Senior Accountant - Transit

Position Description

Perform professional-level accounting and financial management activities in support of the City’s comprehensive accounting and financial management systems and goals of the Finance Department. Under direction of the Finance Manager performs accounting activities duties including auditing, bank reconciliation, cash and investment reconciliation, account reconciliation, summary of transactions, journal entries and other special projects assigned by the Finance Manager or the Assistant Finance Director. This job assists in preparing internal and external financial reports including annual reports, monthly financial statements, budget reports, and historical trend analysis and cost/benefit studies.

Scope of Responsibility:
The Senior Accountant performs responsible professional accounting duties under the general direction of the Finance Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Ability to understand complex financial transactions and/or activities and logically solve accounting problems.
   
   
2. Perform complex and routine accounting and financial activities in support of the citywide financial system including, but not limited to, the following: accounts receivable, accounts payable, special assessments, cash receipts, capital assets, inventory, fleet and work orders, treasury, investments, grants, construction-in-progress, and debt.
   
   
3. Maintain the general and subsidiary ledgers of the City in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards. Evaluate transactions and determine appropriate accounting treatment. Prepare journal entries to accurately record the financial activities and business transactions of the City. Research proper accounting and financial treatment of various transactions and related reporting.
   
   
4. Independently oversee and complete detailed and complex reconciliations to ensure proper balancing between ancillary financial systems, external sources, and the City financial system.
   
   
5. Ensure transactions comply with proper accounting, budget, and other applicable laws and policies for all revenue, expenditure, balance sheet, grant, treasury, special assessment and debt entries. Substantiate financial transactions by auditing documents, accounts, and entries. Provide feedback to management on proper controls and procedures necessary to ensure that applicable laws and guidelines are met.
   
   
6. Compile, interpret, analyze, prepare, and communicate financial/budgetary reports and statements detailing the financial operations of the City, including monthly financial reports and annual financial/budget statements in support of the annual budget process, Annual Financial Report, and annual audit.
   
   
7. Support implementation of computer-based accounting and financial applications including testing system modifications ensuring financial entries are being recorded with timeliness and accuracy. Submit enhancements for team review and complete user workflow setup. Train and assist users in performing financial activities within the various financial applications.
   
   
8. Provide assistance and make recommendations related to proper financial and accounting processes and procedures internally and externally. Prepare reports and other financial information necessary to support the financial decision-making process within City departments.
   
   
9. Conduct special projects as assigned. Represent the Finance department at various staff meetings to provide advice, feedback, and financial information as necessary.
   
   
10. Perform other such duties and functions as are outlined for this position in the departmental position result description and performance standard.

Senior Accountant – Transit Addendum

Job Summary:
This position focuses on Transit grant fiscal management for North Dakota and Minnesota to include federal, state, and local cost reporting, reimbursement of grant funds, and assisting in the preparation of the required reports. This position will be involved in preparing compliant budgets, financial statements and various analytical reports and grants administered directly by the Transit Department.

Scope of Responsibility
The Senior Accountant – Transit performs responsible professional accounting and analytical duties under the general direction of the Finance Manager and works closely with the Transit Department Head.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Ability to understand complex financial transactions and/or activities and logically solve accounting problems. Essential Duties and Responsibilities are generally the same as outlined in the core description, with emphasis on Transit activities. Specific duties related to Transit include: 

1. Develop and maintain grants management systems:
   1. Work with the Transit Department, Cities of Fargo & Moorhead Finance Departments to develop and enhance finance systems, including policies, procedures, practices and information systems that are efficient and ensure good controls for all grant accounting, compliance, and reporting;
   2. Collaborate with Transit, and Finance Department with set up of project accounting for proper tracking of grant funds and expenditures.
2. Supports ongoing financial analysis, clear and comprehensive reporting, budget preparation, and long-term planning for Transit:
   1. Coordinates information flow between Transit and other departments, including grant reporting, grant fund accounting, draw down of funds relating to grants, and annual grants;
   2. Coordinates the preparation of data for all federal and state agency audits and/or compliance reviews.
3. Research, interpretation, and application of complex federal regulations. 
   1. Reviews procurement guidelines annually for updates including changes to Federal, North Dakota, and City of Fargo, Minnesota, City of Moorhead guidelines.
   2. Assists in budget preparation for all grant-funded projects. 
4. Conduct special projects as assigned. Represents Finance and Transit departments at various staff meetings to report findings or provide advice, feedback, and financial information as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Same as outlined in the core description.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
Same as outlined in the core description.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or business administration and a minimum of four (4) years’ experience in accounting; or any such combination of education, experience, and training as may be acceptable to the hiring authority. Municipal government experience preferred.

CPA certification is desirable but not mandatory.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Government Accounting Standards (GASB) and fund accounting procedures;
• Knowledge of principles, procedures and practices of grant administration under Uniform Guidance (UG), particularly record keeping and reporting;
• Knowledge of computer-aided accounting tools such as spreadsheets, graphics and other software packages.
• Knowledge of auditing procedures, bank reconciliation procedures, statistical analysis, and spreadsheet modeling;
• Skill in financial calculations, analysis and reporting;
• Skill in organization and prioritization of work;
• Skill in oral and written presentation;
• Skill in communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction;
• Skill in the use of computer-aided accounting tools such as spreadsheets, graphics and other software packages including Central Square Technologies, IBM Cognos, CAFR Unlimited, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Most work is performed in a normal office environment. Work requires significant computer use and keyboard time. Work requires use of telephone and other office equipment. There is high attention to detail, audit, financial statements, grant reporting and deadlines. Daily work may involve moving between buildings and rooms. Limited driving is required. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue.

Activities include stooping, standing, walking, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Light Work: Physical demands are normally those associated with light work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.