Accounting Manager

City of Kent, WA; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The City of Kent, WA Finance Department is seeking an Accounting Manager with strong leadership to oversee payroll, accounts payable, general ledger, reporting, and cash and investments.

This is a full-time, benefited position focused on managing operations, ensuring GAAP, GASB, and BARS compliance, and guiding a team of accounting staff. CPA or CGFM strongly preferred; interviews may be scheduled in March.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or related field.
• Five years of professional governmental accounting experience with at least three years in a lead/supervisory role.
• CPA or CGFM strongly preferred.
• Strong leadership and integrity; able to manage payroll, accounts payable, general ledger, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct daily accounting operations including payroll, A/P, GL, reporting, and cash flow.
• Develop performance metrics and supervise staff; hire, train, and evaluate.
• Ensure GAAP, GASB, and BARS compliance; maintain internal controls.
• Oversee year-end closing, ACFR preparation, and financial statements.

Skills

Payroll

Accounts payable

General ledger

Reporting

Cash management

Investments

Leadership

Supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or related field

Job description

The Finance Department is looking for their next Accounting Manager. The successful candidate will have exceptional management and leadership skills, combined with expertise and experience in overseeing various accounting functions including payroll, accounts payable, general ledger, reporting, and cash and investments.

Work is characterized by a substantial amount of managerial, administrative, and supervisory functions to ensure effective operation of the division. The incumbent is responsible for the maintenance and review of the City’s accounting processes and procedures to ensure efficiency and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, GAAP, GASB, and BARS. To that end, having a CPA or CGFM is strongly preferred. A high level of integrity and honesty, as well as strong customer service approach, are essential to success.

This is a full-time, benefited position that is not represented by a union.

This recruitment is open until filled and may utilize multiple steps to narrow down the applicant pool. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of March 10.

SALARY

$11,296.00- $13,754.00 per month, depending on experience

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the direction of the Finance Director or designee, plan, organize, and manage the operations of the Accounting Division of the Finance Department. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing the accounting functions including payroll, accounts payable, general ledger, capital assets, tax processing and reporting, procurement, daily cash flow and investment management, as well as the ACFR preparation. Incumbent must possess strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to manage and motivate others.

Work is characterized by a substantial amount of managerial, administrative, and supervisory functions to ensure effective operation of the Accounting Division. The incumbent is responsible for the maintenance and review of the City’s accounting processes and procedures to ensure efficiency and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, GAAP, GASB, and BARS. Incumbent must possess a high level of integrity and honesty as well as strong customer service approach.

Work is performed under managerial direction. The supervisor provides the incumbent with assignments in terms of broad practice, precedents, policies, and goals. Work may be reviewed for fulfillment of program objectives and conformance with departmental policy, practice, and/or objective.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage the Accounting Division of the Finance Department by planning, organizing, and directing the daily activities and workflow of employees engaged in performing payroll, general ledger, procurement, accounts payable, capital assets, daily cash flow and investment management, and financial reporting duties; and provide motivation, leadership, team building, mentoring, training, and direction for the assigned workgroup.

Develop and report statistical performance measures that demonstrate the Accounting Division or City outcomes.

Directly supervise employees in accordance with the City’s policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; motivating, planning, assigning, and evaluating work; appraising performance; addressing complaints, disputes, and grievances; resolving problems; implementing rewarding and disciplinary actions; approving/scheduling leave time; and recommending promotions and termination as appropriate.

Ensure the City’s financial and accounting policies, procedures, and practices are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; maintain conformance with GAAP, BARS, and GASB standards; and establish and/or document new or revised accounting policies and procedures as appropriate.

Identify opportunities for improving accounting and reporting, and develop, recommend, and implement improvements to the financial systems and processes of the City.

Create a work environment that is supportive of employees and allows for and helps employees to grow in their positions through mentoring.

Support the development and maintenance of the City’s Chart of Accounts.

Responsible for the auditing and balancing of all City financial transactions including journal entries, accounts payable, account receivable, payroll, utility billings, daily cash flow and investment management, and other accounting processes; and ensure that data is documented, timely and appropriately for various ledgers, journals, and other reports in accordance with GAAP, GASB, and BARS.

Responsible for the oversight of the payroll processing including ensuring compliance with rules governing payroll including federal and state laws, union contracts and city policy; ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll; responsible for the oversight payroll reporting and accurate accounting into the general ledger.

Responsible for the oversight of the daily cash flow and investment management to reasonably assure adequate funds are available for operating and capital needs; assure that excess funds are invested in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state laws and City ordinances; oversee accounting of all investments and cash transfers including the internal inter-fund transfers.

