GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under limited supervision, this position serves as the chief accounting officer and is responsible for the city's financial statements, general ledger, payroll, accounts payable functions, and various special analysis. Reports to the Chief Financial Officer.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides supervision and management over all functions within the financial accounting, payroll, and accounts payable divisions to ensure integrity of the general ledger; monitors expenditures, purchasing and financial transactions; maintains the city’s standard accounting and control measures for municipal government; researches and prepares recommendations and reports for the department head.
Directs and participates in the planning, organizing and preparation of the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), including revenues and expenses, capital projects, financial forecasts, operating reports, debt service funding, grant funding and making recommendations as necessary.
Oversees development and implementation of accounting and financial internal controls operating policies and procedures, and implementation of Governmental Accounting Standards, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and any other municipal, state, and federal government regulations; oversees and develops short and long-term strategic goals; establishes departmental programs and budgets for the maintenance, replacement and improvement of materials and equipment.
Responsible for the effective supervision and administration of staff development and training, succession planning, performance management, employee relations, prioritizing and assigning work and related activities.
Researches and proposes financial accounting and reporting process improvements; develops accounting and payroll policies, procedures and systems, and ensures that are appropriately administered; stays abreast of legislative activities related to government finance; participates in the research, development and implementation of strategic initiatives to enhance efficiency, streamline work processes, and improve employee productivity.
Provides assistance in other procedures required for issuance of city debt; supervises the pre-audit of all payment requests for propriety, monitors the State Asset Forfeiture Program, and reviews and approves Constitutional Officers’ state reimbursement requests.
Oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period; collate financial reporting materials for state and federal grants. Manage and track the performance of invested assets in keeping with policies and investment guidelines.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: Has thorough knowledge of general accounting standards in particularly Governmental Accounting Standards, Financial Accounting Standards Board requirements, requirements for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Has thorough knowledge of internal financial controls and safeguards for receipt of revenue, costs, and expenditures. Has considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration. Has general knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of public administration. Is able to analyze financial data and present clear and concise information. Is able to plan, direct and coordinate the work of subordinate employees. Is able to use common office machines. Is able to compile technical information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports. Is able to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in analyzing and applying standards to a variety of situations. Is able to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential financial reports and files. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts within department and division, and with co- workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time- off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the department and project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, program clients, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establish a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Organizing: Organizes work and that of subordinate staff well. Ensures that staff members know what results are expected of them and that they are regularly and appropriately informed of all city and department matters affecting them and/or of concern to them.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field and 5-7 years of increasingly responsible managerial accounting experience or a related field and 3 – 5 years of supervisory experience, preferable in a governmental setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.
Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which includes computers, calculators, etc. Must be able to move, lift or carry weights of twenty to 50 pounds. Must be able to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of informational documents, budget summaries, annual audits, budget worksheets, minutes, and related departmental records and reports. Requires the ability to prepare financial statements, budget ordinances, budgets, depreciation schedules, revenue projections, assessed valuation projections, tax rate projections, fund balance projects, revenue and expense reports, and various related financial reports and information, using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to speak before an audience with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatical form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to use and interpret various medical, legal, computer and government accounting terminology and language.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; to utilize basic systems of algebra; and to utilize statistical theories and inference.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate to high levels of stress.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.