Employment Opportunity

Employment Opportunity: Accounting Technician II

General Statement of Duties

Performs difficult professional work in the accounting and fiscal services and activities for the City.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class leads and participates in the accounting of revenues and expenditures for the City. Work involves leading and participating in accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger preparation and maintenance, payroll functions, bank reconciliation, fixed assets and general financial reporting. The role serves as lead worker and provides technical guidance to other finance staff.  The employee must exercise judgment and initiative in identifying and resolving the daily problems and activities of the fiscal control system.  Work is performed in accordance with established finance procedures, local ordinances and North Carolina General Statutes governing the responsibilities of local government fiscal operations under the North Carolina Fiscal Control Act. The employee performs responsibilities with a degree of independence, receiving instruction and advice only on matters involving significant departure from established policy, assisting the Finance Director in any phase of the fiscal operations. Work is performed under the supervision of the Finance Director and is evaluated through conferences, performance appraisals, reports, and an independent audit of financial records.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks

  • Leads and participates in the preparation of accounts payable and payroll, general ledger, budgetary accounting, financial reporting, bank reconciliation, fixed assets, miscellaneous invoicing and related tasks; provides guidance as needed to staff engaged in accounting activities ensuring adherence to established policies, procedures, and standards; assists and advises subordinates, as necessary, resolving problems as non-routine situations arise.
  • Leads and assists with daily priorities for the operation of the accounting functions and activities for the office; guides workflow and adjustment of work among the staff as needed.
  • Provides back up for the payroll function including review and input of time sheets; generation of checks and payroll reports and records; ensures proper remittance of federal and state taxes; ensures payment of payroll vendors.
  • Provides back up for accounts payable and utility billing and Finance Specialist.
  •  Updates daily cash collections to general ledger; posts occupancy taxes; ensures updates to utility accounts for returned checks or bank drafts; may process bank drafts for utility accounts.
  • Analyzes, tabulates and completes a wide variety of state, federal and other records and reports; monitors capital and grant projects to ensure timely reimbursement requests are submitted and projects are closed out in a timely manner; performs grant accounting and administration.
  • Assists the Manager and Finance Director with budget development including revenue calculation from ad valorem tax valuations; prepares sample tax rate collections, projected payroll expenses, and provides other assistance as needed.
  • Assists other municipal departments with accounting related questions and procedures.
  • Interprets and enforces current fiscal policies and practices for the department.
  • Assembles statistical, tax, and accounting data on request.
  • Assists the auditors during the annual audit of the financial records.
  • Generates special reports and statements for management as requested.

Additional Job Duties

Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

  • Considerable knowledge of professional accounting concepts, principles, and practices as applied to local government.
  • Considerable knowledge of North Carolina General Statutes, laws, rules, regulations and of local ordinances governing Town financial practices and procedures.
  • Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of public finance administration and budgetary processes in the public sector.
  • Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of statistics with particular reference to their application to financial and operational activities.
  • Knowledge of the application of information technology especially as it related to financial packages, spreadsheets and related technology.
  • General knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the fields of governmental accounting and public finance administration.
  • Skill in collaborative conflict resolution and performance coaching and feedback.
  • Ability to plan, organize, assign and assist with the work of employees in the specialized field of accounting in an automated environment.
  • Ability to analyze and interpret financial and accounting records and complete financial statements from such records.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, department heads, governmental officials, and with other employees as necessitated by work assignments.
  • Ability to operate office technology.
  • Ability to express ideas effectively both orally and written.
  • Ability to prepare and submit accurate, clear, complete, and concise reports.

Physical Requirements

  • Must be able to perform the basic life operational skills of stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, lifting, fingering, talking, hearing, sitting, and repetitive motions.
  • Must be able to perform sedentary work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
  • Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and statistics, perform accounting tasks, do extensive reading, and operate a computer terminal.

Desirable Education and Experience

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in accounting including progressively responsible professional experience in public sector accounting and experience with spreadsheet software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

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Southport

2022