Responsible for the scheduling of the year-end closing and opening processes, the preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR), and other financial statements.

Responsible for the overall analysis and reconciliation of the City’s asset and liability accounts and subsystems, payroll and voucher checks, and receipts received from various systems; and prepare and approve journal entries and adjustments as needed.

Responsible for the overall review and approval of journal entries and financial data for posting to general ledger, special ledgers, and other fiscal records to reflect accurate accounting and distribution of income and expenses to appropriate accounts; oversee the preparation of complex monthly and annual closing entries and analysis.

Responsible for establishing, maintaining, and reasonably assuring the City’s internal control procedures and practices are in compliance with accounting regulations, codes, and standards; assist with the annual State audit.

Prepare, manage, and monitor the Accounting Division’s annual budget.

Consult with the Finance Director on short and long-range planning of the division’s budget; staff projections; and goals, policies, procedures, and practices.

Oversee the Fire Relief and Pension Accounting procedures; responsible for reporting to board on overall finances.

Perform all professional accounting duties within area of responsibility and other special projects as assigned.

Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and the City.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform related duties as assigned.

SUCCESSFUL INCUMBENTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL

HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF

• Governmental accounting, budgeting, and reporting principles and practices
• Payroll rules, laws, regulations and practices
• Principles and practices of cash flow, investment, and financial management
• Current literature, tends, and developments in the field of accounting
• Methods, principles, and practices of effective conflict resolution
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances
• Business and tax laws, rules, and regulations related to municipal accounting
• Principles and practices of supervision, organization, training, and performance evaluation
• Computer systems and applications related to accounting and auditing functions
• City organization, operations, policies, objectives, and procedures
• Technical aspects of accounting

BE SKILLED IN

• Understanding and applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Understanding and applying Government Accounting Standard Board (GASB) Statements
• Understanding and applying Payroll rules, laws, and regulations including Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable union contracts
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) principles and procedures
• Municipal investment laws and regulations
• Applying principles and practices of leadership, teambuilding, motivation, and common-sense management techniques
• Effective management and supervision of assigned staff, projects, and work responsibilities
• Effectively organizing and expressing ideas through the use of oral and written communications
• Operation of a personal computer and related complex software including spreadsheet, database and presentation programs
• Application of research and analysis methods to define and resolve financial issues
• Application of internal control methods, procedures, and management

HAVE THE ABILITY TO

• Understand and apply the Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System (BARS)
• Analyze and prepare complex financial statements and reports
• Exercise a high degree of independent judgment in defining and resolving issues, policies, and procedures within scope of authority
• Establish and maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationships with assigned staff, co-workers, elected officials, managers, supervisors, employees, and the public
• Work effectively on several projects concurrently
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Perform a wide variety of professional accounting duties
• Analyze and prepare a variety of complex records, reports, and other financial documents including financial statements, technical financial reporting, and special reports and projects as assigned
• Work confidentially with discretion
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; apply common sense understanding to solve practical problems
• Meet schedules and timelines
• Work independently with little direction and make decisions with broad guidelines
• Provide technical expertise and information regarding accounting principles, practices, and policies
• Develop, modify, and recommend improvements in existing accounting procedures and introduce new procedures to expedite system
• Demonstrate ability to positively interact with diverse individuals to accomplish a common goal
• Effective presentation of information to groups of managers and employees
• Respond to common inquiries or complaints from personnel, regulatory agencies, or the public
• Develop, and implement missions, strategic goals, and objectives for the assigned division
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide; compute fractions, ratios, percentages, and proportions, draw and interpret graphs and charts; and apply these concepts to practical situations

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or related field; and

Experience: Five (5) years of professional governmental accounting experience including three (3) years of lead/supervisory experience

LICENSES AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is highly desirable
• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) is highly desirable
• Must have experience in payroll, accounts payable, general ledger and financial reporting
• Knowledge of and experience with principles and practices of cash flow and investment management
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing municipal investment
• Valid Washington State driver’s license, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment
• Multilingual desirable
• Must successfully pass a position specific background inquiry

MACHINES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT USED

Typical business office machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, personal computer, telephone, fax and copy machine, calculator, and projector.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to use arms, hands, and fingers to reach, handle, feel, or operate objects, materials, tools, equipment, or controls. The incumbent is frequently required to sit, talk, and hear normally with or without mechanical assistance. The incumbent is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a typical office environment. The incumbent may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile and may be subject to long hours due to the attendance at evening meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Kent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.