Accountant IV (Office of Departmental Financial Services)

Government Jobs; Michigan; On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Michigan seeks an Accountant IV to manage and analyze financial data, prepare reports, and ensure compliance with accounting standards. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in accounting, skills in financial reporting, and at least four years of experience, including team leadership.

Qualifications

• Education must include 24 credits in accounting and statistics.
• Proficiency in integrated word processing and spreadsheet functions required.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex accounting functions consistent with accounting standards.
• Prepare, examine, and analyze financial statements.
• Conduct audits and tax examinations as needed.

Skills

Accounting principles

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Tax examination techniques

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Job description

Overview

Be a Part of the City You Love! The Office of the Chief Financial Officer - ODFS Public Infrastructure division is accepting applications for an Accountant IV position.

Position Summary

The Accountant class performs professional accounting work requiring application of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards. Accountants in this class complete or oversee a variety of professional assignments involving the design, maintenance, and implementation of accounting systems, the systematic classification and assessment of accounting data, and the preparation of related managerial and financial reports. Accountants in this class are responsible for accounting tasks involved in preparing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting accounting data; operating, maintaining, and modifying accounting systems; using accounting information to recommend solutions to management problems and structuring of organization programs; managing, operating, and analyzing cost accounting systems in relation to business activities, and designing, implementing, and assessing internal control processes and systems.

• Performs complex accounting functions consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations
• Researches, analyzes, and implements accounting rules and regulations as stipulated by Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) or other regulatory agencies
• Conducts searches and complex examinations of budget and financial records to provide factual data on the amount and type of funds available for submission to others within the employing entity who will use the data to prepare budget estimates and reprogramming actions
• Prepares, examines, or analyzes accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards
• Independently conducts the complete range of tax examinations and related investigations of a broad range of business taxpayers such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, fiduciaries, and sizable corporations
• Maintains ledger and computer systems required to conduct payroll and financial reporting
• Assists in the preparation of the Consolidated Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
• Provides experience in using the specific procedures of automated systems to find, review, or change accounting data in transaction files, ledgers, accounts, summary reports, and financial statements
• Designs new and changing system and program environments due to new laws, regulations, and standards
• Resolves issues where governing laws and regulations are highly interpretive and/or precedents are non-existent, obscure or conflicting
• Develops new systems for tax examination, tax management control, and tax documentation systems
• Develops and applies unique or extensive probing and analysis techniques and methods
• Identifies accounting problems such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls, inaccurate records and reports, improper methods for document control, and lack of documentary evidence to support performance of regulatory reconciliations
• Posts journal entries, reconciles dates, and manages inter-agency billings and transfers required to support financial reporting
• Checks data and compares reports or transactions to source documents, or authorizations against transactions to ensure their acceptability for further processing
• Drafts simple instructions to describe internal accounting procedures for a procedures manual
• Assists in executing portions of an audit plan that tracks process flow, verifies reported data, or assures that functional operating instructions generate desired results
• Reports to management regarding the finances of establishment
• Performs grant management, monitoring and administrative duties and activities (e.g. financial, set-up, post-award, closeout, etc.) to ensure timely expenditures and reimbursement, and regulatory and audit compliance
• Compiles centrally requested cost reports and reports of variance from standards. Develops reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets
• Serves as an expert or authority in some aspect of accounting or in the application of accounting to some mission-related program(s)
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, statistics, or a closely related field. Such education must include at least twenty-four (24) semester (36 terms) credits of coursework in accounting and statistics (21 hours in accounting and 3 hours in statistics).

Experience

For entry into the Accountant position, no work experience is required; however, the minimum education requirements must be met. One year of professional experience performing or auditing the systematic classification and evaluation of accounting data and the preparation of related financial and managerial reports is preferred but not required. Accountants must demonstrate proficiency with integrated word processing and spreadsheet functions.

For selection, to an Accountant level II or higher, in addition to the minimum education requirements, more progressive levels of experience are required based on the following:

• Accountant IV – at least four (4) years of experience
• For Accountant IV, the Accountant must have two (2) years of verifiable experience leading teams or providing instructions to subordinate staff.

Equivalency

Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience, & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points

LRD: 09/10/2025