Senior Accountant

Performs highly technical accounting work in the Finance Department. An employee in this class coordinates and assists departments in their development, administration, and monitoring of financial records, revenues, and expenditures. Work includes preparing various federal, state, and local financial reports and surveys. Work also involves examining financial internal control procedures of various departments and making recommendations. This position serves as backup for the department’s payroll and accounts payable staff. Considerable independent judgment, initiative, and attention to detail are required to ensure accuracy of various figures and data. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Finance Director and is evaluated through conferences, observation, and review of work generated.

• Serves as the liaison between county departments and the merchant services provider regarding the acceptance of credit and debit cards at department locations.
• Manages the payment card industry (PCI) compliance requirements for accepting credit and debit cards.
• Performs random cash counts of the departments, compares collections to expected revenues, and performs other internal auditing procedures.
• Codes deposit slips with the appropriate general ledger accounts.
• Enters monthly journal entries into the financial accounting system.
• Assists with preparation of various state and federal finance reports and surveys, including the monthly sales tax report, annual sales tax refund report, monthly conveyance tax return for Register of Deeds, annual escheat report, etc.
• Assists with maintaining records of grant financial activity.
• Assists with monthly bank reconciliations.
• Reconciles the monthly credit card statements.
• Assists with preparation of schedules for the annual indirect cost allocation plan, the annual property/liability and workers compensation insurance renewals, the annual financial statement audit and compliance audits, etc.
• Serves as backup for payroll and accounts payable processing.
• Performs research and analytical work of various financial and other data individually or as a member of a team.
• Provides assistance with implementation of various countywide accounting and budget procedures, practices, and policies.
• Assists with implementation of new accounting standards and special projects undertaken by the department.
• Attends various continuing education courses provided by School of Government, Local Government Commission, or other agencies in order to stay current with federal and state requirements for local government finance and accounting issues.
• Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all documents and information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of accounting and auditing including local government financial administration.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local government laws and policies concerning the fiscal operations of a local government unit.
• Knowledge of the operations of local government including sources of revenue and budgetary requirements for expenditures.
• Knowledge of the principles of financial internal controls, organization, and administration.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence, budget summaries, audits, budget worksheets, financial statements, invoices, purchase orders, and related departmental records and reports.
• Ability to prepare journal entries, revenue and expense summaries, to compile and analyze various related financial information.
• Skill in analyzing problems and identifying solutions.
• Skill in preparing clear and accurate reports.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to establish priorities for the completion of work in accordance with required deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other employees, department heads, and management, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, department heads, management, and the general public.
• Ability to use a calculator, Microsoft Office, and computerized accounting software for the maintenance of the County’s financial records.
• Bachelor's degree in finance or business administration with a concentration in accounting.
• Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related area and at least two years of experience in accounting and financial management or two years of experience auditing the financial records of a North Carolina Local Government is required; or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  

Experience Preferred:

Certified Local Government Finance Officer (CLGFO) or currently enrolled the certification program, and three years of experience in governmental accounting.