Senior Accountant

Sheboygan County; Sheboygan (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

15 vacation days, sick time & 10 paidH

Wisconsin Retirement System

Education discount and more

Job summary

Sheboygan County Health & Human Services seeks a Senior Accountant to provide advanced accounting and financial services. You will support GAAP and GASB reporting, budgeting, grant oversight, and audit readiness across HHS programs.

The role emphasizes strong internal controls and accurate financial stewardship. Responsibilities include month-end close, grant reporting, budgeting guidance, and collaboration with program staff to ensure compliant financial management and reporting to management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting; CPA preferred.
• Five years of progressive accounting experience; government experience is a plus.
• CPA preferred; strong analytical and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex accounting and financial functions to support GAAP/GASB reporting.
• Monitor budgets, analyze variances, and advise on funding constraints.
• Coordinate grant budgets, reports, and cost allocations for compliance.
• Prepare month-end/year-end closing, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Support audits by providing schedules, workpapers, and documentation.
• Provide training and guidance on budgeting, billing, and financial policies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

GASB knowledge

Grant management

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Auditing support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Masters preferred

Tools

SmartCare EHR

Enterprise accounting systems

Spreadsheet software (Excel)

Job description

Sheboygan County - Health & Human Services is a proud 2026 Gold recipient of Mental Health America's Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, awarded for our commitment to employee mental health and well-being. Learn more about the Bell Seal at mhanational.org/bestemployers.

Here is why working at Sheboygan County is for you:

It is our imperative to remain an inclusive workplace. Sheboygan County is committed to attracting, supporting, and retaining a culturally diverse workforce that represents our community. Sheboygan County Health and Human Services also strives to be a trauma informed organization which fully realizes the prevalence of trauma, recognizes the effects of trauma, and responds with trauma informed policies and practices, and we are looking for staff who will help us champion this journey.

Becoming a member of our growing team also means that YOU become our top priority.

You will not only enjoy a dynamic work environment but a variety of perks including but not limited to the following:

• Generous benefits package
• Time off: 15 vacation days, sick time and 10 paid holidays
• Other perks: Referral program, Wisconsin Retirement System, education discount and more!

What to Expect:

The Senior Accountant performs advanced professional accounting and financial functions in support of the Health and Human Services Department. This position provides technical accounting expertise, financial analysis, and grant oversight to ensure accurate financial reporting, budget compliance, and adherence to applicable federal, state, and County requirements. The Senior Accountant serves as a key resource to management and program staff by supporting budget development, monitoring grant-funded activities, coordinating audits, and maintaining financial and billing systems to ensure the effective stewardship of public funds.

Anticipated Start:

2027

• Perform complex professional accounting and financial functions to support Health and Human Services (HHS) financial operations, reporting, budgeting, and compliance in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements, and County policies.
• Monitor and review departmental financial activity to ensure expenditures and revenues remain within approved budgets; assist departments in understanding financial status, trends, variances, and funding constraints.
• Identify emerging financial issues, revenue shortfalls, expenditure overruns, or compliance risks and advise management on options for resolution and corrective action.
• Complete month-end and year-end closing activities, including preparation and review of journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare, review, and analyze monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc financial statements, schedules, and statistical reports for management, auditors, granting agencies, and committees.
• Serve as a technical accounting resource to managers, supervisors, and program staff by providing guidance on budgeting, financial system use, grant requirements, billing practices, and applicable fiscal policies.
• Manage grant-related financial activity for HHS programs, including development and monitoring of grant budgets; preparation, submission, and reconciliation of monthly, quarterly, and annual grant financial reports; and ensuring only eligible costs are charged to grant awards.
• Prepare and coordinate required state and federal grant reports, including Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Reporting (WIMCR), Single Audit schedules, and other specialized funding reports; respond to information requests from granting agencies.
• Participate in and support internal and external audits, including preparation of workpapers, schedules, reconciliations, and documentation; serve as a primary point of contact for auditors and assist with implementation of recommended process improvements.
• Assist with annual agency budget preparation, including development and maintenance of detailed budget roll-up tools, projections, and supporting documentation; work closely with division managers to review budgets, forecasts, and justifications.
• Conduct financial analysis to support management decision-making, including identifying trends, evaluating funding performance, and recommending process improvements to strengthen internal controls and financial integrity.
• Maintain, update, and recommend improvements to accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with accounting standards, audit requirements, and changes in software or operational practices.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for accounts receivable and billing system configuration within the Electronic Health Record (EHR), including rate records, procedure codes, coverage plans, general ledger mapping, and revenue recognition.
• Review and approve purchase orders, invoices, revenue accruals, and cash reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with County financial controls.
• Oversee daily cash handling, deposit preparation, and reconciliation activities as assigned; investigate and resolve discrepancies in coordination with accounting staff.
• Identify, research, and correct financial and system errors across accounting software, EHR systems, and related reports; design and implement process improvements to reduce risk of recurring errors.
• Provide training, guidance, and cross-coverage support to accounting and billing staff, including onboarding new staff, explaining new grants or subledgers, and supporting continuity of operations during vacancies or absences.
• Participate in financial system implementations, upgrades, and enhancements by testing functionality, managing support tickets, coordinating with vendors and IT, and assisting with staff training and documentation.
• Prepare and present financial information and reports to management, committees, and leadership as required, explaining variances, funding status, and financial implications.
• Perform related duties and special projects as assigned to support the effective financial management and regulatory compliance of Health and Human Services.

