Accountant - General Ledger

City of Olympia•Cocoa, FL

7d•$89,546 - $108,844•Onsite

About The Position

This position is an Accountant within the Finance department working in the specialty of General Ledger. The role involves performing a variety of accounting, auditing, and analytical activities for the City of Olympia. Key responsibilities include maintaining financial information and systems, reviewing bank statements, reconciling transactions, and posting journal entries. The position also manages point of sale (POS) systems, provides technical guidance on financial transactions, and assists with financial statements and audits, including serving as a lead contact for component unit audits.

Requirements

Knowledge of accounting practices, theory, techniques and principles, including GAAP.
Knowledge of federal and state accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Knowledge of State of Washington Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS).
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook and Excel) and applicable department and organization specific software and ability to learn and become proficient in the use of other specialized software as may be required.
Skill in the use of financial management, financial reporting and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
Ability to review and reconcile financial transactions from a variety of systems.
Ability to examine and review tax returns for accuracy and proper classification.
Ability to interpret financial and legal documents and check for consistency with federal, state and local regulations.
Ability to prepare comprehensive financial reports and communicate accounting information clearly.
Ability to generate complex data spreadsheets with database tools.
Ability to monitor and control accounting activities ensuring accurate financial transaction recording.
Ability to organize work efficiently and coordinate with other departments to provide comprehensive service.
Ability to respond to ad-hoc research and analysis requests.
Ability to maintain sustained attention to detail and to work under the pressure of rigid deadlines.
Ability to correctly interpret and efficiently implement all applicable policies and procedures.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Knowledge of state BARS accounting.
Skill in verifying and reviewing accounting transactions.
Skill to monitor and control accounting activities in the recording of financial transactions, i.e., accounts receivable, accounts payables, collections and fixed assets.
Ability to develop, modify and implement accounting systems, standards, procedures and financial controls.
Ability to prepare complex and detailed financial accounting reports, financial statements and schedules.
Ability to perform operational audits and review internal controls; recommend and advise management regarding need for improved accounting controls; and analyze impacts of accounting changes.
Ability to make appropriate corrections, entries and adjustments to ensure accuracy of reports.
Knowledge of fixed asset accounting and capital asset related GAAP.
Knowledge of the cycle and principles of capital project management.
Ability to perform capital facilities project accounting.
Ability to provide advice and technical assistance in the preparation of annual budgets.
Ability to employ cost-benefit analysis to review financial requests, assess program trade-offs, and explore alternative funding methods.
Ability to periodically monitor the budgets by reviewing reports and accounting records to determine if allocated funds have been spent as specified.
Ability to evaluate and analyze existing payroll policies, procedures and business processes; draft, propose and implement changes and/or quality control measures leading to best practice operations.
Ability to develop, implement and monitor payroll accounting controls and procedures for the purpose of providing internal financial controls and ensuring compliance with established financial, legal and/or administrative requirements.
Ability to recommend policies, procedures and/or actions on issues that relate to payroll operations for the purpose of providing direction and/or making decisions for the City.
Ability to remain current on federal and state wage and tax laws, new legislation and regulatory rulings impacting payroll, and enforce adherence to requirements and advise management on required actions.
Ability to utilize reporting tools (e.g. Crystal Reports, QRep, iSeries queries, etc.) to compile statistical and payroll data.
Ability to train others in specialized payroll practices and procedures.
High school diploma or GED and five (5) years of increasingly responsible accounting or finance experience; OR associate degree in accounting, finance or a related field and three (3) years of experience as listed above; OR bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related field and one (1) year of experience as listed above; OR a combination of experience, certification, education and training that demonstrates expertise in the related areas.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) accounting for government entities.
Experience with accounting software and their integration with outside systems. The City uses Workday as our system of record.
Independent and curious problem solver invested in continuous improvement of processes.
Experience assisting with the facilitation of required external audits.
Experience in reviewing and reconciling transactions posted in general ledger for accuracy and appropriateness.
Ability to track and reconcile grant billings, projects in progress, and fixed asset transactions.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is preferred.
A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required.

Responsibilities

Reviews and reconciles cash transactions through the City's bank statements, ensuring accurate and transparent financial practices.
Reconciles and posts daily transactions from the City's various software systems to the general ledger.
Assists in preparing the City's financial statements by calculating, posting and adjusting accrual entries and providing support during statement preparation.
Facilitates the City's required annual audits including component unit audits.
Performs risk assessments and internal audits to ensure the City's policies and procedures adhere to accurate and transparent accounting practices.
Provides technical guidance and support to accounts payable, billing and collections, grants and cashiering staff to ensure the accurate recording of financial transactions.
Reconciles various accounts including clearing, suspense, revenue and expense accounts.
Prepares and audits financial reports and statements ensuring adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Processes a variety of financial transactions including quarterly and monthly excise tax returns ensuring accuracy.
Maintains detailed and complex financial records including journals and ledgers.
Audits local businesses' records to ensure compliance with taxation laws and regulations.
Analyzes financial data; identifies and resolves discrepancies or issues.
Handles sensitive and confidential financial information according to policies and procedures.
Punctual, regular and reliable attendance is essential for successful job performance.