Senior Governmental Accountant (Controller's Department)

County of Berks•Reading, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Governmental Accountant assists assigned departments with daily accounting-related processes, reconciles bank statements, creates complex journal entries, and determines and implements the accounting necessary to properly present the financial condition of the County. Makes decisions for the designated departments by classifying, analyzing, and reporting financial data using generally accepted accounting principles, which include the pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Access Act). May work with confidential and HIPAA-restricted information.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
Must be Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM), a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), or a CPA with prior governmental accounting experience.
Minimum four years of accounting experience in either a public or corporate setting, fluent with generally accepted accounting principles as they apply to governments.
Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.
Working knowledge of the technical requirements of accounting standards as prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
Ability to analyze and objectively evaluate complex financial-related activities.
Working knowledge of current tax reporting requirements and the principles of good internal controls.
Ability to objectively analyze operational situations in various work environments and develop and make recommendations for improvements to processes.
Excellent personal computer skills in Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.
Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to collaborate on projects and teams or committees.
Ability to persuade fiscal officers and management to improve and maintain effective internal controls.
Knowledge of the HIPAA privacy requirements as they relate to the documents
Thorough knowledge of FASB and/or GASB pronouncements.
Ability to handle stress.
Physical presence in the office is required.

Responsibilities

Maintain accurate, complex, and technical accounting records; assist in the preparation of the County’s financial statements.
Develop and prepare various reports required by the assigned departments.
Assist in the preparation of various financial reporting schedules for independent auditors in relation to the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the County.
Ensure that HIPAA reporting requirements are met and that appropriate security measures are in place for HIPAA-sensitive information.
Provide guidance and training to other accountants within the Office of the Controller and provide the necessary technical expertise and training to the fiscal personnel in other departments to ensure the accuracy of financial reports issued by the County.
Reviews fixed asset schedules and ensures that the appropriate costs are included in the value of assets reported. He/she determines that appropriate useful lives have been assigned to the assets, and that appropriate entries are made to record depreciation and original cost in the general ledger.
Exercise independent professional judgment for all the above, and in resolving problems that arise within his/her assigned work areas. Monitor ongoing compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and pronouncements. Develop and implement procedures to ensure compliance with both GASB and FASB policies and principles.
One or more occupants of position will provide on-going accounting services to the Retirement Fund and the Retirement Fund Board, ensuring that complex financial transactions are properly handled, and that the Board is fully informed of the financial condition of the Fund.
One or more occupants of the position will provide ongoing reviews of the records on all bond issues to ensure that the financial records of the County are properly stated. Ensure that all proceeds are properly accounted for and that all necessary documentation is in place.
Perform monthly review analysis and journal entries of a multitude of the County of Berks bank accounts representative of the various County of Berks departments.
Perform training to COB departments needing access to current financial systems and training aids.