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Grade 32


CLOSE DATE 04/10/2023

SUMMARY
Chief Accountants oversee the daily financial operations of a department or jurisdiction to ensure work is completed in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and guidelines and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines. Employees in this job class establish and maintain financial operating systems, policies, procedures, and other internal controls to ensure funds are properly expended. Chief Accountants oversee the maintenance of financial accounts and records, preparation of financial reports, reconciling of accounts, processing of accounts receivable and payable, and participating in department audits. Employees also participate in the development and monitoring of the annual department budget. Chief Accountants supervise subordinate staff for the purposes of assigning work, monitoring performance, providing feedback, and training personnel. Work is performed in an office setting and involves a broader variety, more difficult, and more complex assignments than employees in the Principal Accountant job class. Chief Accountants may serve as the chief financial officer and business officer for a jurisdiction or major department.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:
Oversees the daily operations and provides strategic direction to department and ensures compliance to federal, state, and local guidelines and laws (e.g., Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)).
Creates (or assists in the creation of) and maintains a departmental budget.
Hires, trains, delegates work to, supervises, and evaluates subordinates (e.g., senior accountants, accountants, accounting assistants, revenue examiners, payroll specialists, administrative assistants, purchasing agents).
Oversees the supervision of the bank deposit and reconciliation process and creates deposit general ledger entries.
Oversees the maintenance of the general ledger by reviewing it for accuracy, creating journal entries and general ledger adjustments, reconciling the general ledger, and opening and closing the books.
Coordinates audits (e.g., internal, external, workers\xe2\x80\x99 compensation, Department of Labor, Tennessee Valley Authority) of the department by maintaining audit-related records throughout the year, communicating with the audit company throughout the audit process, assigning audit-related work to staff, and reviewing final audit for accuracy and completeness.
Oversees the supervision of the accounts payable (AP) department by reviewing and approving subordinate work, reconciling AP reports with tax disbursements, and verifying and transferring funds to cover payments.
Oversees the supervision of the accounts receivables (AR) process reviewing invoices before they are printed, auditing cash drawers and/or safes, estimating fees and penalties, and approving refunds.
Oversees the supervision of the payroll department by reviewing and reconciling payroll information, signing off on payroll reports, checks, and automatic deposits, and creating payroll journal entries.
Monitors and troubleshoots the computer system (e.g., payroll, billing, accounting) with the IT department.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The following Minimum Qualifications are required for this job. You must demonstrate possession of these qualifications by providing a detailed description of your related experience in the work history section of your application. Please note that replicating or restating these minimum qualifications or the information from the Personnel Board\xe2\x80\x99s job description as your own work experience will result in your disqualification. Please describe your work experience in your own words to represent the work you have performed that is related to the minimum qualifications for this job.

• Bachelor\'s Degree in accounting, finance, business administration with a minimum of 30 semester hours in accounting coursework.
• Experience supervising employees to include training and directing the work of multiple subordinates.
• Experience using automated computer systems to post and balance financial transactions.
• Experience reconciling financial accounts and reviewing journal entries.
• Experience preparing, analyzing, reviewing, and approving accounting functions such as general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial statements, payroll, budgeting.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite to include Excel and Word.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
• Master\'s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.
• Experience working as an internal or external auditor, reviewing financial reports, and writing financial reports.

COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptability & Flexibility.
• Computer & Technology Operations.
• Leadership & Management.
• Learning & Memory.
• Mathematical & Statistical Skills.
• Oral Communication & Comprehension.
• Physical Abilities.
• Planning & Organizing.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making.
• Professionalism & Integrity.
• Psychomotor Abilities.
• Researching & Referencing.
• Reviewing, Inspecting & Auditing.
• Self-Management & Initiative.
• Sensory Abilities.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal.
• Technical & Job-Specific Knowledge.
• Technical Skills.
• Training & Facilitation.
• Written Communication & Comprehension.

CRITICAL KNOWLEDGES:

• Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to federal, state, and or local taxes.
• Knowledge of budgetary principles and procedures, and encumbrances/expenditures such as revenues, expenditures, and appropriations involved in establishing and maintaining budgets.
• Knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standards Board regulations and standards.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their application.
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and terminology, such as debit, credit, journal entry, general ledger, trial balance, cash flows, income statement, and balance sheet.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is conducted almost exclusively indoors in an office setting. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Persons requiring special conditions to accommodate a disability when completing the application should contact the Personnel Board at 205-279-3500 before the announcement closing date. Qualified applicants who believe they will need reasonable accommodation in the examination process should complete and submit an Accommodation Request Form. You may obtain an Accommodation Request Form by contacting our ADA Ombudsperson at ADAO@pbjcal.org, or by accessing the "Request for Accommodation" form through the following website:
http://www.pbjcal.org/

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County (Personnel Board) provides a public personnel system based on merit principles. The Personnel Board strives for the constant improvement of the public service by employing and developing the best qualified persons available. The Personnel Board provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Employment decisions are made by the Merit System municipality or governmental agency in which the position exists. Each Merit System municipality, agency, or jurisdiction administers its own equal employment opportunity programs in compliance with applicable state and/or federal laws and regulations.