Senior Accountant - Relief

Under general direction, performs the more complex and responsible professional accounting work, including auditing, analyzing, and verifying financial records, preparing financial and statistical reports, providing information to County staff regarding accounting practices and procedures, and reconciling general ledger accounts; participates in the preparation of the assigned department’s budgets; prepares year-end audit reports and schedules; provides technical and responsible support to the assigned manager in areas of expertise; plans, organizes and supervises the work of accounting staff; maintains complex accounting records and reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff. Exercises supervision over assigned professional and technical staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the advanced level class in the professional accounting series. Incumbents work under general direction and exercise a high level of discretion and independent judgment in performing the full range of routine to complex accounting and financial record-keeping functions. Successful performance of the work requires extensive knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures, fund accounting, and fiscal management. Incumbents provide financial and analytical services for the department, provide daily management of fiscal services, and directly or indirectly supervise professional, technical and clerical staff in the department’s financial operations. This class is distinguished from Accountant I / II by the scope of supervision or intra-departmental coordination, and by the complexity of the department’s budget and reporting requirements.
(Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides complex professional and technical assistance in the administration and implementation of the County's financial, auditing, and accounting programs, including financial report development, budget monitoring, forecasting, and collection of revenues.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Plans, coordinates and supervises daily accounting operations.
• Provides technical accounting expertise to staff, other department personnel, department heads and outside auditing firms.
• Trains, assigns, supervises and evaluates the work of assigned support staff; participates in the selection of staff and implementation of employee discipline.
• Analyzes, revises and implements improved accounting procedures and policies; examines alternative accounting systems to improve data entry controls and report formats.
• Participates in the preparation, development and maintenance of the department’s budget.
• Schedules and coordinates internal and external audits; conducts annual audit of financial statements for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Maintains accurate, complete, complex accounting records, and prepares necessary financial and statistical reports including cost reports and grant administration; prepares trial balances and schedules; adjusts, evaluates and re-examines journals and ledgers until corrected balances are obtained.
• Prepares work papers for various reports for the County and other agencies, as well as for internal auditing purposes.
• Directs accounting for fixed assets in assigned area of responsibility.
• Analyzes financial performance; prepares periodic and special reports on departmental financial and operational condition; reports findings, projections, alternatives and recommendations.
• Responds to inquiries, requests for assistance and complaints related fiscal operations in assigned areas of responsibility from County staff, Board members, other agencies and the general public.
• Attends various meetings, workshops, seminars, etc., as required or appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• All pertinent federal, state and county laws, codes, ordinances, regulations and standards pertaining to accountability of funds.
• Principles, practices, methods and procedures of fiscal management, including cost accounting, government accounting, fixed asset accounting, auditing, procurement, financial modeling and budgeting.
• General principles and practices of data processing and its applicability to accounting operations.
• Techniques of feasibility analysis and planning.
• Principles and practices of business organization and public administration.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping.
• Modern principles and practices of supervision and training.
• Information systems technology and specific applications for financial record-keeping and reporting.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Interpret, analyze and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Train, supervise and evaluate assigned staff.
• Keep abreast of trends and requirements in County government financial record-keeping and reporting.
• Conduct research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Prepare, examine, analyze and verify financial documents and reports.
• Establish, revise and maintain financial records, procedures and controls.
• Make accurate revenue estimates.
• Conduct feasibility and cost studies.
• Perform mathematical computations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field and three (3) years of responsible professional public accounting experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

• None.