What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Accountant position at Capital Area Transit System (CATS)?
Capital Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Staff Accountant to join its Finance team.
The Staff Accountant supports the agency’s accounting operations across accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, reconciliations, grants, payroll, pension accounting, and month-end close. Reporting to the Senior Accountant, this position plays an important role in maintaining accurate financial records, effective internal controls, and audit readiness within a public-sector environment.
The ideal candidate has strong accounting fundamentals, experience working in a high-volume accounting environment, advanced Excel skills, and the ability to balance multiple deadlines while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
What You’ll Do
Required
The Staff Accountant supports the agency’s accounting operations across accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, reconciliations, grants, payroll, pension accounting, and month-end close. Reporting to the Senior Accountant, this position plays an important role in maintaining accurate financial records, effective internal controls, and audit readiness within a public-sector environment.
The ideal candidate has strong accounting fundamentals, experience working in a high-volume accounting environment, advanced Excel skills, and the ability to balance multiple deadlines while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
What You’ll Do
- Manage full-cycle accounts payable and accounts receivable activities.
- Process and review high-volume invoices, coding, supporting documentation, and purchase order transactions.
- Perform three-way matching and resolve invoice and purchasing discrepancies.
- Prepare weekly vendor payments and accounts receivable aging reports.
- Prepare journal entries and monthly account reconciliations.
- Support month-end and year-end financial close.
- Maintain accurate and audit-ready accounting records.
- Assist with financial reporting and analysis.
- Support grants accounting, reconciliations, reporting, and funding collections.
- Assist with internal, external, grant, and pension audits.
- Perform assigned payroll functions and provide backup payroll processing support.
- Reconcile payroll deductions, withholdings, deposits, and pension liabilities.
- Prepare payroll and labor cost reports.
- Maintain compliance with internal controls, agency policies, procurement requirements, and applicable accounting standards.
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Three (3) to five (5) years of accounting experience, including significant accounts payable experience.
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial processes.
- Experience with accounting, payroll, or ERP systems.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Public-sector or governmental accounting experience.
- Experience with procurement and purchase order systems.
- Experience with month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
- Knowledge of payroll processes and wage requirements.
- Experience supporting financial or compliance audits.
- Experience with Netchex, Tyler/Munis, or comparable systems.
- Grants accounting or reporting experience.