The purpose of this classification is to perform work of moderate to considerable difficulty in general accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash management, budgets, debt administration, payroll processing and reporting, CIP and fixed assets, grants, special projects and other related work for the Accounting and Finance Department, or other City department as assigned. administration, payroll processing and reporting and other related work for the Accounting and Finance Department, or other City department as assigned. 

The following duties are normal for this classification. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

General Accounting Assignments:

Performs reconciliations of Accounting and Finance Department records and general ledger accounts on a monthly and annual basis. This includes fund reconciliations and journal entries for year-end financial close.

Assists the external auditor performing the annual financial audit and single audit; investigates and reports on questioned transactions; discloses requested information; guides auditors to source documents and City policies and procedures.

Communicates with departments to ensure fixed assets are added, removed, transferred, and depreciated appropriately. Updates Accounting and Finance fixed asset related forms as needed. 

Monitors levels of insurance coverage on all City property and necessary employees; recommends adjustments to coverages and reserves.

Communicates with various City departments concerning expenditures, receipts, and budget questions.

Reconciles bank statements on a monthly basis and notifies supervisor of any discrepancies.

Proposes updates to accounting procedures as needed to maintain sound practices in the handling and reporting of City finances; studies state and local ordinance requirements; plans for security and accuracy in fiscal transactions and reporting; advises departments on proper handling and reporting procedures; monitors compliance with established procedures.

Coordinates development, implementation and monitors automated systems for general ledger accounting; evaluates City accounting needs; determines input procedures and access limitations; monitors program implementation and operation.

Assists with the preparation of periodic reports such as the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), investments, debt or other operational reports required to gauge operational efficiency and/or compliance with Federal, State and Local ordinances or guidelines.

Performs bookkeeping tasks for the Fire and Police Pension Fund.

As needed provides support for various special projects, assists in the development of procedures and forms; formulates recommendations and prepares reports and correspondence.

Grants Accounting Assignments:

Assists departments and Grants Manager with seeking and applying for grants. Reconciles and reports on federal, state, and local grants.

Where required, assists in the preparation of grant applications, handles the details of grant or proposal preparation and administration including contracts with federal, state, and local agencies.

Monitors financial compliance, with the assistance of the applicable City department, and ensures proper accounting procedures are followed for federal and state grant programs.

Compiles the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and assists the external auditor with any questions that may arise.

Coordinates and compiles annual agency applications, along with detailed analysis of requests versus prior year allocations.

Assists the Grants Manager and Budgets Director with monitoring expenditures for eligibility, and monitors compliance with the Agency funding contracts.

Assists with preparing agency funding contracts in conjunction with the Legal Department.

Cash Management Assignments:

Monitors daily cash balances to ensure sufficient funds are available to cover transactions.

Determines funds available for long-term investment.

Maintains short and long-term cash flows to optimize investment strategies.

Performs and oversees the bidding, depositing, transferring, wiring, withdrawing, and reconciling of certificate of deposits the city utilizes to invest and retain monetary assets for payment of city expenses.

Prepares wire transfer report and detailed report of funds to be transferred between accounts.

Deposits funds and ensures acceptable balances in all accounts; transfers funds within accounts.

Computes weekly cash balances for investments and communicates relevant information to banks.

Completes investment purchases and maturing investments physically and provides reports on a weekly basis.

Corresponds with banks on all errors or problems, coordinates solutions.

Operating Budget Assignments:

Prepares and analyzes monthly departmental operating budget reports and provides detail on overages to the Director of Budgets and Strategic Planning

Provides ongoing support to departments related to their operational budgets or capital project budgets.

Provides detailed financial analysis for proposed personnel changes or movements within departments.

Supports the annual budget process by providing various analyses for operating expenditures and revenues, assisting departments with questions regarding their operating budgets, compiles draft and final versions of the budget document, along with other various tasks as assigned.

Assists with compiling resolutions for budget adoption.

Compiles budget revisions for Finance Committee consideration and enters approved revisions.

Capital and Special Projects Accounting Assignments:

Reviews and tracks transactions such as accounts payable invoices and cost reimbursement requests related to capital and special projects.

Assists in the development and monitoring of short- and long-term capital and special project budgets supporting capital improvement projects within programs that meet city goals and objectives.

