Finance Manager - Accounting (Internal Applicants)

City of Oak Harbor; Oak Harbor (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Oak Harbor seeks an experienced finance professional to lead advanced government accounting, oversee the city’s general accounting functions, and coordinate with the State Auditor. Responsibilities include preparing the Annual Financial Report, managing audits, and developing capital plans.

The role requires strong GAAP knowledge, CPA/CPFO desirable, and 5–7 years of relevant experience in government finance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or Public Administration, or related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Public Administration, or related discipline is desirable.
• Certification as CPFO or CPA is desirable.
• Five to seven years of professional work experience in finance, accounting, grant, general ledger, budget, and internal audit; government experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day accounting and cash management activities.
• Supervise accounting staff and oversee financial reporting functions (accounts payable, payroll, grants, fixed assets, general ledger).
• Coordinate annual audit with State Auditor and other agencies; prepare management responses and corrective actions.
• Prepare and coordinate the Annual Financial Report within deadlines; review schedules, statements, narratives, and notes.
• Develop and maintain Long-term Capital Plan and assist with Capital Improvement Plan; budget amendments and variances.
• Maintain project accounting for multi-year projects; support financial reporting for project managers.
• Educate staff on GASB standards and ensure GAAP compliance; enforce internal controls and accounting policies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial analysis

Audit coordination

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/related field

Master’s degree desirable

CPA/CPFO desirable

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Database software

Job description

Performs advanced level professional government finance and accounting work and manages the City’s general accounting functions and personnel, including the preparation of the city’s Annual Financial Report and coordination with the State Auditor and other auditing agencies.

Work activities involve multiple skills and may include any or all of the following depending on area of assignment, department needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors:

1. Customer Service - Make customer service a priority by establishing and maintaining effective and cooperative working relationship with City officials, department heads, co-workers, supervisors, and the public using good judgement to handle customer complaints, respond to inquiries and resolve concerns in a positive and timely manner using tact and courtesy, sometimes under stressful situations. This includes not increasing the City’s liability risk by spreading gossip or down talking other employees or Departments on City property.
2. Accounting– Manage the day-to-day accounting and cash management activities of accounting staff. Supervise accounting staff to ensure smooth functioning and meeting of all deadlines. Supervise accounting and financial reporting functions, including financial reporting, accounts payable, payroll, grants, fixed assets, and general ledger maintenance.
3. Audit– Manage the City’s annual audit and serve as the primary contact to the State Auditor’s Office and other auditing agencies. Act as a liaison with all City staff for audit purposes. Coordinate and attend audit entrance and exit meetings and assure appropriate management staff is in attendance. Prepare management response for Finance Director review. Prepare recommendations for corrective action for audit exit comments and findings including coordination and follow-up to ensure corrections are made.
4. Annual Financial Report– Manage the preparation of the Annual Financial Report within legal deadlines and current standards. Coordinate professional and other management staff assignments for completion of schedules, financial statements, narratives, and notes. Review all work products incorporated into the document for compliance and accuracy. Coordinate production and distribution of annual report.
5. Capital Plans- Manage the development and update of the of the Long-term Capital Plan and assist other departments with the development and update of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan to include related updates, budget amendments, budget adjustments, and researching budget variances.
6. Project Accounting– Assist with maintaining project accounting on multi-year projects. Be a resource to project managers for financial reporting and tracking.
7. GASB– Educate staff on new and updated Governmental Accounting Standards Board statements and develop implementation plans.
8. GAAP– Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and practices and Internal Revenue Service regulations. Assure that the City’s accounting activities are performed in accordance with local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and standards.
9. General Ledger– Manage maintenance of the general ledger including development and maintenance of the chart of accounts in the accounting system, review and approval of all journal entries, determination of proper account coding, and providing technical assistance to staff.
10. Fund/Cash Balancing– Supervise daily and monthly cash account activity and fund/cash balancing. Ensure on-line banking transactions and reconciliations of bank accounts are timely and accurate.
11. Debt– Manage the City’s debt issuance and management activities.
12. Investments– Manage the City’s investment portfolio and reporting.
13. Controls – Institute controls for financial functions throughout the City and ensures proper segregation of duties is maintained to prevent and detect fraud. Design, install, and maintain internal control systems throughout the organization. Develop, implement, and enforce accounting policies and procedures and standards. Control design should be a collaborate effort between finance and impacted departments.
14. Special Studies – Conduct special studies and analysis pertaining to a wide variety of finance issues that require the application of financial management principles, accounting theory and analysis or financial data. Prepare written reports of findings and recommend policies.
15. Journal Entries – Review journal entries and provide to Finance Director for approval. Ensure journal entries are posted and retain monthly journal entries. Ensure journal entries are balanced at the fund level and distribute monthly financial reports to City users.
16. Reconciliation – Ensure all City cash accounts are reconciled to the general ledger on a monthly basis. Ensure all reconciliations and bank records are retained in orderly fashion.
17. Payroll and Accounts Payable – Review payroll and accounts payable check lists before providing to Finance Director for approval. Review and suggest improvements for processes and procedures.
18. Internal Auditing– Supervise auditing of departmental, finance, sales tax, and business licensing accounts for discrepancies as needed or requested by Department Directors or as part of annual verification.
19. Accounting System / ERP- Be part of the team that manages processes and access, maintains, and upgrades the City’s Accounting and/or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
20. Training and Coaching- Develop training materials and provides training to external and internal customers on a variety of finance topics. Provide technical expertise and is a liaison to other departments for the resolution of complex finance and accounting issues. Train department staff on finance and accounting policies, practices and systems.
21. Standard Operating Procedures - Develop and maintain current SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) with step-by-step instructions for critical functions; test those SOPs by having another accountant run the activity/function periodically to ensure the SOPs are accurate and adequate.
22. Cross Train– Ensure accounting staff are cross trained with each other and other Departmental staff on finance duties.
23. Budget - Assist the with the development of the Bi-Annual Budget, mid-biennial Budget update, budget amendments, and budget adjustments.

