Finance Specialist

City Of Fairburn•Fairburn, GA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, this position is responsible for providing complex, technical, and specialized financial and accounting duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of financial accounting, expenditures, and performs customer service. This role involves receiving and preparing invoices, maintaining invoice tracking, assembling and matching supporting documentation, communicating with staff and vendors to resolve discrepancies, creating financial reports, verifying budget balances, managing vendor relationships, examining financial documents for proper classification and authorization, entering and processing information into a database, and ensuring accurate processing of returned checks. The position also handles customer service functions related to billing and accounts, maintains file systems, and stays current with municipal finance administration trends. The Finance Specialist assists the Finance Director with special reports or projects and performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field.
Three (3) years of related experience in accounting, accounting records, cash management, and in municipal or county revenue or tax.
Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Valid State of Georgia driver’s license.
Requires an acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and acceptable driving record.
Requires satisfactory results from a pre-employment alcohol and controlled substance testing.
Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); standard governmental fund accounting principles, practices and procedures, and IRS guidelines.
Knowledge of procurement principles and best practices.
Knowledge of computer data entry systems and word processing applications.
Knowledge of basic principles and practices of customer service.
Knowledge of basic accounting, billing processes and procedures.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel).
Skill in planning and organizing daily work routine; estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly; implements work activities in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.
Ability to use independent judgment and apply complex duties.
Ability to exchange information for the purpose of clarifying details within well-established policies, procedures and standards.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, by using correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and courteous working relationships with vendors, coworkers, management, and other individuals in contact during the course of work.
Ability to type accurately at a speed of at least 25 words per minute.

Nice To Haves

Experience with municipal accounting and in financial management software a plus.

Responsibilities

Receives and prepares invoices and requests for payment from vendors, contractors, and suppliers.
Maintains invoice tracking and sends invoices out for City departments to approve for payment and identify payment source.
Assembles, compares and matches supporting documentation for invoice payment; reviews for accuracy and appropriate authorization for payment levels.
Communicates with staff, customers and vendors to trace missing documents, reconcile discrepancies, and answer payment inquiries.
Creates financial reports, statements, accounts and records of expenditures in a computerized environment.
Verifies and monitors for sufficient purchase order and budget account balances in processing payment.
Manages relationships with vendors and maintains vendor listing within finance operations software platform.
Examines financial documents for proper accounting classification and authorization.
Enters, codes, and processes information into database; maintains computer files and documents; prepares reports; calculates payments and maintains associated files and records.
Ensures accurate processing of returned checks, initiates collections actions, notifies the issuer of the returned check, and applies appropriate fees to accounts for General and Utility Funds.
Documents and reports unclaimed checks in accordance with accounting procedures.
Operates computer, calculator, copier, postage meter, fax machine and/or other office equipment.
Performs data entry functions by keying data into computer system; enters, retrieves, reviews, or modifies data in computer database; verifies accuracy of entered data and makes corrections.
Processes documentation pertaining to the billing and customer account activities; answers questions regarding customer accounts, charges/payments, due dates, or other information; updates information on accounts as needed; posts payments and adjustments to customer accounts if applicable.
Performs customer service functions by telephone, by mail, email, various online portals or in person; provides information/assistance regarding City services, procedures, documentation, fees, or other issues; distributes, processes, and/or assists customers with completion of various forms/documentation; responds to routine questions/complaints and initiates problem resolution.
Answers customer requests or inquiries concerning services and billing.
Verifies customer accounts and active services using various databases and software applications.
Handles sensitive financial and personal information related to customer accounts, payments, and licensing requiring adherence to confidentiality guidelines.
Maintains file system of department files/records; prepares and sets up files; reviews, sorts and organizes documents to be filed; files documents in designated order; retrieves/replaces files; boxes/packages obsolete documentation for storage.
Maintains current knowledge of trends and developments in municipal finance administration.
Assists the Finance Director with special reports or projects.
Performs other related duties as assigned.