Accountant - Property Tax Administrator

Pennington County; South Dakota; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennington County seeks a Property Tax Administrator to ensure proper accounting of tax dollars and funds across the Auditor’s Office. The role focuses on cash audits, tax distribution, and ledger integrity to support annual financial reporting.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field and hands-on experience with governmental accounting principles, fund accounting, and MS Office.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of governmental and fund accounting principles.
• Understanding of state laws affecting apportionment and disbursement of county funds.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and computers with Microsoft Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Audit and balance all cash received by the Treasurer’s Office.
• Audit daily cash receipts from other departments to ensure correct general ledger entries.
• Process special assessments, abatements and omissions per state statute.
• Prepare monthly tax apportionment and journal entries for correct tax crediting.
• Distribute state and federally shared revenues to the right taxing entities.
• Process annual tax rollovers and prepare apportioning reports.
• Reconcile vault and office cash; prepare monthly reports for Commissioners and minutes.
• Provide property tax and valuation info to taxing entities for bonds and audits.
• Maintain the general ledger revenue numbers and create new numbers per County Accounting Manual.
• Perform related duties as assigned; maintain compliance with County policies.

Skills

Governmental accounting principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Objective:

The Property Tax Administrator is tasked with properly accounting for all tax dollars and state and federal funds that are collected by the County Treasurer and ensuring that all funds are properly credited to the correct taxing entity and other essential functions within the Auditor’s Office.

Essential Functions:

• Audit and balance all cash received by the Treasurer’s Office.
• Audit all cash daily receipts prepared by other departments within the county to ensure that all revenue is receipted into the proper general ledger number.
• Process special assessments, abatements and omitted assessments according to state statute.
• Prepare monthly tax apportionment and processing the necessary journal entries to ensure that all tax payments are credited to the correct taxing entity.
• Prepare monthly distribution of state and federally shared revenue to the correct taxing entity using knowledge of state statutes.
• Process annual tax account roll-over and prepare annual apportioning reports.
• Perform monthly reconciliation of vault and office cash with the County Treasurer and prepare monthly reports for the County Commissioners and the official minutes.
• Provide property tax and valuation information to taxing entities within the county for use in bond financing and annual audits.
• Maintain the general ledger chart of accounts revenue numbers and create new numbers as needed following guidance of the County Accounting Manual to ensure that all revenue is properly reported on the annual financial report.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor
• Maintain compliance with all County policies and procedures

This position specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive duties of the position. Incumbents may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties, as may be required.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or related field plus three years of progressively responsible professional accounting work.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices common to governmental and fund accounting.
• Understanding of state laws effecting the apportionment and disbursement of county funds.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and computers with working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential position functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards
• This position frequently remains stationary for long periods of time and needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator, copy machine and printer.
• Must be able to move up to 20 pounds unassisted, and move 40 pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively on telephone, in-person and in writing.

Working Environment:

• Most work is performed indoors in an office where noise and interruptions often occur.
• Overtime hours may be required to meet deadlines, especially during year-end and during election cycles.
• Some travel may be required for training and delivering of supplies to polling locations.
• Occasional work in warehouse like setting for the purpose of loading election supplies.