Accountant II

Under general direction of the Director of Finance (working in conjunction with the Controller), provides financial, accounting, and analytical services for the Financial Reporting/Treasury Division, the Finance Department, and the city. This position includes utilizing knowledge of and continual engagement in professional development and education on generally accepted accounting principles and governmental accounting standards, assisting in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, assisting in the preparation of the Popular Annual Financial Report, providing financial information and accounting expertise to city departments, assisting with the oversight of the decentralized accounting functions of the city, assisting in the coordination of the city’s banking and credit card functions, and performing additional duties as required.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performing daily cash management. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Monitoring daily cash balances to ensure sufficient funds are available to cover transactions.
• Determining funds available for long term investment.
• Maintaining short and long term cash flows to optimize investment strategies.

2. Administer the City’s debt service and reporting activities. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Review and help prepare various documents including official statements for debt issues, underwriter documents for required information in cooperation with the City’s bond issuer.
• Maintain and administer the MunEase debt service and reporting database for the City’s debt obligations.
• Prepare debt amortization schedules as necessary.
• Submit periodic debt information to meet continuing debt disclosure requirement as specified in SEC Rule 15c2-12.
• Submit debt service budget adjustments to the Budget Division.

3. Assist the Controller with the annual audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report preparation. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Updating footnote disclosures.
• Preparing various audit work-papers and year end entries.
• Preparing annual arbitrage liability calculations and entries
• Preparing audit confirmation letters.
• Assisting with other schedules and reports as may be assigned

4. Assist accounting staff in capital asset accounting activities. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Analyzing accounting data, invoices and supporting documentation for current year capital asset activity, including additions, retirements and sales.
• Gathering and evaluates intangible capital asset information from departments.
• Works with departments to extract additional information, compiling the information into meaningful work papers for capital asset activity.
• Researching items for clarification of proper accounting treatment in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board rules and regulations.
• Calculating capitalized interest for assets under construction.
• Preparing and enters asset additions, transfers, and retirements in the capital asset system.
• Calculating and review depreciation expense.
• Preparing and enters capital asset accounting entries into the general ledger accounting system.
• Reconcile detailed accounting reports to summary schedules and general ledger accounts.
• Coordinates and reconciles capital asset inventories to the accounting records on a periodic basis as needed.

5. Reconcile and record various revenues. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Train personnel from other departments on deposit preparation.
• Reconcile monthly Sales/Use tax activity and researches discrepancies. Records monthly sales and use tax revenues.
• Record property tax revenues.
• Records monthly portfolio interest earnings.
• Assists with and helps monitor year end revenue accruals.

6. Assists the Controller in the production of a Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR).

7. Monitor accounting transactions and assist in performing the monthly close of the accounting system.

8. Assists the Controller to monitor and train city departments on grant management, ensuring the city complies with all A-133 requirements.

9. Works with all city departments to improve internal controls in the city, including working to resolve any management letter issues communicated by the external auditors.

10. Assists in the coordination of the city’s banking and credit card acceptance setup and procedures. This includes the following:

• Assists with banking and credit card contract negotiations.
• Sets up new banking and merchant accounts as needed.
• Assists departments to analyze and develop banking and credit card procedures and processes.
• Works with banking institutions and credit card processors and helps troubleshoot problems with deposits or any other problems that arise.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration with three or more years of governmental accounting or auditing experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Thorough understanding of governmental accounting standards. Strong mathematical skills. Experience with computerized accounting and email applications, including proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software. Working knowledge of database software. Acute attention to detail and demonstrated problem solving skills. Demonstrated research skills. Well-organized and independent with effective time management skills. Strong customer service skills with courteous and effective communication skills. Have and maintain acceptable background information including criminal conviction record.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS – In addition to the required minimum qualifications:

Master’s degree in accounting or related field. Certified Public Accountant. Other governmental accounting certifications. Experience in compiling a full CAFR for a local government. Experience with the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting program. Experience with governmental accounting in a computerized, decentralized environment. Experience in working with or as an external auditor. Experience with making internal presentations. Experience with the following applications: Munis financial system, MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Access, Oracle Discoverer.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

WORKING CONDITIONS – Required Physical and Mental Effort, and Environmental Conditions:
Physical and Mental Effort : Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities that permits the employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person. Sufficient vision or other powers of observation that permits the employee to review, evaluate and prepare a variety of written documents and materials. Sufficient manual dexterity that permits the employee to operate computer equipment and other office equipment. Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to work in an office setting. Work may include extended periods of time viewing a computer video monitor and/ or operating a keyboard. Ability to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions.

Work Environment : Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment. Works in a setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noises.

Machines and equipment used include, but are not limited to the following : Frequently uses standard office equipment including personal computers, telephones, calculators and copy/fax machines.

ACCOMMODATIONS : Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Note: The above description is illustrative only. It is not meant to be all-inclusive.