COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE - ACCOUNTANT, INTERMEDIATE

Minimum Experience and Education

Bachelor’s Degree, major in accounting from an accredited university or college and prefer two (2) years’ experience in the relevant field (depending on area assigned).

Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities along with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Accounting.

Certificates and Licenses Required (depending on area assigned)

Must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.

Essential Duties

Sets up general ledger account and project ledger strings in the financial system;

Audits all revenues, expenditures, travel advances and budgets to be entered into the financial system to ensure they are budgeted, appropriately authorized and in compliance with County policies, and statutory or grant requirements as well as established internal controls;

Audits budgets and budget adjustments and posts them to the financial system ensuring budgets are allowable and consistent with policies established by the Commissioners Court, Texas Local Government Codes and grant award requirements; composes annual budgets for EPC CSCD, enterprise and grant accounts;

Audits and monitors all purchase requisitions, purchase orders and invoices tied to requisitions; analyze purchases made by County departments;

Audits vendor suspension and debarment prior to payments; maintain and update vendor files;

Audits payroll administration, reviews and approval of time cards; track payroll expenses for reimbursement from granting agencies with allowable employees; audits and codes new employee data, including employee benefit changes and enrollments; prepares insurance reconciliations, audit and submit payroll reporting and deposits;

Audits on site grant inventories and cash counts;

Audits and closes grants; reconciles accounts and balances; finalizes billings and reporting;

Analyzes and audits water rates for enterprise funds; projects new water rates and assists in the adoption of new water rates to meet operational costs and bond repayments;

Submits check run programs, audit and distribute check registers and paid claims lists;

Prepares monthly and quarterly accounts receivable billings; 

Performs daily/monthly/quarterly reconciliations of expenditures, revenues, general ledger accounts, bank accounts, grant accounts, fixed asset accounts, capital projects, and vendor 1099 information; researches outstanding balances; makes journal voucher corrections; prepares status reports and fiscal year end statements;

Assists with posting financial activities into the financial system;

Audits to ensure accounting transactions have been posted accurately; 

Performs inter-departmental audits and assists with maintaining a system of internal controls;

Gathers, organizes, and summarizes information for special projects; prepares and audits various routine and complex reports, tables, graphs and statistical summaries; monitors and verifies the status of  special projects and ensures all parties are kept appraised on all matters; works on a wide variety of financial, administrative, professional, management and community issues and problems of medium to high complexity;

Develops non-standard reports and statements, such as detailed cost and financial analysis, forecasts, trend analysis and projections; completes a variety of special accounting studies, monitors revenue and expense accounts; analyzes and interprets financial data, trends, and performance measures, identifies problem areas; recommends actions to solve problems;

Compiles, analyzes and audits statistical information, reports, data and surveys; creates and maintains division activity deadlines, schedules, rate sheets, and correspondence as necessary;

Prepares financial statements to include Monthly Interim Financial Reports, Funds and Fees of Office, Investment Policies and Reports, Treasury reports, Judicial Transparency reports, Annual Financial and Compliance Reports, and the Management letters and related responses; develops various financial and budgetary statements/reports and provide regular quarterly (monthly if warranted) reports to Commissioners Court, County Administrator, granting agencies, and/or the Public;

Participates in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the Commissioners Court and the Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA), the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), Basic Financial Statements and notes, provide supplementary information, and prepares fund level statements to include Capital Assets and the Statistical Section on all County activities;

Prepares continuing financial and bond disclosure reporting to various state and federal entities;

Collaborates with external auditors and agency officials for annual audits and agency audits;

Analyzes, designs and assists with the development of organizational and individual programs and processes that result in an effective and efficient workforce, increased revenues, reduction in expenditures, and/or improved operations with appropriate internal controls;

Works with County Attorney, District Attorney, law enforcement agencies and outside investigators when necessary;

Responds to correspondence, open records requests, financial surveys and questionnaires;

Assists in the preparation of the department and County budgets and forecasts using historical analysis and projections;

Troubleshoots MUNIS, Odyssey, Value Payment system and Kiosk financial issues; provides guidance on system usage security access requests; develops and provides departments with reports and data analysis; assists with defining and analyzing current and future financial business practices;

Investigates and makes recommendations for addressing operational issues of medium to high complexity and/or sensitivity;

Handles highly confidential information;

Stays updated on pending and upcoming regulations and legislative issues, advises of new legislation or recommends implementation of changes when necessary; stays abreast of new trends and innovations along with new accounting and audit techniques; 

Assists with monitoring and ensuring compliance of policies & procedures, Local Government Codes, and Federal and State Laws;

Provides training and participates in cross-training; fills in for coworkers during absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain normal operations;

Organizes and maintains various administrative, reference, and follow up files;

Participates in the development of performance measures and how best to meet those measures;

Makes recommendations to improve the County Auditor’s office efficacy, efficiency, accuracy, internal controls, customer service and work environment; 

Establishes and maintains working relationships with County officials and County personnel; diplomatically interacts with department heads, elected officials, and others using considerable explanation and persuasion leading to decision, agreement or rejection on complex issues, problem-solving discussions regarding responsibilities, finance, work flow, or how to facilitate service; and

Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Other Important Duties*

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.

As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor. 

Summary of Position

The Accountant, Intermediate assists senior level accountants to establish, audit, revise, and maintain controls on fiscal record-keeping functions in an accounting subdivision for a County department. Incumbents perform a wide range of professional accounting, advisory and audit services ranging from routine to complex duties, working independently requiring only limited supervision. Duties require a moderate degree of imitative and independent judgement.

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of:  governmental accounting and financial management practices; cash management, investment and banking practices, policies and procedures; budget preparation practices and procedures; payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and cashiering practices.

Knowledge of: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) pronouncements; computer hardware, software, and peripherals related to a wide range of accounting and financial management operations including computerized finance and spreadsheet applications; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; and modern office procedures.

Ability to: analyze financial data and additional information with multiple variables and outcomes from accounting, financial or statistical records within the framework of numerous guidelines and standardized courses of action, recommend and initiate and original solutions to problems within the bounds of accepted practices; use and prepare clear, concise, comprehensive oral and written communication to prepare and present designated regulatory or management accounting or statistical reports and financial schedules to management or regulatory agencies and maintain related detailed fiscal records; interpret and apply policies, procedures, guidelines, laws, rules and regulations; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; complete projects on time and within budget; make mathematical computations; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work.

Every County position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance: 

• Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
• Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment;
• Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
• Maintain strict confidentiality;
• Project positive support of their department and all county organizations at all times; and,
• Maintain and enhance the County’s commitment to customer service excellence

Organizational Relationships

Reports to: Accountant, Seniors; Managers; Director of Financial Operations; County Auditor First Assistant and County Auditor

Directs: Depending on division may supervise or serve as backup for supervisor.

Other: Has contact with other County departments and department heads, other personnel within the County Auditor’s office, elected officials and their staff, other County employees, grant agencies, government agencies, County boards, vendors, bank personnel, County and District Attorney’s, Justices of the Peace,   TXDOT, NMDOT, Rio Grande Council of Governments, El Paso Water Utilities, Water Systems Operator, County committees, transit accounting personnel, Office of the County Judge, Juvenile Probation department, El Paso County Community Supervision & Corrections Department (EPC-CSCD), contracts, purchasing agents, law enforcement, senior citizens, community groups and the general public.

Salary : $63,752