Senior Accountant

Cascade County; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cascade County Senior Accountant will oversee accounting functions for County operations, ensuring GAAP/GAAS compliance and accurate financial reporting. The role supports budgeting, grant and fund balance analyses, and provides data for fiscal year planning.

This position serves as backup to other accountants and collaborates with departments to maintain sound financial procedures. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Management and 4 years’ experience required; valid

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field with four years of accounting experience.
• Experience in GAAP/GAAS and public sector accounting is preferred.
• Candidate must meet Montana licensing/driver requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accounting functions for County operations and departments.
• Prepare reports, grant and fund balance analyses, and forecasting.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, GAAS, and state/federal rules.
• Act as backup to other accountants and supervise accounting staff.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

GAAS

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Supervisory skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Word

Outlook

Financial software

Job description

Submit all application materials to:Cascade County Human Resources Department325 2nd Ave N #108

Great Falls, MT 59401Applications available at the Human Resources Department, www.cascadecountymt.gov or Job Service.

Position: Senior Accountant Salary: $27.00 - $29.00 per hour DOESchedule: Full-time with Benefits Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Education/ Experience/ Training:

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Management and four (4) years of experience in accountingOr A combination of experience and training that provides an equivalent scope of knowledge and skills.

Certifications:

Valid driver’s license issued by the State of Montana or the ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days from date of hire.

Job Summary

The Senior Accountant for the Cascade County Accounting Department (Accounting) oversees accounting functions for County operations and other assigned offices and departments and performs daily operations to provide for sound fiscal procedures that comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), practices and standards and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) and state and federal rules and guidelines. The Senior Accountant is responsible for advanced and complex accounting tasks within County Accounting and assigned offices, departments or projects. The Senior Accountant will provide timely and accurate data, status updates of contract billing and forecasting for fiscal year planning, make recommendations to management on possible cost savings, assist in cost accounting of the assigned office and department management team, and contribute to and participate as a productive member of leadership of the assigned office, department and the County’s accounting team. The Senior Accountant will analyze and produce reports on grant and fund balances, projects and the impact of future financial activity. This position will function as a backup to other County Accountants, perform accounting functions and provide accounting assistance in other County offices/and departments as part of the County’s centralized accounting operation, and perform other duties as required or assigned to support Accounting operational needs.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Accountant develops and maintains financial infrastructure for operational programs and assigned offices and departments. The Senior Accountant develops departmental procedures for accessing information and developing reports based on their interpretation of applicable state and federal regulations and analyzes fiscal data to determine trends and make projections with a broad and advanced knowledge base of statutory and regulatory requirements and highly technical accounting and finance issues. The Senior Accountant has a broad base of authority such as technical financial analysis, policy interpretation, assists in developing new procedures, resolving over-expenditures, accounting for grants across fiscal years and ensuring compliance with audit issues and must possess a broad and advanced knowledge base of statutory and regulatory requirements and the ability to research highly technical issues. This position will have input and make recommendations with regard to policy development recommendations related to Accounting protocol and compliance related issues. The Senior Accountant plans, organizes, and performs skilled duties as needed and works with a high degree of functional independence while providing general oversight of Accounting staff. The Senior Accountant will assist in the supervision, training, planning, coordination, direction and evaluation of the work of the Accounting Assistants, Accounting Technicians, and employees (Accounting Support Personnel) assigned to the accounting function of their assigned office/department who are responsible for, conducting daily business functions such as preparation of reports, reconciliation of accounts receivable and payable, bank accounts, allocation of funds and reporting of grant and fund balances. The Senior Accountant will function as a backup to other Accountants, performing functions and providing accounting assistance in other County offices/departments as part of the County’s centralized accounting operation. The Senior Accountant must possess and utilize complex skills applicable to governmental accounting. The Senior Accountant must comply with and strictly adhere to County state and federal confidentiality, privacy and security laws, rules, policies, guidelines and practices.

Know ledge and understanding of:

• GAAP practices and standards
• GAAS
• State of Montana’s Budgetary Accounting and Reporting System (BARS)
• Governmental fiscal administrative processes such as budget development and disbursement, rate setting, accounting, grant administration and purchasing
• County and departmental policies, procedures, standards and guidelines
• County state and federal confidentiality, privacy and security laws, rules, policies, guidelines and practices
• Customer service techniques and public relations
• Supervisory techniques, principles and practices
• Intermediate to advanced software knowledge in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Internet and Outlook
• County safety rules, procedures and practices
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Applicable Montana Code Annotated, rules and regulations
• In depth knowledge of computerized financial software, Word, Excel, Outlook
• Basic office equipment

Sk ills in:

• Use computer and data processing technology as applied to financial, accounting and auditing utilizations
• Operate a personal computer using word processing, financial spreadsheets, specialized accounting and database applications appropriate to assigned duties
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Windows, and other routine operating systems
• Engage in effective and professional interpersonal communication
• Engage in efficient organization, time management, planning and accuracy
• Engage in effective and professional customer service and public relations

Ability to:

• Communicate in a professional and effective manner with others, both orally and in writing, in both technical and non-technical terms
• Manage a program of accounting and fiscal services and controls
• Evaluate the soundness of financial practices
• Determine whether practices comply with federal and state regulations
• Analyze and interpret financial data and information and reach conclusions
• Organize and disseminate information clearly
• Learn and utilize departmental and County accounting software
• Perform computations accurately and quickly
• Handle stress and react well under pressure
• Deal with frequent changes, delays, interruptions or unexpected events
• Work independently and as a member of a team
• Maintain and adhere to departmental, County, State and Federal confidentiality, privacy and security laws, rules, policies, guidelines and practices
• Plan, assign and direct the work of fiscal staff
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers and representatives of other agencies or departments
• Identify problems that adversely affect the organization and its functions and make positive recommendations for improvements
• Communicate in a professional and effective manner with others, both orally and in writing, in both technical and non-technical terms
• Interact with the public and other employees in a professional, respectful and courteous manner
• Establish professional and effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, other county offices, departments, and employees, and the general public
• Meet challenges with resourcefulness through original thinking and creativity
• Occasionally work outside normal hours as assigned
• Demonstrate punctuality and observe work hours
• Observe established lines of authority
• Perform other duties as assigned or required to support Accounting operational needs

The successful applicant shall serve a 6-month probationary period and will have a criminal background check conducted. The results thereof may disqualify the applicant from consideration for employment with the County.

Notice to Applicants:

Applicants who are claiming Veteran’s or Handicap Preference must provide a DD214 Discharge Document (Part 4) or DPHHS Handicap Certification and Employment Preference Form with their application for employment so Cascade County may apply the preference during the selection process.Cascade County makes reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with the applicant’s ability to compete in the recruitment and selection process or an employee’s ability to perform the essential duties of the job. For Cascade County to consider such arrangements, the applicants must make known any needed accommodations.

CASCADE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER