What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Accountant position at Hall County?
JOB SUMMARY:
Performs complex accounting functions in the maintenance and review of financial records. Prepares automated and manual financial and statistical reports to assure proper accounting and reporting of all financial transactions. Provide real-time cash and investment management. Direct maintenance of County’s general, revenue, and expenditure ledgers.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS RESPONSIBILITIES:
Balances complex financial accounts manually and via computer; maintains departmental accounting files and records; prepares and posts various financial transactions such as invoices, receipts and adjusting entries to ledgers and journals; prepares trial balances, balance sheets, revenue and expense statements, and other accounting reports; assists in setting up books and accounting procedures.
Performs complex accounting functions in the maintenance and review of financial records. Prepares automated and manual financial and statistical reports to assure proper accounting and reporting of all revenue and expenditure financial transactions. Direct maintenance of County’s general, revenue and expenditure ledgers.
When Assigned to Grants
Monitors all county wide grant projects for all County, State, and Federal grants including reconciling and monitoring grant budgets; analyze reports on status of funding and expenditures to make recommendations for adjustments; analyze funding requests made in conjunction with proposed program changes to determine adequacy and reasonableness; monitors grant performance, identifying problems and possible solutions and work with departments to implement corrective actions.
Responsible for assisting the Grants Manager and Finance Manager in evaluating internal controls for various County operations and helping design and implement internal audit tests to monitor compliance.
Provides financial accountability for grants awarded to the County; coordinates grant compliance activities; prepares and maintains grant related financial plans, forecast and annual budgets; prepares grant reports and reimbursements; serves as liaison to all grantors and auditors; assists with developing grant administration strategies; prepares annual grants schedule.
Participates in the development of guidelines, procedures, processes, and standards for grant programs and communicates same to applicable County departments; evaluates effectiveness of grant programs.
Develops, compiles, monitors, and analyzes various administrative, statistical, and financial data; ensures funds are allocated, spent, and reported according to grant requirements; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements; makes applicable calculations; performs research, analyzes data, identifies trends, and makes forecasts; prepares or generates reports, budgets, and financial statements; approves grant budget change requests.
Prepares quarterly and annual reports as required by granting agencies. Maintains a proposal calendar to ensure that all applications, reporting, and renewal deadlines are met.
Performs related accounting activities; posts entries to various accounting reports, grant reports, and general ledgers; monitors and balances/reconciles fund accounts, deposit records, general ledger accounts, grant accounts, bank statements, and/or other financial transactions/records; monitors or participates in the preparation and generation of various accounting and tax reports and documents.
Maintains file system of grants and department records: creates, updates, and maintains codes and numbers for financial accounts; ensures that permanent grant records and official files are properly maintained according to federal/state retention regulations; and establishes and maintains a reference source for grant submission and research by maintaining files of all submitted grants. .
Coordinate special projects as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Performs other related duties as assigned or required.
When Assigned to Revenue
Records, reviews, and posts revenue and receipts daily. Closes and balances cash receipts journal; posts receipts and balances accounts; maintains departmental revenue accounting files and records; prepares and posts various financial transactions such as invoices, receipts, and adjusting entries to ledgers and journals.
Assists in the monthly reconciliations and reconciles any differences in amounts deposited versus amounts recorded on the general ledger.
Prepares revenue reports as requested.
Provides revenue information to departments as needed/or requested.
Maintains appropriate supporting documentation for all County-wide deposits.
Prepares revenue and accounts receivable audit information as required for the annual audit. Accurately compiles grant related reconciliations, reports, support, and work papers as required for the annual audit.
Performs additional revenue functions at the direction of the Finance Manager, Assistant Finance Director, or Financial Services Director.
Develops, compiles, monitors, and analyzes various administrative, statistical, and financial data; makes applicable calculations; performs research, analyzes data, identifies trends, and makes forecasts; prepares or generates reports; records revenue and grant general journal entries.