Minimum Education:

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Masters degree preferred.

Minimum Experience:

Five (5) years of progressive accounting experience. A combination of education and work experience may be considered.

Minimum Certifications:

CPA preferred.

Other Requirements:

A Valid Wisconsin Driver's license.

• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting principles, standards, and practices, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) applicable to state and local government, and the ability to apply those standards to Health and Human Services financial activities, funding sources, and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and reporting requirements affecting publicsector finance, human services programs, grants, cost sharing, client billing, and program reimbursements.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to research, evaluate, and reconcile complex financial data across multiple funding streams; identify discrepancies or risks; and recommend or implement corrective actions to ensure accuracy, compliance, and fiscal integrity.
• Proficiency in preparing and reviewing journal entries, account reconciliations, balance sheet accounts, allocations, accruals, and recurring entries to support monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reporting.
• Skill in supporting the preparation of financial statements, audit schedules, confirmations, and supporting documentation for internal review, external audits, and state or federal reporting requirements, including single audit and grant-related audits.
• Ability to provide technical accounting guidance and support to Health and Human Services program staff regarding expenditure coding, billing processes, cost shares, reconciliations, and compliance with applicable accounting standards and County financial policies.
• Proficiency with financial and accounting systems and databases, including enterprise accounting systems, electronic health record or billing systems (such as SmartCare or similar platforms), and spreadsheet applications used for reconciliations, reporting, and financial analysis.
• Knowledge of audit principles and grant accounting practices, including the ability to assist with grant reconciliations, cost reporting, audit requests, and ongoing compliance monitoring for human services programs.
• Ability to manage, analyze, and reconcile specialized accounts such as private pay billing, client cost shares, unapplied cash, restitution accounts, petty cash, and program-specific revenue and expense accounts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear financial reports, respond to audit or grant inquiries, and explain accounting information and financial results to program staff, leadership, auditors, and external reviewers.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive financial and client-related information with integrity and discretion.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, balance recurring and non-recurring accounting tasks, adapt to shifting priorities, and work independently while coordinating effectively with Finance, Billing, and Health and Human Services program areas.

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment within the Health and Human Services Department, with standard office conditions and minimal exposure to physical risk.
• Position requires prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and walking; frequent use of a computer workstation, keyboard, mouse, calculator, and standard office equipment.
• Duties require frequent visual acuity to read financial reports, spreadsheets, billing records, audit documentation, and computer screens, including close vision for detailed data review and analysis.
• Hearing and speaking are required to communicate effectively with program staff, Finance staff, auditors, vendors, and external agencies, both in person and by telephone or virtual meetings.
• Manual dexterity is required to enter data accurately, handle documents, operate office equipment, and perform detailed accounting and reconciliation tasks.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of files, records, or office materials weighing up to approximately 25 pounds may be required.
• Work involves frequent mental concentration, attention to detail, and analytical reasoning to manage complex financial information, meet deadlines, and resolve discrepancies.
• May experience periodic workload increases, time pressures, and competing deadlines, particularly during month-end close, audit periods, grant reporting cycles, or fiscal year-end activities.
• Position requires the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when working with sensitive financial and client-related information.
• Risk of blood-borne pathogen exposure is considered low.