Senior Accountant/Budget Analyst

General Statement of Duties
COKM Finance Department has an opening for a Senior Accountant/Budget Analyst. The position performs professional accounting work and supports the maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls designed to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the City’s reported financial results, and ensure that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles. The position will be heavily involved in preparing, monitoring and maintaining annual and project budgets in compliance with applicable General Statutes and best practices.

The successful candidate possesses an understanding of the statutory and regulatory accounting (GASB, GAAP) and budgeting requirements for N. C. local government practices and financial reporting, as well as the ability to analyze, document and recommend effective budgeting and business processes that meet both departmental needs and operational controls. Candidate must excel at problem solving and troubleshooting irregularities in transactional processing, enjoy working in a collaborative team environment, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Distinguishing Features of the Class
The employee will be the primary contact regarding preparation, monitoring, and amending as necessary the City’s annual and project budgets. An employee in this class also performs and or supervises general ledger, accounts payable or other fiscally related functions in the finance office. Work involves applying established accounting procedures, principles and basic fund accounting to the review and processing of accounting and fiscal documents. Work is characterized by the use of accounting ledgers, registers, statements and other fiscal documents. Independent judgement and initiative are required in the performance of duties. Work is performed under the supervision of the Financial Services Officer or his assignee and is evaluated through conferences, accuracy and completeness of records and books and by independent audit of financial records.
Duties and Responsibilities
Examines records and makes comparisons with the work activities to ensure proper recording of transactions and compliance with statutory and policy requirements.

• Prepares and enters monthly entries to the general ledger system;

• Prepares budgetary reports for department heads

• Actively takes the lead in assisting departments with any financial/budgetary reports they may be required on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis;

• Prepares and or reviews monthly bank reconciliations;

• Prepares special reports such as gas, excise tax, sales tax and others as requested;

• Maintains primary responsibility for the preparation of the annual budget;

• Prepares/reviews and ensures compliance on federal/state financial reports and grants monthly, quarterly and annually.

• Assists in designing, implementing, and maintain effective internal controls regarding financial accounting and reporting;

• Leads the preparation of department budget, City’s annual operating and capital budgets, monitors expenditures and prepares budget adjustments.

• Prepares year end closing entries.

• Communicates with and advises department heads and other departmental staff of budget or expenditure problems.

• Verifies accuracy of detail in journals; adjusts, closes and balances accounts and funds.

• Interprets and enforces current fiscal policies and practices for the department.

• Makes journal entries, adjustments and corrections into accounting system

• Assembles statistical and accounting data on request.

• Assists the auditors during the annual audit of financial records.

• Generates reports, statements and financial analysis.

• Other special projects as requested by the Financial Services Officer.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
A successful candidate should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of financial systems analysis, governmental accounting, and auditing.
Considerable knowledge of local and state legislation governing the maintenance of municipal financial records.
Considerable knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
Ability to recommend improvements in accounting and financial procedures.
Ability to detect deviations from established procedures and requirements.
Ability to prepare clear and accurate financial reports.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees.

Physical Requirements
Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of reaching, fingering, hearing, talking 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 frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects; must possess the visual acuity to prepare data and statistics, work with accounting processes, operate a computer terminal and do extensive reading.

Desirable Education and Experience
Graduation from college with major course work in accounting or related field and at least five years of accounting experience. Prefer experience in governmental accounting and budgeting.
A higher education level or professional certifications may be considered as a substitution for all or part of the experience requirement. An equivalent combination of educational and experience may be considered.

Hiring Range: $58,000 -- $65,000, depending on experience