Accountant III

Under the general direction of the chief, manages the budgeting, procurement, and office administration functions of the department. Oversees the county-wide check printing process, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with department procedures. This position will be regarded as the expert in promoting the sound processing of financial transactions by the department, maintaining expert level knowledge of the county's procurement and budgeting policies and procedures as well as providing direction and guidance to staff and department personnel.

Note: The salary offer will not exceed the mid-point of the salary range $103,520.14.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Supervises staff in preparation of highly complex and diversified financial reports with a countywide impact required by federal and state, including the county's annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR);
• Participates in development and implementation of countywide policies and procedures pertaining to accounting and financial reporting;
• Coordinates programs with countywide impact (i.e., Integrated Customer Assistance Compliance program, Internal Controls program);
• Participates in the management and oversight of countywide policies and procedures.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list.)

• Considerable knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of governmental accounting and fiscal management, and the ability to apply them to complex governmental accounting systems;
• Considerable knowledge of federal, state and county procedures, policies, regulations and legislation impacting the maintenance of county financial records and reports;
• Knowledge of electronic financial data processing systems;
• Ability to plan, direct, and supervise the activities of professional accountants engaged in complex accounting work;
• Ability to prepare and/or coordinate the preparation of comprehensive, complex accounting reports and records;
• Ability to develop and implement sound accounting policies and procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies.)
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting; or a bachelor's degree in business administration or related field that has been supplemented by at least 24 credit hours of intermediate level accounting or higher; plus four years of increasingly responsible accounting experience including two years' experience with automated accounting systems. CPA certification or a master's degree in an appropriate field may be substituted for one year of required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer prior to hire and periodically thereafter, as determined by the department head. Applicants and employees within these select positions must demonstrate financial responsibility in personal finances as a condition of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Significant knowledge of and experience with governmental accounting principles and practices.
• Experience and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision, prioritize multiple tasks, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience interpreting and applying policies and regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to address a wide audience.