Accounting Analyst Senior

Snohomish County, WA; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Snohomish County in Everett, WA seeks a senior-level accounting professional to assist the Assistant Controller and Controller in leading special accounting and internal control projects and preparing complex financial statements in line with GASB and FASB.

The role requires advanced knowledge of accounting principles, independent judgment, and the ability to guide accountants, prepare notes for ACFR and bond-related disclosures, maintain ledgers, and respond to audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field and four years of professional accounting experience.
• Experience with GASB and GAAP standards.
• Ability to lead accounting projects and supervise staff.
• Professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CIA, CSA, SPFO) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead compilation of annual financial statements, notes, schedules, and GASB 34 reconciliations.
• Research GASB pronouncements and draft policies; ensure ACFR compliance.
• Provide leadership and guidance to accounting staff; mentor and train subordinates.
• Prepare debt-related notes and sections of Official Statements for bond issuance.
• Maintain ledgers and support budget processes; respond to inquiries from auditors and managers.
• Develop countywide accounting policies and ensure internal controls compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Tools

GASB knowledge

ACFR/Notes to Financial Statements

GAAP knowledge

Job description

Description

BASIC FUNCTION

To perform senior-level accounting work by assisting the Assistant Controller and Controller in leading special accounting and internal control projects, and preparing complex, accurate, financial statements that comply with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards. The position requires advanced knowledge of accounting principles and consistent independent judgment.

Job Duties

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Takes a lead role in the preparation and coordination of the compilation of annual financial statements, including notes, schedules, and GASB 34 reconciliations.
• Researches new GASB pronouncements, drafts new policies, prepares appropriate Notes to Financial Statements (ACFR), develops procedures to ensure compliance with GASB standards based on the independent research.
• Provides leadership and guidance to Accountants and/or paraprofessional accounting personnel as required; analyzes and resolves technical problems; mentors, advises, assists and trains subordinates as necessary; may be requested to participate in the selection of new employees and make recommendations regarding the hiring, termination and discipline of subordinate employees.
• Prepare sections of the County’s Official Statement used to issue bonds on an annual basis up to the County’s bonding capacity, prepares Notes to the Financial Statements associated with the issuance of debt on the County’s Financial Statements (ACFR) that directly affects the County’s bond rating, amount of issuance and interest rate the County pays on its debt.
• Maintains general and subsidiary automated and manual ledgers; reviews and/or approves original source entries; provides financial information for the budget process; prepares/reviews year-end accruals; researches and mediates accounting dispute resolution with customers and staff.
• Prepares written and oral responses to inquiries by division and other county managers, supervisors, state auditors, and council staff, as requested.
• Participates in modifying, developing and installing manual and automated accounting systems; detects and defines system problems; works with fiscal analysts and department of information services staff to arrive at solutions; recommends new and changed methods and procedures as appropriate; trains users (including user departments) in the use of automated accounting systems as required.
• Prepares special reports as requested; develops report formats.
• Analyzes data for user departments as requested; studies day-to-day accounting problems and recommend solutions; assists user departments by answering accounting-related questions and solving data input problems.
• Advises and assists departments in monitoring funds and fiscal health, and aids fund managers, from a financial, accounting and budgetary perspective, to meet their operating objectives; includes making recommendations on rates, cash flow, investments, and debt timing.
• Develops and establishes countywide accounting policies and procedures; ensures compliance with internal controls; acts in a consultant capacity to improve internal controls at the department level countywide; determines audit methods.
• Maintains an awareness of current accounting standards/requirements. Takes a lead role in identifying changes to prior requirements and timely disseminating relevant information to those impacted by such changes.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

• Performs other duties as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance or other field directly related to professional accounting work; AND four (4) years of professional accounting experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include prior professional accounting experience in a governmental agency and possession of professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), or State and Provincial Finance Officer (SPFO)

Special Requirements

A minimum of 20 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in relevant subject matter will be required annually.

Knowledge And Abilities

Knowledge of:

• accounting and finance practices and their application in a municipal environment;
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP);
• Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS);
• Washington State Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS);
• debt instruments and debt recording;
• cost accounting methods and techniques;
• rate setting practices and procedures;
• principles, theories and practices of governmental accounting;
• desk top computer skills in the areas of spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and presentation graphics;
• workflow planning, development and monitoring of goals and work plans;

Ability To

• act in a lead capacity, exercising discretion and independent judgment;
• schedule, organize, monitor, and review the work of employees assigned to projects;
• read, interpret, and apply relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations;
• effectively plan, develop, and carry out complex projects;
• gather, evaluate, and synthesize a variety of data;
• prepare clear and concise analytical, descriptive, and evaluative reports;
• establish working relationships with groups and individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including department heads, elected officials, peers, and the general public;
• maintain necessary records and prepare required reports;
• work effectively and contribute to a team environment;
• motivate subordinates to excel, monitor project performance and timely inform Assistant Controller and Controller of unresolved problems;
• foster an environment that encourages excellence on the part of peers and others;
• apply accounting and finance principles to day-to-day situations and determine the most appropriate course of action given the circumstance;
• independently and accurately address complex and ever-changing accounting and technical issues;
• promote organizational objectives and serve on a customer service team;
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• work under pressure, meet deadlines, and cope with interruptions;
• work with minimum supervision;
• utilize desktop computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other applications as available;
• rapidly learn Washington laws governing local government financial practices and procedures;
• rapidly learn the Governmental Accounting Standards Board of accounting practices and procedures;

SUPERVISION

The employee receives general direction from the Assistant Controller and Controller. Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed through meetings, reports, and results obtained.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position works primarily in a standard office environment characterized by typical lighting, temperature, and noise levels conducive to administrative and accounting functions. The position requires extensive use of computers and other office equipment, involving prolonged periods of sitting and screen time.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

EEO policy and ADA notice

County Benefits

Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/Benefits to learn more about the following benefits.

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Retirement
• Basic Group Term Life Insurance/ Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Commuting Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Partners for Health Employee Wellness Program
• Leave & Holidays

Voluntary Benefits

• Deferred Compensation 457(b)
• Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance
• Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Supplemental Individual Insurance Policies

Healthcare Premiums

• Regular full-time employees: If you work 35 or more hours per week, you will pay these monthly premiums for medical insurance. The County pays the monthly premiums for vision, dental, and basic life insurance.
• Regular part-time employees: If you work between 20 and 34 hours per week, you will pay pro-rated monthly premiums for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The County's contribution toward the premium for an employee in a regular part-time appointment will be pro-rated in an amount equal to the F.T.E. percentage the employee is assigned.

Review the County's ACA Employer Shared Responsibility Guide to learn more.