Washington County, MN

JOB SPECIFICS

The Accountant II administers the financial operations for Community Corrections in compliance with state and federal regulations, county policy, and generally accepted accounting principles. Primary responsibilities include accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial grant management, preparing department financial statements and reports, and preparing and monitoring the department budget. The Accountant II is a professional level position that requires technical knowledge, independent judgment, accuracy, and the ability to meet multiple deadlines.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:

• Previous government accounting experience
• Previous work experience using JD Edward Enterprise One or similar financial management system
• Previous work experience preparing, maintaining, and analyzing financial records
• Previous accounts payable and accounts receivable experience
• Previous government budget preparation experience including compiling financial data to assist in developing budgets

SELECTION TECHNIQUE: Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

HOURS/DAYS: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. After training is complete, this position requires 3 full days in the office with the option to work remote 2 days. Work schedules may vary depending on department business needs.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RATE: $34.94 - $41.30 Hourly

E-Verify Participation: Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

E- Verify Participation (Download PDF reader)

Right to work Poster (Download PDF reader)

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Accounting Manager the Accountant II follows generally accepted accounting principles to prepare, maintain and analyze financial records necessary to satisfy internal and external reporting requirements. The Accountant II is a professional level position that requires technical knowledge, independent judgment, accuracy, and the ability to meet multiple deadlines. The Accountant II serves as a lead worker who provides guidance to other County departments regarding payroll, the general ledger, accounts payable, or accounts receivable.

EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The Accountant II requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field and three(3) years of paid professional accounting experience. A CPA, CPP, GFM, CIA or CMA are desirable and may be substituted for one year of experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE

Core Competencies (Download PDF reader) outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job.

• Promotes a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace
• Demonstrates knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, audit standards and practices, and current governmental fund accounting and reporting standards
• Demonstrates ability to perform functions and generate reports with the accounting software package
• Demonstrates an ability to generate complex special reports using available resources
• Demonstrates skills in mathematics
• Demonstrates the ability to work logically and accurately in performing accounting tasks
• Demonstrates the ability to provide lead work direction and training to others and to serve as a technical resource for staff
• Demonstrates considerable knowledge and proficiency in spreadsheet and database programs
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other employees, state and federal agencies
• Demonstrates ability to interpret and apply Minnesota Statutes and Rules.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that Accountant IIs may perform some or all of the following tasks depending on their areas of expertise.

Coordinate and oversee operations of countywide systems and subsidiary ledgers:

• Monitor system processes to maintain the integrity of disbursements, receipts, and recording of county financial activity
• Design, recommend, and implement business process changes for county financial operations
• Coordinate the resources necessary to maintain the optimum function of county financial systems – IT support, software upgrades, and software vendor support services
• Recommend policy and procedure changes to optimize workflow, internal controls, technical functionality, and cost efficiency
• Serve as subject matter expert during system implementation process
• Lead user groups related to subsystem/ledger responsibilities Lead or coordinate a financial activity:
• Serve as lead worker to paraprofessional and professional staff
• Provide guidance to paraprofessional and professional staff in other departments regarding accounting matters
• Train County employees to implement new financial systems or system upgrades
• Serve as a liaison to other County departments, government agencies, external auditors and vendors by responding to inquiries and working to resolve accounting issues
• May perform Accounting Supervisor duties during the Supervisor's absence Prepare, maintain and analyze financial records necessary to satisfy internal and external reporting requirements:
• Set up and maintain the chart of accounts, accounts payable, payroll, general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, and other financial records
• Oversee month-end/year-end close processes
• Interpret State statutes and changes in laws
• Prepare and submit a variety of financial reports to State and Federal agencies to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements for State statutes and Federal laws Oversee accounting procedures:
• Monitor revenues, expenditures, fund balance analysis, payroll, procurement, high level allocations, and tax settlements
• Review grant receipts and disbursements to insure compliance with County policies, State statutes, and Federal reporting requirements
• Coordinate audit procedures in all general ledger areas and system interfaces
• Review internal control procedures to comply with established procedures and regulations Assist with budget preparation:
• Provide financial data to assist departments in developing budgets
• Explain how to use the data provided and offer suggestions for what to consider when developing a budget
• Make recommendations for future budgets
• Conduct special projects assigned by management
• Perform other duties as assigned

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is sedentary in nature and involves sitting most of the time. Physical effort is light for the majority of work with lifting or carrying limited to 25 pounds intermittently. There is pressure associated with daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting deadlines. Report preparation and writing at times requires extended use of a keyboard. Work interruptions are frequent.

Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.

Washington County offers a comprehensive benefit package (Download PDF reader) including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance.

For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME exempt (salaried ) benefit package, click here.

For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME non-exempt (hourly) benefit package, click here.