Staff Accountant II

City of Farmington • Farmington, NM

11d • $58,018 - $90,159 • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Farmington is seeking a Staff Accountant II for a regular, full-time position. This role is responsible for implementing departmental goals, providing guidance to finance staff, maintaining reporting requirements for state/federal grants, and performing technical and administrative accounting work. The position involves maintaining fiscal records and systems in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and governmental accounting standards. The Staff Accountant II will also research and resolve complex accounting problems, prepare various accounting reports, and assist with month-end journal entries. Key responsibilities include analyzing transactions, assisting with audits, monitoring disbursements, reviewing personnel request forms, managing the manning table, overseeing bank reconciliations, and working with other accounting staff on fixed assets and utility systems. The role also supports the preparation of various financial reports, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Budget Report, and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), as well as assisting with budgeting and debt management.

This position requires strong analytical and technical skills, excellent communication and problem-solving abilities, and a strong work ethic. The ability to manage a heavy workload under pressure, meet deadlines, work independently, and maintain confidentiality is essential. The role also involves cross-training and training others.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting or Finance, and three (3) 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 the past three years.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer applications and software packages. Including, but not limited to, Central Square Public Sector, MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Google email software, and other electronic document management systems is required.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, theories, and practices is required.
• Demonstrated analytical and technical/computer skills using government accounting systems, and proficient in the use of personal computers and query programs.
• Excellent verbal communication, written communication, analytical and problem-solving, and customer service skills.
• Strong work ethic, displaying initiative, adaptability, and integrity.
• Ability to manage a heavy workload under pressure with tight deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives with minimal supervision.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritizes work, and be flexible with work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other City personnel and the public.
• Must effectively communicate with management, purchasing staff, inter-departmental customers and suppliers. Communications must be efficient and timely to keep all informed of issues and pertinent activities that affect them.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA) practices and principles is preferred.
• Knowledge of governmental and FERC accounting standards, procedures, and practices is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Works under the supervision of the Finance and Budget Manager or Enterprise Accountant, and collaborates with and receives direction from the Staff Accountant III - Grants Manager on grant-related tasks.
• Responsible for implementing the goals, standards and objectives of the Administrative Services Department as well as the goals, standards and objectives of the division.
• Provides guidance to Finance staff in the performance of auditing and grants management.
• Maintains reporting requirements for state/federal grants. Evaluates legal compliance of grants, financial administrative regulations, and state statutes.
• Assists in management of staff development and completion of any other tasks that are necessary for the administration of the City's accounting systems including; training staff in proper accounting procedures and facilitating problem solving through group discussions.
• 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.
• Provides technical evaluations and recommends procedures for the resolution of accounting/financial issues.
• Keeps management and customers fully and timely informed of pertinent activities that affect them.
• As a member of a work team must exercise personal initiative and be a team player at the same time - willing and able to coordinate and cooperate with a variety of customer, supplier and colleague requirements.
• Researches and resolves difficult accounting problems.
• 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 supervisor.
• 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.
• Assists in petty cash and cash drawer audits to ensure compliance with the City's Cash Handling Policy.
• Assists in monitoring of transactions and disbursements to ensure adherence to City policies including purchasing cards, travel, cash handling, finance regulations, and personnel regulations.
• Reviews and approves Personnel Request Forms (PRFs) for accuracy, completeness, funding availability, and compliance with City staffing policies.
• Prepares and updates the monthly manning table, ensuring all staffing changes, vacancies, and personnel adjustments are accurately recorded.
• Oversees and/or prepares monthly bank statement reconciliation process.
• Verifies account numbers, projects numbers, and work orders on reports, journal entries, and purchase requisitions.
• Works with the Staff Accountant I to close work orders and maintain fixed assets of the City and preparation of the annual ICIP process.
• Assists the Enterprise Accountant in maintaining the utility assets system including closing of work orders and maintaining the CPR system for assets.
• Reconciles daily utility billing to ensure that all payments received posted correctly.
• Assists in compiling data for City's Quarterly Report.
• Assists in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Assists in the preparation of the annual Budget Report, Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), and Cost Allocation Plan.
• Assists with the development of the annual budget slide presentation, including graphs and revenue/expenditure data, for the Community Public Input Forums as required.
• Provides technical assistance to City employees related to budgeting matters as needed.
• Provides assistance to the Finance and Budget Manager in monitoring the City's debt, including quarterly analysis of the long-term debt portfolio and preparation of the long-term debt report, maintaining debt service schedules, and evaluating total debt obligation as required.
• Prepares annual census report and files it online.
• Prepares grant reports and pay requests as needed.
• Assists in local Lodgers' Tax audits.
• Prepares and/or reviews quarterly Lodgers' Tax reports. Prepares/reviews quarterly Travel Trends report for Lodgers' Tax.
• Develops and documents job duties and accounting policies and procedures.
• Cross-train on other positions and train others to be a backup for this position.
• Assists the Finance and Budget Manager, and Finance staff in other capacity as workload demands.
• Maintains and adheres to safety procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive material appropriately.
• Using excellent communication and customer service skills, establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.
• May serve on various employee committees, as required and assigned.

Benefits

• This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes: pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.
• A pre-employment physical and or drug/alcohol test is required for this position.
• Extensive background checks required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level