Accountant

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County Housing & Community Development is seeking an Accountant I to perform entry-level professional accounting tasks for grant and sub-award projects through the full lifecycle, ensuring accurate budgets and compliance. Under supervision, you will prepare journal entries, process reimbursements and vendor requisitions, and support the auditors with timely, accurate financial information.

The role requires knowledge of GAAP for governmental/non-profit entities, familiarity with grant

Qualifications

• GAAP knowledge for governmental and not-for-profit entities.
• Knowledge of grant requirements, especially 2 CFR 200 and HUD CDBG-DR regulations.
• Ability to plan, organize work, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and processes budget transfers and related transactions after review and approval by senior accountants or managers.
• Assists with the review and processing of reimbursement requests from the granting agency and prepares journal entries.
• Prepares and processes requisitions/POs for sub-recipient and vendor agreements in STARS.
• Performs reconciliations of budgetary and reimbursement information.
• Ensures all accounting transactions are supported with adequate description and documentation.
• Tracks progress of projects and ensures budgets are adhered to.
• Maintains in-house spreadsheets and logs supplemental to accounting systems.
• Coordinates with divisions and responds to information requests.
• Collaborates with Harris County Auditors and Purchasing for invoice coordination and postings.
• Assigns and uses account codes for programs, services, and funds; monitors procurement activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Grant management

Budgeting

Communication

Planning & organization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Associates degree in Accounting or Finance

High school diploma or GED equivalency

Tools

PeopleSoft

Pivot Tables

V-Lookup

MS Office

Job description

About Harris County Housing & Community Development:

Harris County Housing & Community Development provides life-enhancing projects and programs to residents of Harris County. Our services include spurring community investment through the provision of homebuying programs, partnering with community members and housing developers to build diverse housing options that uplift communities and offer other assistance that support community building. The position requires the performance of a wide variety of daily accounting duties and analyses associated with subrecipient contracts/agreements.

Accountant Overview:

Accountants in the Housing and Community Development Department are assigned with a variety of accounting duties associated with the control of grant and sub‑award project and program accounting and budgetary tracking during the full life cycle of each grant (HUD, FTA, FEMA). The Accountant I, performs entry‑level professional accounting work such as preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts and sub‑grantee budget reconciliations. The primary responsibilities of the Accountant I position includes the creation of contract‑based requisitions/purchase orders, the processing of sub‑recipient invoices that seek reimbursement of expenditures, and the processing of draws from the state and federal granting agencies while monitoring grant budgets. This position, under the guidance and supervision of senior accountants and managers, applies basic accounting principles and procedures.

This position requires a person who understands and can practice routine accounting for program and project activities, analyze the financial transactions in compliance with the contract and can provide general, but sound financial feedback and guidance to sub‑recipients in order to assist in ensuring compliance with grant restrictions and financial guidelines, regulations and statutes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Prepares and processes budget transfers and related transactions after review and approval by senior accountants or managers.

• Assists with the review and processing of reimbursement requests from the granting agency and prepares appropriate and necessary journal entries.

• Prepares and processes requisitions/POs for sub‑recipient and vendor agreements in STARS.

• Performs reconciliations of budgetary and reimbursement request information.

• Ensures all accounting transactions are supported with adequate description and support documentation.

• Tracks progress of projects and activities to ensure the accuracy of financial systems and ensure budgets are adhered to.

• Maintains various in-house spreadsheets and logs supplemental to the department's accounting systems.

• Coordinates with other divisions and responds to requests for information.

• Works with Harris County Auditors department counterparts to ensure accurate and timely invoice coordination and vendor credit/debit memo postings.

• Assigns and utilizes the various account code structure applications for a variety of programs, services, and fund types, working with Harris County Auditors and Purchasing departments to process and monitor procurement activities.

• Other duties as assigned.

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.

• Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail]. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college or university

OR

• Associates degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college or university

• Two (2) years of accounting/financial analyst experience

OR

• High school diploma or GED equivalency
• Four (4) years of accounting/financial analyst experience

Licensure:

• Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Thorough working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for governmental and not-for-profit entities
• Strong understanding and working knowledge of job/project ledger accounting and budgeting and its correlation to the general ledger
• Strong knowledge of grant requirements with an emphasis on knowledge of 2 CFR 200 and HUD CDBG-DR regulations
• Ability to plan and organize work, perform under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external sources and keep management informed

NOTE:

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with a large complex accounting system; preferably PeopleSoft.
• Experience with Pivot Tables and V-Lookup functions.

Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:

• Full-Time | Grant-funded
• Monday - Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Work Environment:

• The work is primarily sedentary with occasional required travel to training events or meetings.
• The job is performed in a professional office environment.
• No special safety precautions are required.

Physical Demands:

• This is primarily a sedentary role; however, working with files is required.
• This would require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds and bend and stand as necessary.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.