Accountant III

Overview

This is advanced professional accounting work in the creation, analysis, and audit of financial records. Work involves the application of accounting principles to financial records, the establishment and maintenance of fiscal systems, and the installation of systems changes, as well as serving as liaison between the Finance Department and other City departments and external parties, providing assistance in financial matters, and ensuring that budgetary policies are observed.

An employee in this classification exercises considerable independence in the performance of duties, supervises a number of professional and clerical subordinates, and receives general supervision from a superior. Work often requires a high level of judgment and discretion, is subject to limited review, and has a major impact on City policy. Individuals in this classification may serve as the assistant manager or in a leadership role in the accounting, budget, or revenue divisions.

• Selects, hires, trains, schedules, assigns, supervises, and evaluates subordinates.
• Participates in operational cost studies of City departments to determine projected revenues available for capital improvements and to evaluate fees charged by the City.
• Performs year-end functions such as opening, closing, and adjusting entries to determine the City’s financial position.
• Prepares or reviews financial statistics, schedules, and statements to provide data used in City bond sales.
• Monitors and prepares or reviews financial statements for each fund in the budget, summarizing revenues, expenditures, and fund balances as required by the City Charter.
• Coordinates the composition, printing, and distribution of the annual budget book and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
• Serves on committees to ensure that statutes, ordinances, regulations, and general accounting standards are observed.
• Conducts continuous audits of accounts and financial records of City departments, reviews procedures and methods for compliance with City charter provisions, ordinances, and departmental and federal guidelines, and monitors expenditures to ensure that budgetary constraints are observed.
• Investigates discrepancies in accounting and other internal system deficiencies, makes recommendations for resolutions, and prepares statements and reports of audit findings.
• Compiles and calculates data in the preparation of departmental reports and prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.
• Records various journal entries in assigned funds and departments, which may include chargebacks, payroll, benefits, accruals, deferrals, encumbrances, and other correcting entries.
• Manages city bond needs and directs issuances to ensure proper cash flow.
• Implements new General Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and consistently applies existing standards.
• Prepares Statement of Net Positions, Statement of Activities, Balance Sheets, and Statement of Revenues and Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances, GAAP to Budget basis, and entity-wide financial statements for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
• Compiles information and prepares financial footnotes for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
• Coordinates the annual independent audit, providing records and offering explanations of entries and calculations.
• Prepares financial reports and operating statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
• Presents information and recommendations as a subject matter expert to a variety of City departments, outside authorities, elected officials, and the community to better analyze and develop solutions for internal and external customers.
• Leads the development of the annual proposed executive budget for assigned City departments’ operating and capital budgets, including recommendations for service levels, expenditures, funded positions, performance measures, and funding strategies.
• Facilitates the annual budget preparation process, which includes developing timelines and templates, coordinating submissions from departments, and being responsible for preparation of intermediate materials for executive-level review.
• Assists the Finance…