Accounting Specialist

Steele County

Job Description

Job Title: Accounting Specialist

Department: Finance

Immediate Supervisor: Finance Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

DBM Rating: B25

Union: AFSCME – Courthouse Unit

Job Summary

Under the direction of the County Finance Director, the Accounting Specialist is responsible for a wide variety of financial and accounting duties including but not limited to: oversight of cash management, portfolio management, accounting, payroll related duties, and other statutorily required treasury functions for the county.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Cash Management
  • Balance daily cash receipts and create daily report, monitoring, and verifying all transactions (i.e. deposits, ACH/State transactions, and disbursements)
  • Monitor pay positive pay files and exceptions
  • Collect payments for charges and property taxes
  • Prepare bank deposits
  • Maintain cash books for all County funds
  • Prepare reports regarding cash position for Finance Director
  • Wire funds to institution(s) to pay bond payments, insurance, loans, etc.
  • Monitor outstanding warrants
  • Investigate and resolve cash discrepancies
  • Assist with cash flow projections
  • Oversee Cash Drawer program and department level access to program and reconciliations
  • Report, track and collect NSF payments
• Portfolio Management
  • Prepare letters for investment instructions when Finance Director purchases securities
  • Wire money to County’s holding company for investment purchases
  • Maintain/track investment activities and reconcile portfolio on a monthly basis
  • Prepare GASB 40, Deposit and Investment Risk Disclosures, workpaper(s) for annual audit
  • Track private funds (i.e. missing heir)
  • Assist the County Finance Director with cashflow projections
• Payroll Assistance

• • Transmit bi-weekly payroll to appropriate agencies
  • Transfer funds to payroll account to cover payroll
  • Backup payroll clerk, alternating payroll processing procedures
  • Prepare payroll projections for budgets
  • Assist in reconciliation of all benefit billings

• Accounting
  • Maintain the County’s purchase card program
  • Maintain the County’s fuel card system
  • Prepare various billings (departments, Ag Society, etc.)
  • Maintain the financial system for the Joint Dispatch office, which includes monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, and supporting the annual Joint Dispatch audit
  • Maintain billings for Joint powers agreements for the county with other agencies
  • Maintain general ledger & balance trial balance sheet
  • Propose adjusting journal entries
  • Perform other duties of a comparable level or type, as required
  • Participate in the audit as necessary
  • Keep abreast of changing development, trends and technologies in areas of expertise and responsibilities.
  • Attend conferences, seminars, regional meetings and services on various professional organizations.
• Other Duties
  • Fully participate in the County Financial audit as necessary
  • Provide customer service both in person at the counter, over the phone and as necessary to help clients
  • Collect cash at various county locations as deemed necessary with the use of a county vehicle
  • Provide assistance, perform some functions, as guided by County Finance Director during internal audits as necessary

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate Degree with major field of study emphasis in accounting, finance or business administration and two years of accounting experience - - OR - - Bachelor’s Degree with major field of study in accounting, finance or business administration
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a standard background check 

Essential Knowledge

• Accounting and payroll practices and procedures and both GAAP and GASB accounting standards and principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of investments, finance, municipal balance sheets, statement of revenues and disbursements, cash flow statements and related footnotes to financial statements.
• Knowledge of accounting practices, standards and principles of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board).
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of finance, investment, cash management, budget planning/administration and government accounting.
• Knowledge and operational use of general business productivity applications/software and county specific software products (i.e. internet browsers, email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentational software, etc.).
• Knowledge of County administrative rules, laws, statutes, regulation pertaining to functions and operations of the department, guidelines, policies and organizational structure.

Essential Skills

• Attention to detail is critical in this position
• Power user of Excel
• High requirements of Customer service skills
• Operating, using and applying accounting software, applications or specialized financial programs used by the County.
• Interpreting and applying regulations, rules, guidelines and standards impacting department operations and activities.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of accounting controls, procedures and methods consistent with acceptable accounting procedures and methods.
• Preparing various local, state or federal accounting/fiscal reports.
• Accounting analysis and projection techniques and procedures in the analysis of cash flow requirements, revenue projections, budget requirements and other financial projections.
• Assisting in the annual audit processes.
• Preparing, maintaining, reconciling and monitoring accounting processes and procedures associated with the maintenance of the general ledger activities, fixed assets, and other accounting functions.
• Analyzing and interpreting general policies, detailed reports, and technical procedures, ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Project management and time management skills in prioritizing schedules, deadlines and projects.

Physical Job Requirements (Percentage of Time)

Category: Sedentary Work

• Stand: frequently (34-66%)
• Walk: frequently (34-66%)
• Sit: continuously (67-100%)
• Use of hands: frequently (34-66%)
• Reach with hands & arms: continuously (67-100%)
• Climb or balance: occasionally (1-33%)
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: occasionally (1-33%)
• Talk or hear: continuously (67-100%)
• Taste or smell: never
• Lift & carry: up to 10 pounds frequently (34-66%)

Working Conditions

Duties of the job are primarily administrative in nature performed in a typical County office.  The physical and environmental hazards and risks associated with the job can be characterized as minimal.

This description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.