City Government Accounting Specialist

City of Springdale, AR; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Springdale, AR seeks an experienced Accountant to assist the Finance Director in providing financial and accounting services for the City. The incumbent maintains fiscal records, prepares worksheets, and supports the annual audit and budget processes.

Responsibilities include cash receipts processing, bank reconciliations, general ledger entries, investment records, payroll backup, and accounts payable assistance, with attention to HIPAA confidentiality and internal control procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field; minimum two years in GAAP/GASB environment.
• CPA/CPFO/CGFM preferred.
• Proficient with mainframe, Microsoft Office Suite, accounting applications software, and general office equipment.
• Solid knowledge of GAAP and governmental fund accounting; experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist Finance Director in preparing annual audit worksheets and documents.
• Assist in managing finance and budget preparation.
• Process daily cash receipts including deposits and other cash receipts.
• Reconcile 25+ bank accounts monthly to the general ledger.
• Prepare monthly reports for Administration and Financial Services Director.
• Compile and analyze financial information to record general ledger entries.
• Post and review general ledger journal entries; maintain investment worksheets.
• Backup Payroll Accountant and assist accounts payable when needed.
• Maintain HIPAA confidentiality and internal control procedures.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical ability

Organization skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related area

Tools

Mainframe

Microsoft Office

Accounting software

Job description

The incumbent assists the Finance Director in providing financial and accounting services for the City. The incumbent is responsible to perform technical and administrative professional accounting work in maintaining the fiscal records and systems for the City.

• Provide good customer service to both internal and external customers; maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees (especially members of their own team), and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive.
• Assists Finance Director in preparation of worksheets and other documents for the annual audit of the City's financial statements.
• Assists Finance Director in managing finance and budget preparation.
• Responsible for processing daily cash receipts including posting of deposits, business license processing, and other cash receipts processing.
• Responsible for accurately reconciling 25+ individual checking and savings bank accounts monthly to the general ledger, some of which average cash balance in excess of several million dollars.
• Prepares monthly reports for the Administration and Financial Services Director, including the Airport Accounts Receivable Aging Report, Advertising & Promotions Taxes Report, and the Airport and Arvest Ball Park Revenue and Expenditures Report, and others as requested.
• Compiles and analyzes financial information to prepare and record entries to general ledger accounts.
• Reviews and approves general ledger journal entries prepared by other accounting staff; Posts journal entries to the general ledger.
• Maintains investment worksheets for City's pension funds; Prepares monthly general ledger journal entries to record investment activity; Reconciles monthly statements to investment worksheets and general ledger control accounts.
• Maintains investment worksheets for the City’s other investments; posts interest received to investment spreadsheets as needed. Prepares general ledger journal entries to record investment activity; reconciles monthly statements to investment worksheets and general ledge control accounts. Responsible for preparation of monthly excise (sales and use) taxes and construction surcharge reports for the State of Arkansas.
• Reviews and tests collateralization of deposits at various financial institutions.
• Assists other City departments in solving accounting problems. Answers questions and provides information to City employees regarding accounting policies, rules, and reports and the establishment of internal assets controls and accounting procedures.
• Analyzes and summarizes financial information and prepares reports for department heads and other city officials, as requested.
• Monitors internal accounting and financial control procedures as necessary.
• Assists Finance Director in the maintenance of capital asset records.
• Serves as backup for Payroll Accountant, processing payroll for City employees, City Council and Planning Commission.
• Assists in accounts payable processing in the absence of the Accounts Payable Clerk.
• Assumes other responsibilities, such as general office duties, as directed by the City Clerk/Treasurer and Finance Director.
• Operates a computer with accounting, database, spreadsheet and word processing software in the performance of essential functions.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information as well as compliance of HIPAA standards during communication and dissemination of information.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting or a related area. Minimum of two years of experience in accounting, management reporting, or auditing in a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) environment.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) preferred.
• Must be proficient in the use of mainframe computer, Microsoft Office Suite, accounting applications software, calculator, telephone, copy machine, printers, check signer, burster, fax machine, typewriter, and postage meter.
• The incumbent should possess a thorough knowledge of financial accounting principles, practices, methods, theories, and techniques; knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) including unique characteristics of governmental fund accounting. Experience with governmental fund accounting software is preferred but not required.
• The incumbent should possess the ability to operate a personal computer and create, maintain and update computer programs (spreadsheet, word processing, and database) relative to the work required.
• The incumbent must have good verbal and written communication skills as well as good organization skills.
• Problem solving and analytical ability are required to perform duties of this position.
• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, department heads, City Council, representatives of other agencies, other city employees and the general public.
• Ability to utilize both internal and external resources to obtain information and data necessary to carry out routine assignments and special projects.

Must successfully pass criminal background check, including but not limited to convictions, guilty pleas, or no contest pleas to violent offenses, theft offenses, and offenses against children.