Accountant Lead (Internal Only)

Howard County•Howard, MD

About The Position

This position serves as an Accountant Lead with a working title as a Unified Funding Documents ( UFD) Grants Manager at Howard County Health Department. The agency has an average annual appropriation budget of ~$50 million dollars (FY 2025) and includes over 70 state UFD grants. This position will manage all grants (~20) funded through various funding administrations across MDH using the UFD process. This position is a professional, full performance level of work examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting systems, records and reports by applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards (GAS) to maintain the Agency's financial record, operational programs or procedures. This position prepares financial reports, submits original, modifications, reductions and supplemental budgets and provides financial advice to program monitors or bureau directors, assist with closeout and complete other duties as assigned.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by three credit hours in auditing.
Three years of experience examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting systems, records and reports by applying generally accepted accounting principles.

Nice To Haves

Experience maintaining accurate records on grant awards and expenditures.
Experience in preparing annual budget requests and monthly budget projections.
Experience preparing, examining, analyzing, and interpreting financial statements.
Experience with MDH UFD grants.

Responsibilities

Lead UFD Grant Manager Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Accountants
Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Accountants on the resolution of complex problems in examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting systems, records and reports.
Reviews and authorizes financial transaction records for submission to fiscal control agencies.
Prepares financial reports and statements by ensuring that accounting records provide a reliable and adequate basis for required reports, developing and implementing procedures to produce reports and analyzing and interpreting the reports.
Assists with close-out by ensuring that items are properly accrued and adjusted at fiscal year-end.
Acts as liaison with information processing and fiscal control agencies to resolve accounting records and systems problems.
Interprets and masters the Local Health Department Funding System Manual (LHFSM) for compliance and accountability
Interprets and provides guidance to sub-vendors and program monitors when using the Human Service Agreement Manual
Have a sound understanding of the Howard County Government Purchasing Manual
Understands and interprets FMIS daily and monthly reports
Reviews and authorizes financial transaction records for submission to fiscal control agencies
Advises and provides guidance to Contract Management & Procurement regarding contracts/MOU/purchase orders that will obligate funds for assigned grants
Performs reconciliations of entire accounts by determining the materiality of exceptions, prepares financial reports and statements by ensuring that accounting records provide a reliable and adequate basis for required reports.
Assists with fiscal period close-out by ensuring that items are properly accounted for
Verifies predetermined tolerance levels/rate are justified if not met
Prepares an upload file for posting necessary corrections/adjustments to FMIS based on the monthly reconciliation analysis.
Monitors assigned budgets and grants to assure accuracy and compliance with Federal, State and County requirements.
Makes added recommendations for improving the workflow between Fiscal and assigned bureaus.
Creates and submits financial reports and provides sound justification from a fiscal monitor.
Attends monthly and quarterly virtual meetings or phone calls.
Attends quarterly site meetings.
Acts as a liaison for Fiscal with funding administrations
Assists with compiling and finalizing data relating to the fiscal year-end closing.
Ensures that items are properly accrued and adjusted at fiscal year-end
Reconciles final approved 4542 workbook’s tabs i.e. payroll cost, equipment purchases, collections, IDC and sub-vendors’ Form 440 for final submission.
Advises agency head on the status of the HCHD revenue and expenditure accounts.
Utilizes a thorough understanding of State and County fiscal policies and procedures regarding reconciliations and a thorough knowledge of accounting procedures and practices.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Possesses a broad understanding of HCHD services and can refer to other programs.
Participates in necessary drills and exercises, responds to emergencies as appropriate, keeps abreast of policies and procedures in the program, bureau and department.
Completes all required trainings.
Participates in quality improvement efforts within the program.