Director of Accounting, Office of the Comptroller

GENERAL DEFINITION

The Director of Accounting will oversee the Accounting, Payroll and Expense divisions within the Comptroller’s office. This employee will be responsible for advanced accounting work, involving analysis and reporting of financial data, as well as the application of bookkeeping principles and practices performed within the Comptroller’s Office of the House of Representatives.

An employee in this classification performs diverse complex work involved with the maintenance and review of financial and statistical records.

Assignments are performed under the supervision of the Comptroller in accordance with established CORE policies and procedures.

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises, assigns and reviews the work of employees who maintain accounting and payroll records and prepares related reports and financial statements.

• Advises Comptroller in matters concerning accounting and payroll operations, procedures, or problems, to ensure compliance with House rules, applicable laws and/or regulations.

• Analyzes operational needs and makes recommendations to improve efficiencies. Works with Legislative Data Processing (LDP) to update the current financial system.

• Coordinates with caucus financial offices to troubleshoot difficult Member expense issues.

• Coordinates, provides consult and support, and audits the workflow for Member expense reimbursement by delegating routine day-to-day tasks as necessary and mentoring legislative fiscal assistants.

• Maintains expenditure and budgetary control accounts and prepares necessary financial and statistical reports.

• Compiles accurate data for Right-to-Know requests, IRS audits & subpoenas. Collaborates with legal staff and LDP to create complex reports needed to fulfill Open Records requests.

• Works directly with the Comptroller and staff to maintain and update all expense guidance and publications distributed to Members and their staff on an annual basis.

• Implements a training process for existing and new legislative assistants and Members on procedures and rules governing permissible spending, reimbursement methods, and procedures for entering expenses in the Legislative Financial System.

• Coordinates recordkeeping for and payment of Members’ district office leases within the Legislative Financial System contract module.

• Maintains accounting records for each of the line-item appropriations having general House-wide application and reviews all accounting-related reconciliations including but not limited to SERS, Treasury, and general ledgers.

• Assists in the pre-audit of all vouchers, including payroll, submitted for reimbursement from any House Appropriations Account in conformance with budget restriction and statutory provisions and existing House rules, regulations, and policies.

• Manages and coordinates all special projects assigned by the Comptroller adhering to all deadlines and specifications.

• Performs additional related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must be a motivated self-starter able to multitask, think ahead and problem solve; possess considerable knowledge of accounting principles and practices utilized in expenditures, auditing, and fiscal status reporting; mathematical ability; knowledge of methods, terminology, and practices of financial record keeping, along with critical “soft” skills required to effectively interact with internal and external customers.

• Ability to maintain CONFIDENTIAL information.

• Knowledge of legal provisions and existing House rules relating to the audit, verification, and distribution of funds.

• Ability to analyze reimbursement requests by applying logic and a thorough understanding of House rules and policies to determine whether an expense is reimbursable.

• Considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local tax withholding requirements including necessary periodic reports.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of office management and supervision.

• Ability to plan, organize and direct the operations of an accounting and fiscal control office.

• Ability to prepare and present effective oral and written reports on accounting and fiscal operations.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of state fiscal operations.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point.

• Ability to speak in public effectively, accurately and thoroughly impart information, hold audience attention and encourage participation.

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in a clear, concise, and diplomatic fashion to make recommendations, explain procedures, provide clarification or satisfy requests for additional documentation.

• Ability to engage in strategic planning to suggest and execute ways to continually improve Comptroller accounting processes and the Legislative Financial System maintained by the Legislative Data Processing Center.

• Ability to prepare financial reports and statements.

• Ability to prioritize, multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to work beyond standard office hours.

• Ability to work effectively as a team player.

• Ability to perform prescribed office procedures and decorum; maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, associates, legislators, and legislative staff; deal with the public in an effective, cooperative, and courteous manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus and ability to adjust focus ability to read and interpret documents on a computer screen.

• Ability to perform within prescribed office procedures and decorum; maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, associates, legislators and legislative staff; deal with public in a professional, cooperative and courteous manner.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• BS or BA in Accounting.

• CPA preferred.

• Three to Six years of relevant accounting experience.

• Accounting Management experience.

• Experience supervising accounting staff.

• Experience in payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable.