ACCOUNTANT I (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS)

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to perform accounting duties requiring independent judgment, including reconciling accounts, monitoring account budget status, completing transactional and informational reports, and performing administrative duties. This classification is distinguished from Accountant II in that this classification performs general accounting duties and has responsibility for reconciling and monitoring accounts whereas the latter additionally prepares financial reports covering substantial County resources.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Performs professional accounting duties independently.

Posts adjustment entries and reconciles accounts; monitors budget status of accounts; reviews submitted accounting documents; and posts adjustments or forwards errrors/misstatements to applicable parties for resolution.

Reconciles bank statements, balances activity statements, and researches dishonored checks: prints applicable banking statements/reports; researches outstanding items to their full extent; and prepares/sends correspondence and follows up on previous items with applicable parties to resolve outstanding items.

Interprets court documents and makes appropriate adjustments and entries.

Assists with contract/grant administration procedures: prepares/maintains spreadsheet of budgeted revenues and expenditures contrasted with actual revenue and expenditures; and advises appropriate personnel on unusual and/or significant variances.

Researches information for customers and external auditors.

Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated timeframes and per established procedures: receives and reviews various documentation, including payroll information, invoices, departmental reports, customer billings, and division specific items; modifies and deletes data entry transactions as necessary; and completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.

Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including reconciliation reports, reimbursement requests, receipts, grant reports, and financial analysis; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Provides lead direction to accounting or financial support staff as required.

Maintains a current, comprehensive knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, principles and practices relating to government accounting, financial reporting and/or grant accounting and administration; maintains professional affiliations; and attends webinars, meetings, workshops, hearings, and training sessions as required; may provide related training and guidance to staff.

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, genetics, disability or sexual orientation.