What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fiscal Specialist II- Finance, Division of Accounting 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.
Performs professional accounting work. Responsible for applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and procedures to analyze financial information. Prepare accurate and timely financial reports and statements, including CAFR and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures. Prepare and evaluate reconciliations of various balance sheet accounts. Develop and propose recommendation for improved departmental procedures based on GAAP and GASB regulations.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$36.49 - $41.17
$75,903 - $85,638
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs intermediate professional level financial administrative work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes examining and evaluating administrative and operational programs, financial reporting systems, and agency budgets; performing accounts and records audits; planning, developing, analyzing, and monitoring fiscal records and budgets; and preparing financial statements. Monitors budgeting activities and records of major departments. May supervise cashiers and oversee County banking operations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Prepare reconcile, and evaluate assigned balance sheet accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis including but not limited to the following:
Reconciling the County's General Collections bank accounts to the SAP general ledger.- Reconciling the Payroll account and withholding for FICA, Social Security, Federal and State taxes, etc. to SAP general ledger and ADP support.
- Reconciling all customer payments, for shared septic, leases, fire inspection, and landfill to the SAP general ledger.
- Reconciling the County’s Goods Receipt/Invoice Receipt (GRIR) account for all county purchases and the Division of Fleet.
- Reconciling Other Short-Term Receivables for all County funds to SAP general ledger detail.
- Close water and sewer developer contracts and processes refund payments related to these contracts.
- Process payments for Major Water & Sewer Developer Agreements and prepares related year-end adjusting entries.
- Facilitate annual departmental budget reviews and distributes monthly budget reports to County departments.
- Monitor and analyze departmental budgets and make recommendations as needed. Analyze financial data to prepare financial statements including monthly and annual accounts, to identify the County’s financial status and ensure financial records are maintained in accordance with accepted policies and procedures.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes.
- Establish and monitor the implementation and maintenance of accounting control procedures.
- Resolve accounting discrepancies and irregularities thereby ensuring all financial reporting deadlines are met.
- Independently analyze and evaluate the effects of financial activity in assigned balance sheet accounts and ensure all established financial reporting deadlines are met.
- Assess current practices and procedures and make recommendations for improvements to departmental procedures related to general ledger financial activity 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. Other duties may be assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's Degree and two (2) years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:- Bachelor's Degree with major course work in accounting and experience in governmental accounting preferred.
- Possess strong working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software packages.
- Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or other related professional certification is preferred.
- Detail oriented and must possess strong communication and analytical skills.
- Ability to multi-task.
- Ability to work independently.
- Experience with SAP or other Enterprise Resource Planning systems a plus.
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 an 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, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
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 : $75,903 - $85,638
