary schedule, all in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreements (if applicable) as negotiated.
• Benefit eligible Spokane Public Schools employees and their dependent family members have access to free, confidential counseling, consultation and referral services through the Employee Assistance Program.
• School District Employees participate in the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) public pension plan. Employees can choose from a lifetime retirement pension plan or a hybrid pension and investment plan that contributes between 5% and 15% of wages to retirement. When employees meet plan requirements and retire, they are guaranteed a monthly benefit for the rest of their life from the employer-funded pension.
• Employees can also participate in voluntary savings programs to increase retirement savings such as the DRS Deferred Compensation Program or by participating in a 403(b) retirement plan through the District's plan manager, OMNI.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services