Monitors projects for financial close-out and coordinates close-out of projects with applicable departments

Assists the Director of Budgets and Strategic Planning in determining financial methods, procedures and costs pertaining to capital and special projects; conducts cost benefit analyses and reviews and prepares financial and statistical reports.

Confers with other departments, officials, consultants and explains policies and procedures; may make presentations on assigned projects and programs.

Compiles budget revisions for Finance Committee consideration and enters approved revisions.

Provides staff support to committees or other departments, as assigned.

Arts and Entertainment Accounting Assignments:

Assists the Arts and Entertainment Director with projecting and compiling annual budget projections for operations and special events.

Compiles profit and loss statements for special events and amphitheater shows and updates Accounting and Finance leadership on a monthly basis.

Provides fund analysis on a monthly basis of all special event funds.

Reconciles Amphitheatre clearing account on a monthly basis and reports any discrepancies to management. 

Debt Administration and Reporting Assignments:

Review and assist in the preparation of various documents including official statements for debt issues, underwriter documents for required information in cooperation with the City’s bond issuer.

Maintains debt service schedules and prepares journal entries; updates required arbitrage calculations.

Prepare debt amortization schedules as necessary.

Payroll Assignments:

Performs operational oversight, assigns, and monitors Payroll Assistant in tasks reprioritizing work as the business need requires; reviews work for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with Federal and State laws and City administrative regulations.

Maintains written procedures identifying appropriate internal controls, administrative regulations, and appropriate State, Federal and/or legal support for all payroll processes performed.

Responds to and resolves complex and sensitive customer inquiries regarding payroll policies and procedures both verbally and in writing.

Provides Payroll departmental staff training and conducts customer training.

Reviews time entry, conducts edit of time entry to ensure accuracy, completeness, proper authorization, processes payroll and reviews validation and controls report.

Executes the payroll, validates paychecks, and ensures that all payroll deadlines are met in accordance with the pay period schedule.

Handles payroll duties related to the City of Tuscaloosa Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan.

Ensures accurate calculation and remittance of all withholding liabilities for all City employees on a timely basis, including quarterly and annual Federal and State reporting, retirement plans, etc.

Calculates and creates manual checks, including payroll for the Fire and Police Pension, and makes special check runs; maintains employee payroll records.

Reconciles all payroll liabilities to the general ledger and processes journal entries to record activity.

Maintains confidentiality of personnel and payroll records and reports.

Responds to payroll-related requests for information from City departments, employees, and public records requests.

Conducts research and remains current on Federal and State payroll tax laws, pension, and other applicable laws affecting payroll administration.

Participates in evaluating, testing, and implementing new payroll systems and subsequent upgrades.

Completes quarterly tax reports; checks and distributes W-2 forms; submits all annual reporting to required agencies.

Handles end-of-year adjustments and close outs; compiles periodic reports and pension/retirement amounts.

All Areas Assigned:

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner. 

Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in day-to-day activities.

Incorporates the core beliefs of the city within the Accounting and Finance Department in order to achieve the city’s standard of excellence to be the most innovative and effectively managed city.

Recommends policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the Department.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, and managers.

Seeks out innovative ways to streamline and improve workflow processes.

Performs other related duties as required.

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field required; internship experience in accounting and/or finance or one (1) year of professional accounting experience required; must have considerable knowledge and experience in Microsoft Excel; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computers, printers, calculators, facsimile machines, and telephones. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary work.

DATA COMPREHENSION: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things which may include spreadsheets, flow charts, graphs, and complex financial data.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange financial and administrative information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with city officials and the general public.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires ability to read a variety of financial and accounting documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand complex accounting principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to add and subtract; multiply and divide; calculate decimals and percentages; interpret graphs; compute discounts, interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion; perform calculations involving variables, formulas, square routs, and polynomials; perform statistical calculations which include frequency distributions, reliability and validity of tests, correlation techniques, factor analysis, and econometrics.

FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment that may include automated office equipment.

MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment.

MANUAL DEXTERITY: May require the ability to handle a variety of items, computers, printers, calculators, facsimile machines, and telephones, control knobs, switches, etc. May require the ability to use one hand for twisting motion or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

COLOR DIFFERENTIATION: May require the ability to discern color.

INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT: Requires the ability to deal with and relate to people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be able to adapt to and perform under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk, express, or exchange ideas by means of spoken words and/or hear and perceive nature of sounds by ear.