Accountant I - Payroll

Oak Harbor Financial Inc; Oak Harbor (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Oak Harbor seeks an Accountant to perform intermediate professional analytical and accounting duties. You will prepare financial reports for WA BARS and GASB, manage ledgers, and support capital projects with guidance from the Finance Department.

Responsibilities include monthly reconciliations, budget updates, and assisting in the annual audit. Collaboration with City officials and staff is essential in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing GAAP-compliant financial reports for governmental entities.
• Knowledge of Washington State BARS and GASB standards.
• Experience with capital assets, project accounting and grant management.
• Strong internal controls, reconciliations, and financial reporting skills.
• Ability to coordinate with City departments and auditors.

Responsibilities

• Collect, prepare, and analyze complex reports for Federal, State, and local agencies in GAAP and GASB compliance.
• Assist with the City’s annual financial report to the State Auditor, including balance sheet and fund statements.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for critical functions; test SOPs for accuracy and adequacy.
• Balance journal entries at the fund level and distribute financial reports to City users.
• Coordinate budgeting activities, biennial budget updates, and capital improvement planning.
• Participate in the audit team during the annual State Auditor’s Office audit and respond to auditor requests.
• Administer the chart of accounts and the City’s ERP software; set up new accounts as needed.
• Reconcile cash accounts monthly and retain proper documentation.
• Support training and cross-training of department and city staff.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

GASB standards

Budgeting & reporting

Financial analysis

Internal controls

Tools

BARS

ERP software

General ledger

Accounts payable system

Job description

Join our City of Oak Harbor team to help build a legacy of commitment to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in our vibrant waterfront community.

Description

This position performs a variety of intermediate-level professional analytical and accounting functions, including the preparation of financial reports required by the State of Washington (including the Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS) and State Auditor’s Office requirements) and by City ordinance, resolution, or policy. Coordinates the maintenance and production of accounting reports and records and ensures compliance with established accounting procedures and practices. Uses the City’s financial systems to ensure the accuracy of financial information and works as part of a team serving internal and external customers.

Essential Job Functions

• Collect, coordinate, prepare, research, and analyze a variety of complex reports for Federal, State and local agencies, and the City while ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, and the Washington State BARS manual. Perform professional accounting services such as general ledger, internal controls, accounting system setup and functionality, capital assets, project accounting, and grant management and reporting. Perform professional financial services in matters such as City budget, long-term capital planning and capital improvement planning development, balancing, and reporting; accounts payable; and various special projects, as assigned.
• Within this Classification series, an Accountant will be assigned primarily to one of the areas below; however, all Accountants work closely, and responsibilities may overlap. For backup and succession planning purposes all accountants will be operating as part of a team to ensure that the work of critical activities and functions are able to be done by a minimum of two (2) employees in the Finance Department; cross‑training on tasks is a vital and necessary component of this position.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City officials, department heads, co‑workers, supervisors, and the public; use good judgment to respond to inquiries and resolve concerns in a positive and timely manner with tact and courtesy, sometimes under stressful situations.
• Coordinate, prepare and/or assist with the City’s Annual Financial Report submitted to the State Auditor’s Office, including statements such as the balance sheet; statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance; budgetary comparison statement; statement of cash flows; statement of net position; and statement of activities. Prepare other financial schedules, spreadsheets, and financial projections during the year to support annual report requirements.
• Develop and maintain current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with step‑by‑step instructions for critical functions; test SOPs periodically to ensure they are accurate and adequate.
• Collect, prepare, post, and retain monthly journal entries. Balance journal entries at the fund level and distribute financial reports to City users.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports for the Finance Director, Boards, and City Council including, but not limited to budget variance, finance status, general ledger, and project accounting and progress reports.
• Reconcile all City cash accounts to the general ledger monthly. Retain reconciliations and bank records in orderly fashion.
• Assist the Finance Director and City Staff in the development and update of the Long‑term Capital Plan and assist other departments with the development and update of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
• Set up and maintain project accounting on multi‑year projects and serve as a resource to project managers for financial reporting and tracking.
• Participate as a member of the audit team during the City’s annual audit by the Washington State Auditor’s Office; prepare reconciliations and supporting schedules and respond to auditor requests.
• Administer and maintain the City’s chart of accounts in conformance with BARS; set up new accounts and maintain the account structure in the City’s financial software.
• Assist the Finance Director and City Staff with the development of the biennial budget, mid‑biennial budget update, budget amendments, budget adjustments, and researching budget variances.
• Audit departmental, finance, sales tax, and business license accounts for discrepancies as needed, as requested by Department Directors, or as part of annual verification.
• Participate on the team that manages access to, maintains, and upgrades the City’s financial and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
• Maintain retention schedule and archives for finance documentation. Apply Washington State Archives local government records retention schedules (including CORE).
• Serve as a financial resource to other City departments and perform duties such as preparing revenue and expense statements, reconciling general ledger accounts, preparing journal entries to record financial transactions, and researching budgetary variances.
• Assist in day‑to‑day training and coaching and be a resource to department and city staff.
• Cross‑train with other departmental staff on accounting and finance duties.
• Perform the duties of the assigned program area.

Program Assignments

Responsibilities

While the core responsibilities of the Accountant position remain the same, each Accountant may be assigned specific program areas of focus:

• Program Assignment – Accounts Payable
  • Serve as the City’s accounts payable specialist, validate requests and issue accounts payable checks; process void/re‑issue checks as necessary.
  • Initiate timely transfer of bank funds for A/P procedures.
  • Request and maintain W-9 information for vendors and issue year‑end 1099. Determine necessity of Washington sales/use tax for out‑of‑state purchases. Verify correct sales tax for independent contractors. Check if vendor has a City business license.
  • Maintain schedule of accounts payable check runs for management and City Council approval. Prepare, enter, and process high‑volume of invoices, check processing, ACH payment processing, scanning, reconciling statements