Accountant 1

County of Northampton; Easton (Northampton County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Northampton seeks an Accountant 1 - Fiscal to perform accounting and budget transactions, analyze records, and prepare reports for internal and external agencies. The role requires applying government accounting principles and ERP systems to ensure accuracy and compliance across multiple programs.

The position reports to a supervisory accounting or administrative officer and may involve interfacing with various county offices.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of accounting methods, techniques, and requirements in governmental financial systems.
• Knowledge of budget development principles and practices for government.
• Ability to prepare statistical, accounting, and financial statements.

Responsibilities

• Maintains ledgers, AP/AR, and other fiscal systems in compliance with laws and procedures.
• Establishes and implements billing for user agencies, contractors, grantors, and reimbursements.
• Reconciles accounts and approves or recommends payroll and vendor payments.
• Reviews budget submissions for accuracy, completeness, and justification for changes to base data.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Budget development

Financial statement preparation

ERP experience

Computer proficiency

Education

Associates degree with 21 accounting credits

Bachelor's degree with 21 accounting credits

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Equal Employment Opportunities - It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Accountant 1 - Fiscal position, under direction and supervision, performs accounting and budget transactions, and analyzes and reports accounting records for assigned programs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to a supervisory accounting or administrative position, or a higher-level accounting position.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

• Maintains general ledgers, accounts payable and/or receivable and other accounting or fiscal systems while ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, and established accounting control procedures.
• Establishes and implements billing systems for user agencies, contractors, grantor agencies, Federal and/or state reimbursement, and similar sources of revenue.
• Reconciles accounts, reviews and approves or recommends approval of payroll, vendor, and other payments.
• Reviews budget submissions from operating offices, analyzing same for conformance to instructions, completeness of information, explanation, and justification for changes to base data. Works with and assists submitting official to ensure clarity and completeness of submission.
• Compiles and enters budget data into computer system. Identifies spending trends and other budget issues and notifies higher-level accounting or administrative officials of such findings.
• Assists staff in operating offices in using established computer systems for maintaining accounting records.
• Prepares reports for internal use and submission to other County and/or Court offices, and state and Federal agencies.
• May assist lower level technical and/or clerical positions with posting transactions, balancing ledgers, and performing similar functions. Ensures completeness and accuracy of such work, and provides advice and assistance on particular issues. Keeps higher-level personnel informed of problems encountered.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associates degree, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester credit hours in professional accounting courses, which may include courses in municipal or government accounting; AND At least three (3) years of full-time professional public sector work experience utilizing accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience. Examples of such work experience would include public sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester credit hours in professional accounting courses, which may include courses in municipal or government accounting; AND At least one (1) year of full-time professional public sector work experience utilizing accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience. Examples of such work experience would include public sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of accounting methods, techniques, and requirements commonly employed in governmental financial systems.
• Knowledge of accounting goals, objectives, principles, and practices pertaining to budget development and administration.
• Basic knowledge of Federal and state accounting procedures governing participation in governmental fiscal programs.
• Ability to prepare statistical, accounting, and financial statements.
• Ability to learn specific accounting methods, techniques, and requirements governing governmental financial systems.
• Ability to operate a personal computer to enter information into and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database, and graphics programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, officials in operating offices, and others involved in accounting and budget work.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

• Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in different work site locations.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

• Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.
• The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA EXEMPT (NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME) DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE PAY GRADE: CS/GR22 UNION STATUS: NON-UNION

Updated September 2026