Performs related accounting activities; posts entries to various accounting reports, and general ledger accounts; monitors and balances/reconciles accounts, deposit records, general ledger accounts, bank statements, and/or other financial transactions/records; monitors or participates in the preparation and generation of various accounting and tax reports and documents.
Coordinate special projects as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Performs other related duties as assigned or required.
When Assigned to General Accounting/Capital Assets
Prepares various statistical reports; verifies various accounting tables, indices, and reports.
Prepare monthly financial reporting for Board of Commissioners.
Records journal entries for Financial Services Department.
Reviews and reconciles procurement card purchases on a monthly basis. Conducts quarterly audits of procurement card purchases.
Assists with the maintenance of the County’s fixed assets schedules in the County software; including additions, disposals, transfers, etc., that occur on a monthly basis.
Assists with the maintenance of Hall County’s fixed asset program for county vehicles. Obtains tags for all County vehicles. Maintains a file for all new inventory as well as surplus inventory.
Conduct field audits of fixed asset inventory to insure the County’s assets listings are accurate and up to date.
Record depreciation expense for business-type activities to appropriately state financial position on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Continually evaluate the County’s fixed asset position and practices to insure efficient and effective management of fiscal policy.
Conduct monthly, quarterly, and annual financial analysis of capital expenditures compared to each fund/departments annual budget.
Prepare year-end closing procedures and reconciliations for capital assets; including, providing accurate schedules and supporting documentation for the annual audit.
Work with independent audit staff to accurately state capital asset position at year end.
Responsible for long-term debt accounting; including, quarterly reconciliations for all principal and interest payments throughout County to long-term debt schedule. Maintain all recordkeeping associated with debt, including official closing statements and amortization schedules.
Work with independent audit staff to accurately state long-term debt position at year end.
Sets up new vendors in the accounting software and maintains all vendor files.
Coordinate special projects as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Performs other related duties as assigned or required.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Personal Computer Calculator Printer/Copy Machine Telephone
Word Processor Scanner Various Software Packages
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field from an accredited college or university.
Three (3) years accounting/bookkeeping experience; government/fund accounting experience is preferred.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the minimum level of qualifications stated above.
Licenses and Certifications:
None.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), practices, methods, and procedures.
Knowledge of County Government and its organization and function.
Knowledge of departmental accounting systems and procedures.
Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures and equipment including computers and spreadsheet applications.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office with a required intermediate skill level in Microsoft Excel.
Ability to plan, organize, and/or prioritize daily assignments and work activities.
Ability to perform complex mathematical calculations or financial analysis with a high degree of accuracy.
Ability to communicate and interact effectively with supervisors, management, other staff members, elected officials, and personnel at all levels of government.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department/division heads, employees, and outside agencies.
Ability to interact professionally with staff at all levels of the organization, senior management, elected officials, department/division heads, the public, and other governmental entities and agencies.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with subordinates, other municipal officials, and the general public.
Must have excellent attention to detail.
Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to research and reconcile difficult accounts.
Detailed oriented and organized in work.
Ability to apply accounting principles to the maintenance of standard fiscal and accounting records.
Excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to convey information in a clear and concise manner.
ADA Minimum Qualifications:
Physical Ability: Essential functions of this position continuously require the ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing); operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Incumbents must continuously be able to think analytically; handle stress and emotion, concentrate on tasks, remember names and other details; examine and observe details; make decisions, and adjust to change. Incumbents must also continuously direct others; meet deadlines; stay organized; use math/calculations and use a keyboard/type.
Essential Functions frequently require the ability to move about inside the office; and move/transport items up to 10lbs.
Essential functions occasionally require the ability to bend body downward and forward by bending spine and legs, and twisting at the waist, hips or knees; reach overhead; push or pull; and repetitively use hands/arms/legs. Incumbents in this position are occasionally required to be on-call and work irregular hours.
Sensory Requirements: Essential functions regularly require the ability to use effective verbal and written communication; and use of hand/eye coordination and fine manipulation to use equipment.
Environmental Factors: Essential functions of this position continuously require the ability to either work with others or work alone.
This class specification should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.
