Accountant

DeKalb County Government; Sycamore (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IMRF pension plan

Paid time off

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Wellness program

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

DeKalb County Government is seeking an Accountant to join the Finance Department. This role involves owning ledgers, analyzing numbers, and ensuring accurate, transparent finances in a governmental setting.

You will work with the Comptroller and partners across departments, audits, and vendors to support budgets, grants, and annual financial reporting. The position emphasizes maintaining GAAP/GASB adherence, preparing journal entries, analyzing variances, assisting with payroll, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or 4 years of accounting experience.
• At least 2 years of professional accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, and fund accounting.
• Strong Excel skills (formulas, pivot tables, lookups).
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and ability to explain financial information to non-financial colleagues.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Keep the books accurate by maintaining and reconciling general ledger and subsidiary accounts, and prepare journal entries per GAAP/GASB.
• Analyze revenues/expenditures, identify variances, and prepare monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Support grants by preparing grant financial reports and tracking spending for compliance.
• Assist with budget development by providing analyses and forecasts.
• Serve as audit point of contact and prepare schedules/documentation for audits.
• Strengthen accounting policies and internal controls, and train staff on financial software.
• Provide payroll and claims support, assist with biweekly payroll, and process claims.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Advanced Excel

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Deadline-driven

Discretion with confidential info

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or progress toward CPA

Tools

BS&A financial software

Job description

Put your accounting skills to work for your community

DeKalb County Government is hiring an Accountant to join our Finance Department. This is professional governmental accounting work, not just data entry. You'll own assigned ledgers and funds, analyze the numbers, and help make sure the County's finances are accurate, transparent, and well controlled.

You'll work directly with the Comptroller and be a trusted partner to departments, auditors, and vendors. Your work supports budgets, grants, and audits that fund services residents count on every day.

What you'll do

• Keep the books accurate. Maintain and reconcile assigned general ledger and subsidiary accounts, decide the proper accounting treatment for transactions, and prepare journal entries in line with GAAP and GASB standards.
• Analyze and report. Monitor revenues and expenditures, spot variances and unusual activity, recommend corrective action, and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Support grants. Prepare grant financial reports, track grant spending for compliance, and guide departments that administer federal and State awards.
• Help shape the budget. Prepare analyses and forecasts used by the Comptroller, department heads, and the County Board during budget development.
• Be the audit point of contact. Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation for the annual audit and the County's annual financial report, and help resolve questions from our auditors.
• Strengthen our processes. Help develop and maintain accounting policies and internal controls, recommend improvements, and train colleagues on the financial software.
• Provide payroll and claims support. Assist with biweekly payroll, serve as payroll backup, and process claims under the County's liability program.

What you bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field (or four years of progressively responsible accounting experience in place of a degree); Prior experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• At least two years of professional accounting experience
• Working knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, and fund accounting
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills (formulas, pivot tables, lookups)
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-financial colleagues
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines and handle confidential information with discretion

Preferred

• Governmental or fund accounting experience
• CPA, or progress toward CPA eligibility
• Experience with grant accounting, including Single Audit requirements
• Experience supporting an audit or preparing an annual comprehensive financial report
• Experience with BS&A financial software

Why DeKalb County

• Work with purpose. Your work helps keep the County's finances sound and its services funded.
• Real responsibility. You'll use your judgment, own your work, and work closely with senior finance leadership.
• Professional growth. Continuing education and training are supported.
• A stable, regular schedule. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some extra hours during budget preparation and audit season.
• County benefits: IMRF pension plan, paid time off, health insurance (employer pays 75% of premiums), dental insurance (employer pays 75% of premiums), vision insurance, employer-paid life insurance, wellness program, Eligible for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

DeKalb County is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as required by law.