Assistant Comptroller

Gallatin County•Bozeman, MT

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Finance Department/Accounting Office and is responsible for professional-level accounting duties in support of the Comptroller. This work involves the maintenance, reporting, and review of accurate and complete financial records for the County. The position reports to the Comptroller, serves as a backup to the Comptroller, and provides lead direction to Accounting Clerks. Assists the Comptroller in monitoring and evaluating county financial activities by researching and analyzing problems and needs and helping design solutions. Helps develop and implement accounting methods and procedures by researching and analyzing the impacts and effects of changes and carries out recommendations approved by the Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer. Helps review pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Local Government Assistance Division to determine their applicability to county financial accounting and to identify necessary changes to report formats and accounting practices. Supports the Comptroller in coordinating the timing and implementation of those changes so they are reflected in financial accounting policies and practices. Analyzes county financial records monthly and at fiscal year-end to ensure accuracy and completeness. Reviews and prepares correcting journal entries. Performs monthly closing and comparison of subsidiary records to trial balances, including analysis of Treasurer downloads for accuracy and completeness. Assists with year-end closing procedures and prepares necessary adjustments. Provides information and guidance to county elected officials, department heads, staff, and the public on accounting issues and questions. Assists the Comptroller, Finance Director, and Chief Financial Officer with budget adjustments for county departments by performing account transfers and other adjustments to implement financial management objectives. Helps review, monitor, and update the policy and procedure manual for the Accounting Department. Provides information and assistance to external auditors to facilitate their review of county activities. Maintains the General Ledger in the financial accounting software system. Assists in preparing the year-end General Purpose Financial statements for Gallatin County, including combined and combining statements and the notes to the financial statements. Helps establish formats for the presentation of financial information based on GAAP, GASB, state, and county accounting policy to ensure user needs are met and to ensure County compliance with state and federal law. Evaluates the intended use of reports (for example, the County Annual Report, evaluation by bond rating agencies, specific information requests from county management, and requests for fiscal notes), helps analyze statutes and policies to identify restrictions and appropriate reporting of state and federal funds, and helps develop financial report formats. Serves as backup to the Comptroller and carries out the Comptroller's duties during absences as assigned. Provides lead direction and training to Accounting Clerks and may supervise assigned accounting staff, including assigning and reviewing work, providing technical assistance, and assisting with performance evaluation. Perform a variety of other duties as assigned by the Comptroller or Chief Financial Officer. This includes working with the County Treasurer, the Finance Coordinator, and other departments on various financial projects, providing backup for other staff in the office, representing the office at meetings and conferences, and attending continuing education, training, and seminars to obtain information and education on governmental accounting matters. If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatening disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, or flood, County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

Requirements

Considerable knowledge of public sector accounting theory and GAAP, with emphasis on governmental accounting and financial reporting principles.
Considerable knowledge of public sector financial statement preparation, financial analysis, general ledger, accounts payable, fixed assets, and the use of financial software.
Knowledge of county accounting systems and funding structures.
Knowledge of research methods and techniques.
Knowledge of statistics.
Knowledge of tax policies and procedures.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal budget and financial reporting requirements.
Ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences with diverse levels of understanding.
Ability to analyze and interpret project accounting data and problems.
Ability to provide lead direction to staff.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Bachelor's degree in accounting with coursework through intermediate or advanced accounting and auditing, or equivalent.
Two (2) years of related work experience, preferably within a local government.
Successful completion of a criminal history check.
Successful completion of a driving screening.

Nice To Haves

Experience within a local government.

Responsibilities

Maintain, report, and review accurate and complete financial records for the County.
Serve as backup to the Comptroller and carry out the Comptroller's duties during absences.
Provide lead direction and training to Accounting Clerks and may supervise assigned accounting staff.
Monitor and evaluate county financial activities by researching and analyzing problems and needs and helping design solutions.
Develop and implement accounting methods and procedures.
Review pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Local Government Assistance Division.
Coordinate the timing and implementation of changes to financial accounting policies and practices.
Analyze county financial records monthly and at fiscal year-end to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Review and prepare correcting journal entries.
Perform monthly closing and comparison of subsidiary records to trial balances.
Analyze Treasurer downloads for accuracy and completeness.
Assist with year-end closing procedures and prepare necessary adjustments.
Provide information and guidance on accounting issues to county officials, department heads, staff, and the public.
Assist with budget adjustments for county departments.
Review, monitor, and update the policy and procedure manual for the Accounting Department.
Provide information and assistance to external auditors.
Maintain the General Ledger in the financial accounting software system.
Assist in preparing the year-end General Purpose Financial statements for Gallatin County.
Establish formats for the presentation of financial information.
Evaluate the intended use of reports and help develop financial report formats.
Work with the County Treasurer, the Finance Coordinator, and other departments on various financial projects.
Provide backup for other staff in the office.
Represent the office at meetings and conferences.
Attend continuing education, training, and seminars.
Provide services during a declared local emergency if required.