Accountant I ~ Accounting Coordinator

Town of North Topsail Beach; North Topsail Beach (NC); On-site; USD 44,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of North Topsail Beach is seeking qualified candidates for either Accountant I or Accounting Coordinator in the Finance Division. The role supports accounts payable, general ledger, journal entries, and month-end close, with attention to budgeting and compliance matters.

The town emphasizes accuracy, confidentiality, and timely reporting, offering opportunities to work with payroll, audits, and grant-related financial work in municipal government.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting or finance or related field.
• Two years of financial experience preferred for some roles.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles and practices.
• Proficiency with Excel and financial-management software.

Responsibilities

• Process accounts payable and maintain general ledger accuracy.
• Prepare, enter, and review journal entries and balance budget codes.
• Assist month-end close activities and related worksheets.
• Support payroll processing and various reporting requirements.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Excel

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication

Confidentiality

Multitasking

Education

Associate degree in accounting

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

Tools

QuickBooks

FMS

ADP

SAP

Job description

North Topsail Beach, NC (Pop.1.1K - 33K seasonally) has an opening for one individual to serve in the Finance Division to fulfill the requirements for an Accountant I or Accounting Coordinator position, appointment to either classification will be based on the qualifications of the applicant.

The Finance Division is responsible for all fiscal, purchasing and budgetary matters of the town. These positions are responsible for accounts payable, General Ledger, preparing, entering, reviewing journal entries; verifying that the general ledger for all budget codes is balanced and making necessary adjustments. The position assists the Finance Director in month-end close activities; ensures compliance with applicable town, state fiscal and procurement policies, assists in the preparation of worksheets related to Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets, and the Annual Single Audit, debt schedules, and payroll processing. May attend Public Meetings: preparing material, providing presentations, for Boards, Commissions, and Committees.

Accounting Coordinator

Salary Range: $44,166 to $68,457

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• 1+ years of accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, or related experience
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles and practices.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting or financial-management software.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, customers, vendors, and management.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of financial experience in a municipal or county government
• Experience with, QuickBooks / FMS / ADP / SAP / other system
• Experience with account reconciliations and month-end close procedures.
• Experience supporting payroll accounting.
• Experience working in a regulated or compliance-focused environment.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.

Accountant I ~

Salary Range: $59,186 to $91,738

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of financial experience in a municipal or county government
• Five years of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or related field
• Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles
• Processes purchase requisitions and purchase orders
• Prepares complex journal entries
• Prepares debt payment schedules, post-issuance and arbitrage compliance and the debt management section of the Town’s annual budget document
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing technology and learn new software systems
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to perform independent research and develop recommendations
• Class C Driver’s License
• Must be bondable.

Preferred Qualifications

• North Carolina CPA certification
• Thorough knowledge of NC Local Government bidding and contracting
• Considerable knowledge of NC General Statues, NCDOT contracting requirements, AIA documents, and Federal Grant Guidelines
• Certified Local Government Purchasing Officer (CLGPO) designation OR the ability to earn this level certification within 2 years of hire
• Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation OR the ability to earn this level certification within 2 years of hire
• Experience with consolidating financial information for annual audit
• Experience preparing Powell Bill reports, filing annual sales tax refund requests, and completing payroll report forms 941, 941B and NC-5Q
• Experience with managing the accounting of Town insurance claims and workers’ compensation
• Experience with managing surplus property, capitalization of fixed assets and calculating depreciation
• Experience with preparing and monitoring grant financial documents and reports
• Experience with payroll systems and the payroll/timekeeping functions, related reports, able to resolve issues with the payroll system and employee pay; able to implement various deductions, contributions, disbursements, execution and remittance of taxes, levies, and garnishments

Application Deadline: Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and the job posting may close once a suitable candidate has been identified.

The Town of North Topsail Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We value diversity and inclusion and strive to create a workplace where everyone is treated with respect and has an equal opportunity to succeed.

For more information or confidential questions, contact Alexis Stanfield, Town Clerk/HR Officer at [phone].

Public Records Disclosure: Please be aware that application materials may be subject to public disclosure under North Carolina’s Public Records Law (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132).