Senior Accountant at Virginia Department of Social Services in Charlottesville, VA, United States

Job description

• This job announcement is a courtesy job post for the City of Charlottelville local Social Services agency. It is not a position of the Virginia Department of Social Services or any other Commonwealth of Virginia agency. Local employment opportunities may also be available through the local agency’s city or county website/job board(s).
• The Sr. Accountant position performs advanced level financial accounting work in the analysis, reviewing, and reporting of finances for the Charlottesville Department of Social Services. Works under limited supervision and reports to the DSS Deputy Director of Administration.
• Required to respond upon activation from the City Manager of the Continuity of Operations Plan and/or Emergency Operations Plan. Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Department guidelines.
• Contribute to the delivery of programs and services in Charlottesville that support meeting essential needs, which promote self-sufficiency, and that enhance the quality of life for all residents in our community. To learn more about the Charlottesville Department of Social Services, please visit: https://www.charlottesville.gov/366/Social-Services

Responsibilities

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
• Reconciles all funds and accounts for assigned areas of responsibility; researches discrepancies, collection information, non-reconciliation of accounts, and reports findings to management in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Assists in planning, reviewing, preparing and monitoring routine and special monthly and annual budgets and budget projections for assigned areas of responsibility. Determines how data impacts financial statements.
• Works regularly as a liaison to other agencies/departments and/or component units to provide information and to resolve accounting issues.
• Responsible for knowing and following accounting pronouncements issued by various regulatory bodies, such as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and recommends revisions to established policies and procedures as indicated.
• Prepares and submits routine and special costing, audit, financial and budgetary analysis reports and statements for City, State and Federal agencies, as required.
• Provides, tracks, monitors, and verifies bank wire transfers, disbursements and appropriations for assigned accounts and funds, according to supervisor's instructions.
• Provides technical support and advice to external auditors and regulatory agencies; prepares and assists with review of annual audit and financial schedules for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Leads preparation and review of assigned portion of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for accuracy and completeness.
• Conducts financial analysis and reports on efficiency and effectiveness of departmental financial programs.
• Conducts general ledger management, such as posting, fixing errors, and reconciliation of accounts and journal transfers, of various departments' programs.
• Conducts internal audits of payroll, accounts payable, accounting, and grants; assists external auditors.
• Prepares and disburses customer and/or client accounting documents and correspondence and resolves inquiries by customers, clients and/or the general public for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Approves expenditures for assigned accounts, funds, and other financial areas of responsibility, as delegated by supervisor.
• Recommends changes to existing departmental policies and procedures or new department policies and procedures.
• Participates in the development of procedures and suggests data reporting changes.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field AND considerable years accounting experience.
• Two years of college-level coursework AND extensive years of accounting experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
• Job Knowledge
• Comprehensive knowledge of accounting theory, terminology, principles, and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of the laws, ordinances and regulations governing municipal finance.
• Reading
• Advanced: ability to read, understand, and interpret financial reports and financial policies and procedures.
• Writing
• Intermediate: ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, prepare business letters, expositions, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.
• Math
• Advanced: ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories, work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables.
• Communication Skill
• Intermediate: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, city staff, financial agencies, auditors, and vendors. Provides and receives complex information. Contacts that may involve stressful, negative interactions which requires high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas.
• Independence and Decision-Making
• General Direction: normally performs the job by following general instructions or established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is some discretion when making decisions among a few easily identifiable choices of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance is reviewed frequently.
• Technical Skill
• Advanced: high level skills and extensive knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs and/or processes organization wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively. Expert level of skill of agency's systems and software with the ability to manipulate, write own reports, customize data and teach others. Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• Manages and reviews financial transactions, accounting, budget, and purchasing documents; and does research to audit documents for assigned unit or division. May recommend budget allocations.
• May direct, supervise, guide, instruct, and monitor quality control of less experienced staff.
• Other Characteristics
• Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Work effectively with sensitive and confidential issues.
• Frequent change of tasks.
• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Tedious or exacting work.
• Working closely with others as part of a team.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• Certification as a CPA.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP system.

Skills

Required

• Frequent change of tasks.
• Tedious or exacting work.

Preferred

• Certification as a CPA.

Benefits

• The preferred hiring amount is between $70,360.84 - $88,137.29 Annually. Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following retirement benefits:
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
• Defined Contribution 401a Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please refer to the “Benefits” tab within this posting or visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage.
• Note: This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.