Accountant

SALARY: Hire Rate - $34.00/hr / Work Rate - $36.93/hr

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full Time

ISSUE DATE: 04/26/24

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 05/19/24

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 05/20/24

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,
Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain
residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final
earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under
section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality
or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must
then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college with a Bachelor’s or higher degree in
Accounting, Economics, Finance, or Business Administration, that included a minimum of (12 -15) semester credit hours
(5 classes), in accounting, PLUS one (1) year paid full-time or its part-time equivalent professional experience in
auditing or accounting; OR,

2. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college with an Associate’s degree in Accounting,
or related field (12 -15) semester credit hours (5 classes) PLUS three (3) years paid full-time or its part-time equivalent
professional experience in auditing or accounting; OR,

3. Any combination of training and experience equal to or greater than that described in (a) and (b) above.

Tompkins County is Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

An incumbent in this class is responsible for the maintenance and oversight of governmental accounting systems, records and
processes. This is a mid to upper-level accounting position requiring familiarity with general accounting principles and the ability
to apply rules and regulations to both routine and complex accounting and financial transactions. The incumbent independently

performs work assignments concerned with governmental accounting, budgeting, and reporting. This position requires complex
and analytical responsibilities. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Department head or their designee with
leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment. The incumbent will perform all related duties as assigned.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Performs a variety of journal entries on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis;
• Identifies and works to rectify problems related to financial accounting matters;
• Performs a variety of account analysis on a routine basis
• Performs a variety of reconciliations on various accounts on a regular basis;
• Investigates historical transactions from accounts and determine any corrections needed
• Assists other departments with finance related issues;
• Project accounting transactions, reconciliations, research, and reporting
• Monitoring various accounts and interactions with various software programs
• Ability to resolve complex accounting conundrums
• Assists task completion related to closings and audits
• Does related reports and tasks as assigned or needed;
• Assisting Department leadership as needed
• Develops, maintains, updates accounting policies and procedures as needed

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Working knowledge of general accounting principles as they relate to governmental accounting;
• Working independently using professional judgement to reach recommendations and conclusions
• Ability to apply GASB updates and pronouncements to accounting practices;

• Ability to adapt accounting methods to particular problems;
• Speed and accuracy in performing fairly difficult mathematical computations;
• Good judgment in allocating charges and classifying receipts and expenditures;
• Ability to cross train and assist with other departmental tasks
• Tact in dealing with other departmental personnel and the public;
• Ability to work with multiple departments simultaneously on projects
• Ability to train and educate various staff levels from departmental leadership to departmental support staff
• Ability to work with others and keep data confidential;
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions;
• Ability to prepare accurate correspondence and reports;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, including sorting, tables and reporting functions;
• Ability to learn and utilize new reporting and account-keeping software;
• Physical and mental condition shall be commensurate with the demands of the position, either with or without reasonable

accommodations.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended
period in an office setting, use hands to keyboard, handle, or feel objects, manipulate tools, or controls, and reach with hands and
arms. The employee is required to see, walk, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds.
Due to extensive computer usage, the job requires considerable visual effort. Vision abilities required by this job include close
vision and the ability to adjust focus to a mid-range. The employee’s physical and mental condition shall be commensurate with
demands of the position, either with or without reasonable accommodation. Psychological demands are moderate for this position.
Considerable interpersonal skills are necessary in order to create connections, obtain buy-in, cooperation with community
agencies, municipalities and throughout the organization. The employee is required to have a valid NYS license in order to drive
to various offsite meetings. Internal contacts may include work with elected officials, department heads or deputies and will

require professional collaboration on overlapping projects. External contacts are with professional associates, liaisons, community
groups and involve the development of professional networks. The work environment has minimal exposure to disagreeable
conditions. The incumbent will perform all related duties as required.

Originally Created: 12/2023

A116

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the
date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at 274-5526. If an application is disapproved, due notice will be
sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will
be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits
application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must
meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE
ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT
APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS
ESTABLISHED.
Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of
Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations
apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been
a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.
The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is
eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins
County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant
to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the
Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,
Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring
books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE
SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you
must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this
form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the
various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot
ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You
will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your
examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your
chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department (607) 274-5526. The Cross File
form is located at http://www.tompkins-co.org/personnel/CivilSrvForms/index.html

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on
your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY
REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.
In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive
an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are
qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this
office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the
application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has
been established.⒝

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will
include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in
disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850