Senior Accountant

Metropolitan Council; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Council seeks a Senior Accountant to act as primary accountant for divisional departments, ensuring full accounting activities align with GAAP and internal controls. The role includes processing journal entries, reconciling accounts, and supporting grant-related reporting.

You will work under limited supervision, handle complex financial analyses, and contribute to procedural improvements while meeting critical deadlines across multiple programs within Minnesota.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
• Experience with fixed assets accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience with complex financial information systems.
• Ability to monitor grants and budgets and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Run reports in the financial systems and prepare journal entries for assigned funds.
• Record monthly accruals and correct posting errors.
• Consolidate expenses and prepare draws for federal disbursement.
• Maintain grant updates and monitor expenditures and receipts.
• Assist in monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting of grants and projects.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Fixed assets accounting

Budgeting

Financial systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA certification

Tools

PeopleSoft financials

Job description

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.

More information about us on our website.

The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transit is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and provides ridership through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk, or bike in the Twin Cities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region

The Senior Accountant works under limited supervision/procedural control, functions as primary accountant for divisional departments or major functional area (e.g. grants, capital projects) performing full accounting activities requiring experiences, professional knowledge and application of accounting principles and practices. Perform a wide range of detailed/complex accounting and advisory functions and assures day to day operations are carried out in accordance with established accounting principles, policies, objectives and controls; performs related work as required.

In addition to the work done at the Accountant level, the Senior Accountant will:

• Run reports in the financial systems, reconcile account balances and prepare journal entries for assigned funds and accounts to ensure transactions are accurately recorded in the financial systems.
• Prepare journal entries to record monthly accruals, correct posting errors, etc.
• Consolidate expenses and prepare draws for federal disbursement
• Booking revenue for AP and payroll activity
• Maintaining access database to stay current with grant changes and other relevant updates.
• Monitoring financial control over expenditures and receipts; reviewing monthly reports with management; and making adjusting journal entries if necessary.
• Developing, recommending, and implementing internal procedures; reviewing and researching expenditures for accuracy and timeliness; and advising program and activity managers of concerns and/or problems.
• Assists in the monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting activity (monthly, quarterly, yearly) of grants or other project related reporting, to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet department and activity needs by reviewing requests for compliance with federal and state laws, department policies and internal controls; analyzing and interpreting fiscal data; developing and implementing new procedures to solve problems; and monitoring cash flow.
• Train co-workers, as directed, in specific task and job practices and procedures to improve and maintain performance levels by communicating timetables and quality standards for tasks; and providing instruction on policies and procedures as needed.
• Prepare documents for compliance and financial audits in accordance with GAAP and other applicable reporting requirements.

Any of the following combinations of experience in an accounting environment and completed education (degree field of study in Accounting, Finance or closely related field

• High school diploma/GED with six (6) years of experience
• Associate degree with four (4) years of experience
• Bachelor’s degree or higher with two (2) years of experience

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with PeopleSoft financials systems
• Governmental Accounting Experience.
• CPA certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Generally accepted accounting principles and practices sufficient to apply them to specialized accounting activities
• Experience with fixed assets accounting including financial reporting requirements
• Complex financial information systems
• Applicable internal controls to ensure the protection of financial assets, and compliance with financial rules and regulations and the ability to determine those actions not in compliance
• Budgeting principles sufficient to prepare, analyze, monitor, and review department or functional area budgets
• State and Federal grant procedures and policies sufficient to assist in the monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting of department funding grants.

Ability to:

• Understand, interpret and solve complex problems
• Communicate financial data to non-accounting personnel
• Independently handle short and critical deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Understand, analyze and interpret federal and state regulations to work assignments
• Interpret and analyze fiscal reports and records.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with management, internal and external auditors, and other staff members.

Union(s): Non Represented Grade G

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

Work Environment

Work is performed in a standard office setting. Requires travel between primary work site to other sites.

The responsibilities listed are typical of the positions included in the job classification; however, not all duties are necessarily performed by each specific position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position. Regular attendance is an essential responsibility

What steps the recruitment process involves

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We request your Work Record Evaluation (ATU employee only).
3. We rate your education and experience.
4. We conduct a structured panel interview.
5. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmandative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email [e-mail].

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

https://metrocouncil.org