Accountant III

Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority•Bluffton, SC

4d•$61,651 - $92,498

About The Position

The Accountant III is an intermediate-level professional accounting position reporting directly to the Director of Finance. Working under limited supervision, this role performs routine and complex accounting functions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), departmental procedures, and Authority policies. The position processes and analyzes financial transactions, prepares and posts adjusting journal entries, reconciles general ledger accounts, assists with month-end and year-end close activities, and prepares financial reports and supporting schedules. It exercises sound professional judgment, ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records, and supports the organization’s financial reporting and compliance objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
At least two years of professional accounting experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, account reconciliations, and internal controls.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, including the ability to exercise sound professional judgment and professional skepticism.
Proficiency with computerized accounting systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently with limited supervision.
Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Responsibilities

Reconcile monthly bank statements, including processing cleared checks and the monthly stale check report.
Reconcile daily cash receipts and deposits by matching bank transactions and credit card processing reports to internal accounting records.
Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, ensure transactions are accurately recorded, classified, and supported, monitor account balances, and prepare monthly account reconciliations.
Manage capital asset accounting, including recording acquisitions, adjustments, transfers, and disposals; prepare and reconcile monthly depreciation and related asset schedules.
Reconcile Construction-in-Progress (CIP) activity, including weekly and monthly project reconciliations, establishing new projects and budgets, processing project and budget transfers, and completing project closeouts.
Administer and monitor the employee corporate credit card program, ensuring compliance with Authority policies, proper approvals, supporting documentation, and receipt retention requirements.
Process miscellaneous accounts receivable transactions, including billing and collections for tower lease payments, water sampling services, construction reimbursements, military invoicing, and other miscellaneous revenue sources.
Review accounts payable check runs for completeness, accuracy, proper authorization, and appropriate account coding.
Review monthly operating and capital expenditure results against approved budgets, analyze significant variances, identify trends and underlying causes, and prepare supporting explanations and recommendations for management as required.
Participate in the monthly financial close by preparing and recording journal entries, reconciling accounts, and ensuring transactions are recorded accurately and on time in accordance with established deadlines.
Assist in documenting, updating, and monitoring accounting processes and standard operating procedures.
Support external audits by preparing requested schedules, providing supporting documentation, and responding to auditor inquiries.
Maintain accurate vendor records and supporting documentation in accordance with established internal controls.
Prepare, analyze, and update monthly financial reports and schedules using Microsoft Excel and other financial reporting tools.
Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy of accounting processes and procedures.
Support special projects, financial analyses, and other accounting initiatives as assigned.