Accountant

Philadelphia Housing Authority; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Philadelphia Housing Authority seeks an Accountant under the supervision of the Manager - Accounting to record, process, and report accounting records and technical transactions; reviews and reconciles records, and provides customer service within scope of authority.

The role covers general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, revenue, grants, and payroll, with budget monitoring and adherence to HUD and PHA standards in a public agency setting in Philadelphia.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; AND one year of accounting experience with a public sector agency; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• State and Federal statutes, codes, and regulations governing public sector accounting functions; Public sector accounting, budgeting, purchasing, and payroll policies and procedures; Generally Accepted Accounting and Auditing Principles for public sector financial administration; HUD programs and regulations; Methods, procedures, and standards for Public Housing record keeping and records management.

Responsibilities

• Performs standard accounting duties according to PHA policies and HUD regulations; records transactions and resolves accounting issues within scope of authority; reports discrepancies and anomalies; Reviews and approves documents and posts accounting entries; handles general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, revenue, grants & special fund accounting, assets, cash receipts, and payroll.
• Reviews source documents for compliance to rules and regulations; determines proper handling of financial and technical transactions; checks documents for validity and accuracy; processes, records, files and distributes related paperwork; enters data into computer systems and maintains database; monitors budgets and expenditures; codes and analyzes special fund transactions; evaluates special fund financial transactions for compliance with funding agency requirements and PHA policies and standards; maintains confidentiality and handles customer information.

Skills

Public sector accounting

GAAP for public sector

Financial data entry

Mathematical accuracy

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; OR equivalent

Job description

Under supervision of the Manager - Accounting, performs a variety of standard accounting and account management duties, including the recording, processing, and reporting of accounting records and technical transactions; reviews and reconciles records, and provides customer service within scope of authority.

The salary range for this position is $53,659 - $67,073 annually. Placement at any specific point within the stated range is not guaranteed for any candidate. Final compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, and skills, as well as internal equity and organizational considerations.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; AND one year of accounting experience with a public sector agency; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Required Knowledge of:

State and Federal statutes, codes, and regulations governing public sector accounting functions; Public sector accounting, budgeting, purchasing, and payroll policies and procedures; Generally Accepted Accounting and Auditing Principles for public sector financial administration; Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and regulations; Methods, procedures, and standards for Public Housing record keeping and records management.

Required Skill in:

Understanding and applying state and Federal accounting rules and regulations and PHA policies; Reviewing, correcting and updating financial information; Reviewing and verifying mathematical calculations; Reviewing accounting records, and verifying compliance with PHA standards; Maintaining accurate accounting records, and identifying and reconciling errors; Entering data with high levels of accuracy and productivity; Interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds; Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers; Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software; Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

A valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Driver's License may be required.

Specialized training in HUD accounting regulations may be required for some incumbents.

Responsibilities

• Performs standard accounting duties according to PHA policies and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations; records transactions and resolves accounting issues within scope of authority; job duties will vary according to work assignment; Examines accounting documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with Federal, state, and PHA policies; researches and reports discrepancies and anomalies; Reviews and approves documents, and posts accounting entries; performs other technical accounting activities, including general ledger, accounts payable & receivable, revenue, grants & special fund accounting, assets, cash receipts, and payroll; Reviews source documents for compliance to rules and regulations; determines proper handling of financial and technical transactions within designated limits; checks documents for validity and accuracy of information; processes, records, files, and distributes related paperwork; Enters data into computer systems, and maintains database; reviews, reconciles, investigates, and corrects errors and inconsistencies in entries, transactions, documents, and reports; Reviews accounts, and maintains the accuracy of the accounting, financial, and technical records and databases; monitors budgets and expenditures; Codes and analyzes special fund transactions; evaluates special fund financial transactions for compliance with funding agency requirements and PHA policies and standards; Analyzes, updates, and researches records and files of expenditures, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, technical accounting systems, and business transactions; Provides information and assistance to PHA staff, assists customers with account information and policies, responds to requests for information within the span of authority; Collects financial and administrative information and compiles data for reports; prepares and distributes operational and special reports; identifies and researches accounting issues; Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and PHA information; performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

About the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)

Established in 1937, and with an employment workforce of over 1,100, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is a municipal agency providing public housing services to over 76,000 residents in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Financial support for Authority operations and capital needs comes primarily from rent payments and subsidies provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). PHA is one of a very select group of housing authorities across the nation that has attained Moving to Work (MTW) status. This designation allows housing agencies the opportunity and flexibility, on a local level, to develop and implement innovative housing and self-sufficiency strategies to benefit public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) participants.

PHA is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of individual qualifications without regard to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, pregnancy, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religion, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.