Staff Accountant

BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG

POSITION OPENING

CLASSIFICATION: Staff Accountant

GRADE: NB 7.6

RANGE OF PAY: Hourly Hire In ($24.27) - Step 10 ($32.25) DOE

PLACE OF WORK: City Hall Campus

100 S 2nd Street, Chambersburg PA 17201

POSITION SUMMARY

Serves as a point of control for the Borough’s accounting functions within the Borough’s Finance Department. The incumbent facilitates general ledger entry, monitoring, and reconciliation, bank reconciliation, grant programs, state reporting requirements and official audits, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

Responsibility of this position includes performing accounting and finance duties relative to all of the processes of recording/reporting financial transactions. Additionally, responsibilities encompass all processes from the initial transaction to managing the flow of financial information from the initial journals along with the completeness and accuracy of this information.

The incumbent will perform accounting tasks with above average difficulty and complexity, frequently assist other accounting staff with problems encountered along with suggestions on resolution. Work is performed under the general direction of the Staff Accounting/Accounting Supervisor and/or the Assistant Director of Finance/Treasurer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without an accommodation.

• Creates, analyzes and maintains various financial statements and schedules;

• Prepares and analyzes financial and cost reports (this includes job and work orders);

• Prepares month end journal entries from computer printouts and posts to general ledger;

• Prepares year end schedules and journals entries for use by independent auditors;

• Develops programs/procedures for regular use by self or others to gather and/or process financial information;

• Maintains investment portfolio reporting, including realized and unrealized gains/losses;

• Verifies (reconciles) and corrects, when necessary, the accuracy of all balance sheet accounts;

• Maintains and coordinates work order and job order records;

• Oversees the Chart of Accounts and creation/removal of Funds/accounts, as required;

• Assists in the preparation of the annual budget and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in any way deemed necessary;

• Recommends programming improvements related to billing and accounting;

• Performs various reconciliation functions including coordinating and administering month and year end “close out” procedures and cash balances;

• Manages and coordinates projects as assigned;

• Maintains sufficient working knowledge of general ledger, asset management, accounts receivable, and accounts payable functions and mechanics necessary to discuss, interpret and back-up these positions as necessary;

• Responsible for maintaining internal controls in relation to accounting functions;

• Implements and utilizes various programs to facilitate month-end reporting, monthly close-out, annual budgeting, cash accounting and interest accounting;

• Facilitates property tax operation including accounting and reporting;

• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES):

• Ability to learn, follow, and model Borough policies, rules, procedures, and regulations in a fair and consistent manner;

• Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and GASB standards, along with a satisfactory background in fund accounting;

• Must be able to understand and communicate complex financial/accounting concepts and develop an understanding of the Borough’s accounting system;

• Must be a self-starter, demonstrating motivation with the ability to work independently requiring minimal supervision;

• Ability to make decisions and recommendations in accordance with rules, regulations, and policies governing the organization in a fair and consistent manner;

• Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal and accounting records;

• Intermediate working knowledge of fiscal monitoring and control mechanisms;

• Good to considerable knowledge of municipal financial administration and accounting principles and practices;

• Intermediate knowledge of revenue, expenditure, and collections functions;

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both written and verbal, to all stakeholders of the organization;

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, peers, employees, officials of other agencies, elected officials, and the general public;

• Ability to think and act strategically and proactively;

• Strong ethical practices;

• Must keep informed about recent industry specific developments and best practices through reading and by attending conferences, seminars and meetings;

• Knowledge and experience with MS Office suite of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe PDF, and web-based mail and calendar applications;

• Must possess ability to maintain confidentiality in regard to work-related information and records;

• Ability to exercise good professional judgement, and possess the physical/mental ability/agility to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

QUALIFICATIONS (ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING):

Education:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited college/university in finance, accounting, or a related field.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in accounting, finance, or a related field;

Experience:

• Preferred experience with municipal utilities or local government;

• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a similar position

• Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Completion of a two-year degree or a business administrative standard high school course supplemented by business school training.

WORK AUTHORIZATION/SECURITY CLEARANCE

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and maintain required clearances to hold a position at the Chambersburg Borough.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITYREQUIREMENTS

Must reside within forty-five (45) driving miles of the corporate limits of the Borough of Chambersburg within one (1) year of the hire date as their bona fide primary residence, and continue to reside within that area while employed.

Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicles license, 3 years clean driving history, and be insurable in the independent opinion of the Borough's motor vehicle insurance underwriter, in order to remain eligible for this position.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee primarily works indoors in an office environment which subjects the employee to common sometimes uncommon internal exposures. Work may be performed alone or with a team, with frequent interruptions requiring the employee to respond to requests from both internal and external stakeholders.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

• The employee must have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to all stakeholders within the department’s scope of accountability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job;

• Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time, repeat the same movements, use hands to control, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and see details of objects that are more than a few feet away;

• Must be able to use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects, and make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls; see differences between colors, shades, and brightness; and hear sounds and recognize the difference between them;

• Must possess the ability to record, convey and present information, explain procedures and follow instructions;

• Must possess dexterity requirements ranging from simple to coordinated movements of fingers/hands; feet/legs; and torso necessary to carry out duties of job.

• Must occasionally perform light to medium work, with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with a maximum weight of approximately twenty-five (25) pounds;

• Must demonstrate exceptional judgement, emotional stability, pay close attention to details, and concentrate on work;

• Must be able to perform the duties of the position while under physical and emotional pressures;

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Minimal and intermittent travel to and from Borough facilities for meetings and other related business.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of the Borough of Chambersburg to provide fair and equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment. Applicants are recruited, selected and hired on the basis of individual merit and ability and without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, age, handicap, disability, veteran status or national origin or any other trait protected by Pennsylvania or federal law.

NOTE:

This description is the present overview of the job, is subject to change by the employer and is to be used as a temporary management guide to performance.

TO PERSONNEL OFFICER:

If interested, complete the online application. An up-to-date resume is recommended.

If you have any questions, contact Sophia Suarez in Personnel at 717-251-2462.

Posted: Thursday December 11, 2025

Deadline to Apply: Friday December 26, 2025