Picture yourself as part of a team dedicated to excellence in public financial services. The City of Mercer Island has recently added a limited-term Accountant position to its Finance Department. The selected candidate will be part of a departmental effort to implement best practices in local government finance, while being mentored and trained by an experienced, successful, and supportive management team, led by Finance Director Matthew Mornick and Deputy Finance Director LaJuan Tuttle. 
 
This role provides major support to the Finance Department with daily, weekly, and quarterly tasks to reconcile City finances and provide key assistance to other departments. Helping with day-to-day operations is integral to this role while a significant strategic project to upgrade the City’s new financial management software is underway. With the opportunity to work remotely and in-person, the position will serve as an in-house accountant for Finance, who supports the operating departments that manage a variety of financial and public policy issues.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Accountant assists in the oversight, protection, and compliance of the City's financial resources; maintains and controls accounting records; assures the City is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting Systems (BARS), State laws and regulations, and department policies.
 
Job tasks are typically complex and/or sensitive and require understanding of accounting structures, including the ability to work independently with little direction. 
 
This is a limited-term (LTE) position for one year (12 months). Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. 

• Functions as a member of the financial operations team and works closely with management and department colleagues to accomplish day to day activities.
• Carries out job responsibilities in a self-directed manner.
• Completes daily and weekly tasks of retainage tracking, Employee Action Form tracking, running data reports from the City’s financial system, OneSolution, on an as requested basis, employee costing requests, data entry for month-end reconciliations, and data entry for pre-check runs.
• Assures that input data is properly prepared, documented and processed for various ledgers, journals, and other financial reports.
• Prepares adjusting journal entries to general ledger to reflect accurate accounting and distribution of income and expenses to appropriate accounts.
• Reconciles accounts and investigates any irregularities.
• Analyzes reports for project accounting and general ledger interface to assure proper system operations.
• Responds to inquiries, questions, and comments from the public per established standards and protocols.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of restricted information.
• Ensures adherence to all established City policies, procedures, and protocols.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree in finance, accounting, business or public administration, or related field; supplemented by two (2) years of directly related public sector experience; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with Excel is required.

 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with OneSolution is desired.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Valid WA State Driver’s License with a driving record free from frequent or serious violations. A three (3) year driving record abstract must be submitted prior to hire.
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local codes, laws, and regulations particularly those applicable to accounting, and grant compliance.
• Knowledge of Washington State BARS accounting system.
• Knowledge of principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
• Data processing and analysis utilizing computerized financial systems.
• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel) and applicable department / organization specific software and ability to learn and become proficient in the use of other specialized software as may be required.
• Ability to clearly communicate and understand information in English, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Ability to use reasoning skills that minimize duplication of efforts, including but not limited to comparing, classifying, analyzing, and coordinating.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. 
• Ability to commute independently to and from work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule (virtually or in person), including to community meetings and events.

Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and extended periods of time standing and/or walking.

Tasks are regularly performed inside without exposure to adverse environmental conditions (e.g., dirt, cold, rain, fumes).

Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.