Accountant

Description

This is professional accounting work in the maintenance and review of a variety of the City's financial records.

Work involves responsibility for maintaining financial records and a complete set of accounts. Work is performed in accordance with established accounting practices and procedures. The employee is expected to exercise considerable independent judgment in solving accounting problems. Work is performed under the general direction of the Finance Manager and is reviewed through periodic audits and through the review of statements and reports for adherence to policies and procedures.

Examples of Duties

Reconciles the City's general ledger system to bank and investment accounts; imports transactions and reconciles differences between the general ledger and subsidiary accounts.

Prepares and post journal entries including daily transactions, monthly recurring, quarterly and annually for reporting purposes; monitors various general ledger accounts to ensure accurate posting.

Maintains the City's purchase cards, reviewing transactions, troubleshooting, downloading statements and generating reports to Council.

Performs periodic internal control audits to identify problem areas and develop solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Reviews accounts payable submissions from departments for accuracy; resolves problems regarding accounts payable invoices; processes payments, submits files for check printing; uploads ach and positive pay files to bank; prepares report to Council; files invoices.

Maintains City's fixed asset records including identifying fixed assets posted to general ledger, recording data into fixed asset module; tracking project status from various departments; disposing of obsolete assets; recording monthly depreciation and preparing year-end reports.

Prepares periodic and special financial reports and statements for management, other departments and city council as requested.

Assists with preparation of CDBG quarterly cash report and approve cash drawdowns.

Assists in preparation of City's annual Budget Plan in various ways including department analysis and review of professional development requests.

Assist in preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) including compiling and preparing various work papers for accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, statistical section and other reports as needed.

Prepares and submits annual financial reports as required by state statutes including Annual Financial Report (AFR) to State Comptroller; Fire and Police Pension Fund to Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI.).

Responds to inquiries and requests for information from management, other departments, city council, outside agencies, and the public, providing advice and assistance as required.

Provides effective and efficient customer services and promotes and maintains responsive community relations.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in accounting, business administration, or related field, experience in accounting work preferably at the municipal level; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

Knowledge of general accounting principles and procedures.

Knowledge of modern office procedures, practices, and techniques.

Knowledge of modern data processing equipment and procedures used in financial management.

Some knowledge of governmental accounting and related systems and procedures.

Ability to apply accounting principles to the maintenance of fiscal and accounting records.

Ability to present ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and officials of other agencies.

Skill in the operation of devices using alphanumeric keyboards.

Possession of a valid Class D Illinois vehicle operator's license or an equivalent license issued by the employee's state of residence.

Supplemental Information

Selected candidates must meet a residency requirement, which includes living in the state of Illinois or Iowa and must report within 60 minutes after being called into work for an overtime assignment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed mostly in an office setting. Hand eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.