Accountant

City of Aurora; South Dakota; On-site; USD 57,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Aurora is seeking a qualified government accounting professional to join the Controller’s Office in the Finance Department, with emphasis on financial reporting and internal controls. The role supports preparation of the ACFR and assists in auditor inquiries.

Requirements include an associate degree in accounting (bachelor’s preferred) and at least 1 year of relevant accounting experience, with strong spreadsheet and database skills. This is an on-site position in Aurora, CO.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting or related field is required.
• At least 1 year of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting standards and financial reporting.
• Strong skills with spreadsheets, word processing, and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation of the city Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Assist in responding to external auditor inquiries and questions.
• Prepare journal entries, work papers, statements, and schedules for supervisory review.
• Reconcile and analyze fund and account activity.
• Prepare statements and schedules for supervisory review.
• Assist in development and completion of accounting system updates/testing.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Spreadsheet design

Macro creation

Database programming

Word processing software

Data entry accuracy

Education

Associate degree in accounting

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

Accounting software systems

Spreadsheet software

Job description

JOB LOCATION 15151 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555 City of Aurora, Colorado It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora?

Make a difference in the lives of real people every day Diverse community Competitive total compensation package Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan Light rail station minutes away On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience The salary range is $57,211 - $71,513 annually. The deadline to submit applications is November 6th, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

Overview of Department / Position: Performs a variety of governmental accounting functions associated with the analysis, maintenance, and audit of assigned funds and accounts for the Controller’s Office in the Finance Department. The Controller’s Office is responsible for accounting and financial reporting, vendor and employee payments, grant management assistance and internal financial controls. We strive to be good stewards of public resources and public trust by providing timely, accurate and professional financial services to both our internal and external customers.

• Assists in the preparation of the city Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) used by all level of management, bond rating agencies, investors, and citizens.
• Assists in responding to external auditor inquiries and questions.
• Prepares journal entries, work papers, statements, and schedules for supervisory review and reviews those prepared by other staff.
• Reconciles and analyzes fund and account activity.
• Prepares statements and schedules for supervisory review.
• Prepares and analyzes reports and projections for management review.
• Identifies, researches, and resolves problems and issues, assists in developing controls and provides recommendations to improve accounting processes.
• Develops work goals and objectives.
• Prioritizes work and meets schedules and deadlines.
• Assists in completion of special projects.
• Assists in the implementation of authoritative pronouncements.
• May assist in directing and reviewing the work of accounting staff.
• Reconciles accounts monthly and prepares journal entries for assigned funds.
• Creates fund schedules for the annual audit.
• Assists other accountants, as necessary, in a variety of tasks including general ledger analysis, preparation of journal entries, creation of audit work papers, and reconciliation of bank accounts.
• Assists in development and completion of accounting system software update testing.
• Performs other related 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. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

• Education: Associate degree in accounting (or related field).
• Experience: At least 1 year of progressively responsible accounting experience in a large organization.
• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Governmental accounting or auditing experience preferred.
• Knowledge: Demonstrate good knowledge of the principles, practices, and requirements of accounting, governmental accounting standards, auditing practices, and computer based accounting systems.
• Skills: Strong interpersonal and analytical skills. Skills in the use of computers including spreadsheet design and macro creation, database programming, and word processing software applications. Skill entering information efficiently and accurately using a keyboard into software programs; gaining knowledge of financial accounting system.
• Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees. Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Accurately analyze accounting data and information; perform a variety of mathematical calculations. Prioritize work. Schedule and meet deadlines.

WORKING CONDITIONS Essential Personnel: When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel. Physical Demands: Light physical work requiring the ability to lift 10 pounds with or without assistance. Occasional lifting and carrying of objects, walking, and standing. Vision for reading and interpreting reports and other written materials. Frequent hand/eye coordination for operation of computer, calculator, and ten key. Clear speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with department personnel and citizens. Work Environment: Works in a clean, comfortable environment. Equipment Used: Personal computer and standard office equipment including a 10-key calculator. This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment. The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission. Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired. Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others. Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.

Notice Regarding Colorado Identification Document Protections (HB26‑1283) As part of the employment eligibility verification process, the city of Aurora may request government-issued identification documents as permitted by law. Original identification documents will be reviewed only as necessary for employment eligibility verification and will not be retained longer than permitted by law. Applicants will retain possession and control of their original identification documents except for any temporary retention permitted or required by law.

Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity Respect Professionalism Customer Service And we welcome all who share these values to apply. Why Work for Aurora? Rewarding public sector work impacting a large and diverse community Growing city and employee population Competitive total compensation package Rich benefits package with low employee costs Generous paid leave program 100% funded Employee and Family Care Leave Program Retirement pension plan and 457b plans available Subsidized recreation center pass, on-site fitness centers and wellness programs Continued education and career advancement opportunities Learn more about city of Aurora benefits

Notice Regarding Automated Processing and Fraud Prevention As part of our recruiting and application security processes, we may use automated tools and technologies to help detect fraudulent activity, protect applicant accounts, and support the administration of employment applications. These tools may collect and process information associated with your application activity, including: Number of job requisitions applied to External application session duration Geolocation country code IP address Device/browser fingerprinting information (including JA4 fingerprint data) This information may be used by Workday’s Fraudulent Job Application Prevention capabilities to generate an application risk or fraud assessment score. These tools are designed to support application security, fraud prevention, and recruiting operations and may be considered during the processing or review of applications. Meaningful human review remains part of our hiring and recruiting process. For additional information regarding our processing of applicant information, please review our Privacy Notice or contact [e-mail].

Please show all your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application. Leaving blanks or omitting previous employment may result in your disqualification from employment. City policy requires that selected candidates provide documentation in the form of official transcripts of the highest level of education attained by the candidate that is listed on their application materials. Applicants who hold a Commercial Driver’s License will also be required to undergo alcohol testing using an Evidential Breath Testing Device. The city of Aurora uses E-Verify to determine if employees are legally eligible to work in the United States. Know your rights! The city of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. No applicant for employment or employee shall be discriminated against because of age, race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability or military status. The city shall develop and maintain a plan for diversity. Through its staff, the city shall periodically analyze its employment related practices and its plan for diversity to ensure compliance with this policy. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation for completing this application, please feel free to contact our office at: 303.739.7225 or visit us at 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., Suite 3500, Aurora, CO 80012.