What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fiscal Specialist I - Finance - Bureau of Accounting/Division of Capital Projects position at Howard County?
Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:
- We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
- We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
- We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
- As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.
Prepare and review financial reconciliations to the general ledger. This includes reconciliation of Howard County Government capital project expenditures, preparation of work sheets for ACFR reporting; and preparation of journal voucher entries. Work must be carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$32.95 - $37.13
$68,542 - $77,239
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs professional level financial administrative work under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes examining and evaluating financial activities and operational programs of County agencies; planning and supervising the utility billing and collection section within the Department of Finance; performing financial and management studies of a routine nature; and participating in audits to determine the adequacy of internal control and the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Quarterly review and reconcile capital project expenditures of enterprise funds to determine if the expenditures are being appropriately capitalized.
- Prepare annual fixed asset ACFR schedules for enterprise funds.
- Quarterly review and recognition of capital project revenues for Enterprise Funded Projects.
- Responsible for performing monthly system processes for capitalizing assets-under-construction.
- Responsible for performing monthly system processes for capitalizing and depreciating fixed assets.
- Seeks guidance from manager regarding follow-up with Project Managers.
- Assists with Capital Budget upload into the County's financial system as needed.
- Ensure financial records are maintained in accordance with accepted policies and procedures.
- Ensure all financial reporting deadlines are met.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year end close.
- Establish and monitor the implementation and maintenance of accounting control procedures.
- Resolve accounting discrepancies and irregularities.
- Independently analyze and evaluate the effects of financial activity in assigned balance sheet accounts.
- Make recommendations to improve departmental procedures as related to financial activity through the general ledger in compliance with GAAP and GASB regulations.
- Evaluate, prepare and process journal entries as requested by County departments or as needed to accurately record financial activities in the general ledger.
- Ensure accurate and appropriate recording and analysis of revenues and expenses of capital activities.
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree and one (1) year of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Bachelor's degree with major course in Accounting.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively with financial institutions' representatives or employees of the County on the phone or in person.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interests, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to investigate and resolve discrepancies in reconciliation of accounts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
Salary : $68,542 - $77,239
