Accountant

Beaufort County South Carolina; Beaufort (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Beaufort County Council's Finance Department seeks qualified Accountants at I, II, or III level to support financial reporting, general ledger reconciliations, asset management, and audits. Roles scale by level with increasing responsibilities, including ACFR preparation for Accountant III and GASB standards compliance.

All applicants are subject to background checks; Beaufort County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
• Accountant I: no prior professional accounting experience required; willingness to learn governmental standards.
• Accountant II: minimum three years of governmental or fund accounting experience.
• Accountant III: minimum five years of governmental accounting experience.

Responsibilities

• Reconcile general ledger, balance sheet, and investment accounts.
• Maintain and verify inventory records of County-owned capital assets.
• Conduct internal audits of departmental asset inventories to ensure policy compliance.
• Prepare and post journal entries in accordance with GAAP and County policies.
• Assist with year-end close and support external audit processes.
• Ensure proper tracking, documentation, and disposal of capital assets.
• Generate timely and accurate financial statements and reports for internal and external use.
• Review budget-to-actual performance and explain variances.
• Support GASB statements implementation, including GASB 87 and 96.
• Identify and resolve financial discrepancies; recommend corrective actions.
• Lead or support ACFR compilation (Accountant III).
• Provide technical guidance to County departments and finance staff (Accountant III).
• Assist in implementing complex GASB standards (Accountant III).

Skills

Governmental accounting knowledge

GAAP knowledge

Audit support

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration

Job description

Accountant I, II, or III

Beaufort County is seeking qualified and motivated professionals to join our Finance Department as Accountants at the I, II, or III level. These technical roles are essential to the financial operations of the County and contribute to effective fiscal stewardship, compliance with applicable laws and standards, and the integrity of the County’s financial reporting systems. Assignments will be based on experience and qualifications, with advancement opportunities available through demonstrated performance and leadership.

Duties may vary by level and may include, but are not limited to:

• Reconcile general ledger, balance sheet, and investment accounts.
• Maintain and verify inventory records of County-owned capital assets.
• Conduct internal audits of departmental asset inventories to ensure compliance with policy.
• Prepare and post journal entries in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and County financial policies.
• Assist with year-end close and support external audit processes.
• Ensure proper tracking, documentation, and disposal of capital assets.
• Generate timely and accurate financial statements and reports for internal and external use.
• Review budget-to-actual performance and assist in identifying and explaining variances.
• Support the implementation of applicable Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statements, including GASB 87 and 96.
• Identify and resolve financial discrepancies; recommend corrective actions.

• Accountant III only:

  • Lead or support the compilation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
  • Provide technical guidance to County departments and finance staff.
  • Assist in the implementation of complex Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards.

Accountant I – Entry Level

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration.
• No prior professional accounting experience required.
• Knowledge of accounting principles and willingness to learn governmental standards.

Accountant II – Intermediate Level

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration.
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in governmental or fund accounting.
• Working knowledge of applicable Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Experience preparing reports, performing reconciliations, and supporting audits.

Accountant III – Senior Level

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting.
• Demonstrated expertise in compiling financial statements and ACFR preparation.
• In-depth understanding of complex Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards and capital asset management.
• Ability to lead projects and provide guidance to other financial personnel.

All applicants tentatively selected for a position with Beaufort County Council will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for the illegal use of drugs and to a background check prior to appointment. Employment is contingent upon clearing both the drug screening and background investigation. Beaufort County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.