Job Class: Senior Accountant and Accountant/Financial Analyst (FT)

City of Brooklyn Park • Brooklyn Park, MN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Brooklyn Park is seeking to hire one Accountant/Financial Analyst and one Senior Accountant. The Finance Department is committed to providing quality support services to other departments of the city and excellent customer service to residents and various customer groups. In addition, the department is committed to the goal of being good stewards of the City's financial resources. The Senior Accountant position is responsible for professional and highly technical accounting and analysis duties, including crucial duties in financial reporting, budgeting, and cash management. They also provide vital assistance and guidance in established accounting policies and procedures. A key aspect of this role is ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the city's reporting and budgeting functions, as well as safeguarding the city's financial assets. This senior-level position is also responsible for leading, managing, and directing finance staff to include training, motivation, program/project and work performance evaluation and review. The Accountant position is primarily responsible for supporting and assisting with management of all aspects of the City's General Finance System Information. This includes reconciliations, account analysis, preparation of journal entries; assisting with audit process and preparing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); and serving on the finance budget team working with various assigned areas.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or related field.
• Three (3) years of accounting or finance experience or equivalent combination.
• Ability to accurately perform financial analysis and reconciliations.
• Ability to maintain attention to detail and accuracy.
• Knowledge of government and generally accepted accounting principles, practices, procedures and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, and techniques used in bookkeeping and accounting.
• General knowledge of relevant IRS rules and Minnesota sales tax laws.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or oral forms.
• Strong customer service orientation; ability to create effective working relationships with a variety of people and maintain a positive professional manner while resolving customer issues.
• Ability to work under limited supervision with general autonomy in determining how objectives are achieved.
• Ability to apply a variety of procedures, policies and precedents using moderate analytical ability to adapt methods to fit facts and conditions.
• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills with attention to detail and follow up.
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills, ability to develop alternatives and make prompt decision under constraints.
• Proven ability and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive workplace related to racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to provide a level of customer service that meets or exceeds customer expectation and satisfaction.
• Embrace and engage in cultural shift toward Continuous Improvement.
• Five (5) years of experience, preferably with municipal government finance.
• Ability to do administrative and accounting work of considerable difficulty, including composing memorandums, tables, spreadsheets, procedures, etc.
• Ability to provide optimal customer service with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated experience with budgets, preferably municipal budgets (e.g., Reports, GAAP and GASB).
• Effective in managing and developing a high-performing team to meet project deadlines.
• Advanced level of proficiency in Excel to include pivot tables, linking, and formulas.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision; must set goals and priorities and work efficiently to accomplish critical objectives.

Nice To Haves

• Two (2) years of demonstrated experience with municipal budgets, Annual reports, Reports Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and GASB.
• Two years of experience with municipal government finance.
• Previous grant management experience.
• Previous experience with tax settlements, reconciliations, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and special assessments.
• Previous experience preparing and or coordinating the ACFR.
• Previous experience with finance computer applications.
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Lao, Russian, Somali or Vietnamese language(s).
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO).
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Plans and schedules completion of work accountabilities in order of priority, making the most effective use of time.
• Previous experience with computer applications, preferably New World applications.
• Previous experience working with Asset Management, Capital Projects and Capital Equipment.
• Previous experience working on creating financial models, including rate models.
• Previous experience working with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Perform account analysis and prepare account reconciliations and journal entries for assigned areas.
• Review all AP/AR/Payroll/GL entries for accuracy.
• Prepare audit work papers and assist with the audit process and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) development.
• Review and approve Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable transactions validating that they are in compliance with purchasing policies, City policies and within budget parameters.
• Assist departments with analysis and development of Capital Improvement Projects and Capital Equipment Projects.
• Serve on Finance Budget Team, schedule meetings with assigned areas, follow through on budget questions, and prepare budget summaries.
• Assist departments with finance/budget/ accounting questions.
• Lead meetings to discuss project or grant information, maintains appropriate documentation and prepares reports.
• Prepare and file financial and budget reports to the Office of the State Auditor and other state and federal agencies as assigned.
• Budget preparation and financial reporting for the city's capital improvement plan and capital equipment plan.
• Record, track and maintain data for the Capital Asset System in accordance with City policy.
• Analyze and prepare the budget for the City's internal service charges for buildings, equipment, vehicles, loss control and Information Technology Services.
• Provide accounting services such as bank reconciliation, project set up, run reports, track project expenditures, and support grant management.
• Supervise accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Review credit card and bank reconciliations for the City.
• Set up projects and run project reports, track project expenditures.
• Prepare quarterly reports and variance analysis for council.
• Prepare arbitrage reports.
• Reconcile, troubleshoot, and communicate with residents and customers, both outside and inside the city.
• Serves as liaison with auditors and City staff.
• Complete daily, weekly, and monthly accounting functions.
• Assist in the development and preparation of the city budget, serve on finance budget team, schedule meetings with assigned areas, follow through on budget questions, and prepare budget summaries.
• This includes preparing preliminary budget reports for council and attending council meetings.
• Monitor budgets and assist other departments with finance/budget/ accounting questions.
• Prepare the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Capital Equipment Plan (CEP) for the City.
• This includes the preparation for council presentations and creating books to publish.
• Mentor, train, supervise and assign duties to Finance staff as directed.
• Conducts special projects as assigned by the Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director.
• Attend meetings and assist with the Budget Advisory Commission.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible for overtime (Accountant/Financial Analyst position)
• Alternative schedules can be arranged, but must comply with the City’s Alternative Work Arrangement policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level