Staff Accountant I

City of Farmington•Farmington, NM

9d•$48,088 - $74,859•Onsite

About The Position

Works under the supervision of the Budget and Finance Manager. Supervision is not exercised in this position. Using excellent customer service skills, establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public. Assists in maintaining reporting requirements for state/federal grants. Assists in evaluating legal compliance of grants, financial administrative regulations, and state statutes. Performs technical and administrative accounting work necessary in maintaining the fiscal records and systems of the City in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable federal and state governmental accounting standards. Prepares a variety of complex accounting reports and ensures timely completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual standard reports including completion of regular and special request accounting and budget projects; coordinates this activity with the Budget and Finance Manager. Prepares various month end journal entries; makes calculations and enters them into general ledger accounts. Analyzes, addresses, and completes a wide variety of highly technical accounting transactions and processes. Ensures proper maintenance of the City's fixed assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and governmental accounting standards; records, tracks, and monitors all fixed assets and infrastructure of the City from acquisition or construction to disposal or retirement; maintains the general fixed asset work order system; records adjusting journal entries; prepares year-end asset reports; prepares depreciation schedules; prepares and posts journal entries to the general ledger; performs periodic physical inventory of fixed assets in accordance with the City's capitalization policy. Performs petty cash, cash drawer, and lodgers' tax audits to ensure compliance with the City's cash handling. Assists in monitoring of transactions and disbursements to ensure adherence to City policies including purchasing cards, travel, cash handling, finance regulations, and personnel regulations. Prepares and/or assists in monthly bank statement reconciliation process. Creates, enters and posts monthly journal entries to allocate bank fees. Verifies account numbers and work orders on reports, journal entries, and purchase requisitions for capital account reconciliation and WIP reconciliation. Assist in the annual preparation of the ICIP process. Performs monthly labor distribution to properly account for Building & Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Streets, and Park's labor associated with work orders in the AS/400 computer system. Assists in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); assists auditors in the annual audit. Assists in the preparation of the annual Budget Report, Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), and Cost Allocation Plan. Provides technical assistance to City employees related to budgeting matters as needed. Prepares and/or assists in the preparation of the quarterly lodgers' tax report. Develops and documents job duties and accounting policies and procedures. Maintains the policy and procedure database in Microsoft Word. Assists the Budget and Finance Manager and Staff Accountant II position in various duties as needed. Provides backup for the Accounting Assistant and Accounting Technical staff as needed. Works with Spreadsheet Server reporting tool to create and change reports. Attendance at work is an essential function of this position.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree in Business, Accounting or Finance, and two (2) years of experience in governmental accounting or any equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
Valid New Mexico driver's license with acceptable driving record for past three years.
Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, theories, and practices.
Knowledge of City operating and expenditure accounts including FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Uniform System of Accounts and work orders, and municipality accounting regulation as promulgated by the State.
Ability to maintain efficient and effective accounting systems and procedures; ability to accurately account for City funds.
Demonstrated analytical and technical/computer skills using government accounting systems, and proficient in the use of personal computers and software packages, including specific knowledge of Excel, Word, and Cognos.
Ability to operate personal computer software programs, specifically Word and Excel, and to use mainframe software programs (AS/400 Sungard) to compile reports and store data.
Interest in team-building, strategic planning, organizational change and performance management.
Strong oral/written communication and systems development skills.
Dedicated, but flexible team player that utilizes good judgment and discretion.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to work under stress and handle stressful situations.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to operate tools and equipment listed.
Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other City personnel and the public.

Responsibilities

Assists in maintaining reporting requirements for state/federal grants.
Assists in evaluating legal compliance of grants, financial administrative regulations, and state statutes.
Performs technical and administrative accounting work necessary in maintaining the fiscal records and systems of the City in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable federal and state governmental accounting standards.
Prepares a variety of complex accounting reports and ensures timely completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual standard reports including completion of regular and special request accounting and budget projects; coordinates this activity with the Budget and Finance Manager.
Prepares various month end journal entries; makes calculations and enters them into general ledger accounts.
Analyzes, addresses, and completes a wide variety of highly technical accounting transactions and processes.
Ensures proper maintenance of the City's fixed assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and governmental accounting standards; records, tracks, and monitors all fixed assets and infrastructure of the City from acquisition or construction to disposal or retirement; maintains the general fixed asset work order system; records adjusting journal entries; prepares year-end asset reports; prepares depreciation schedules; prepares and posts journal entries to the general ledger; performs periodic physical inventory of fixed assets in accordance with the City's capitalization policy.
Performs petty cash, cash drawer, and lodgers' tax audits to ensure compliance with the City's cash handling.
Assists in monitoring of transactions and disbursements to ensure adherence to City policies including purchasing cards, travel, cash handling, finance regulations, and personnel regulations.
Prepares and/or assists in monthly bank statement reconciliation process.
Creates, enters and posts monthly journal entries to allocate bank fees.
Verifies account numbers and work orders on reports, journal entries, and purchase requisitions for capital account reconciliation and WIP reconciliation.
Assist in the annual preparation of the ICIP process.
Performs monthly labor distribution to properly account for Building & Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Streets, and Park's labor associated with work orders in the AS/400 computer system.
Assists in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); assists auditors in the annual audit.
Assists in the preparation of the annual Budget Report, Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), and Cost Allocation Plan.
Provides technical assistance to City employees related to budgeting matters as needed.
Prepares and/or assists in the preparation of the quarterly lodgers' tax report.
Develops and documents job duties and accounting policies and procedures.
Maintains the policy and procedure database in Microsoft Word.
Assists the Budget and Finance Manager and Staff Accountant II position in various duties as needed.
Provides backup for the Accounting Assistant and Accounting Technical staff as needed.
Works with Spreadsheet Server reporting tool to create and change reports.