Associated Functions:

• Attend various continuing education meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Serve as department representative on a variety of citywide committees or tasks forces.
• Conduct staff meetings to discuss workplans, issues, or concerns.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Advanced Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and the fundamental theories in accounting and finance.
• Advanced knowledge of technical accounting, financial management, investment, audit, and tax practices in a government environment utilizing municipal accounting systems or Enterprise Resource Planning Systems.
• Written skills, oral communications skills, and ability to compose complex correspondence and reports as well as ability to research, organize and compile data into meaningful reports. Strong mathematic, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to solve problems and provide a decision and/or recommendation and to communicate complex information orally and writing.
• Ability to work under the pressure of multiple projects and deadline situations.
• Ability to perform work activities neatly and accurately.
• Ability to work independently of specific instruction but in conformance with established practices and procedures as well as the ability to assist in day-to-day training and supervisory functions.
• Ability to utilize standard office equipment including personal computer and associated City and department-specific software.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions may be considered.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or Public Administration, or related discipline from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Public Administration, or related discipline from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning is desirable.
• Certification as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years professional work experience in finance, accounting, grant, general ledger, budget, and internal audit experience. Experience in a government setting highly desirable.
• Excellent computer operation skills and experience with a variety of software programs including Microsoft Office applications, database, customized and menu-driven programs, including accounting and ERP systems. Strong MS Excel and MS Word skills required.
• Valid Washington State driver's license or otherwise establish the ability to perform the job in an equally efficient manner without driving.
• Must pass driver's abstract and background check to include credit check to be bonded.

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time and access all areas of the facility including stairs. Work requires eye/hand coordination and manipulation skills to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other equipment; normal range of hearing and visual acuity, and occasionally moving items in excess of 25 pounds.

Safety Statement:

We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.