Budget & Technology Liaison

Serves as liaison between Finance and the City’s Information Technology Department.  Maintains, develops, and improves budget reports generated in COGNOS report writing system.  Provides information with accuracy and timeliness within the guidelines of Governmental Accounting Standards Board procedures, City policies and procedures and federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.  Reports to Budget Manager or other designated person and works with co-workers, directors, auditors and elected officials and their representatives to provide accurate and accessible records.

• Creates and maintains requested reports in COGNOS and coordinates with IT staff to ensure successful resolution of Finance related questions/issues.
• Interprets reports, explains the programming process, advises on available resources and prepares comparative analyses of operating programs.
• Creates procedure manuals and provides technical/procedural guidance and training of General Ledger and Budget software modules to co-workers and newly hired staff.
• Attends software conferences and works closely with IT in testing environment to ensure smooth transition of all scheduled system upgrades.  Provides necessary training to co-workers and departments following upgrades. 
• Assists in accounting and budgeting duties and provides data to internal/external auditors.
• As assigned    Performs other duties of a similar nature.

Required minimum qualifications:

Education:  Associates Degree in Accounting

Experience: Two (2) years’ experience in accounting and or computer science  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

• Knowledge of technology principles, concepts, techniques and fundamentals of information processing and information programming languages.
• Proficiency in database integration, report generation tools, application systems and adaptability to change. 
• Knowledge of principles and practices of budget preparation, review and analysis procedures, problem solving and interpersonal relations.
• Familiarity with computerized financial and accounting systems, relevant federal, state, and local laws and county policies and procedures, governmental accounting and financial management.
• Interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction. 
• Mastery of operation of personal computers and standard software 
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently. 
• Knowledge of principles and practices of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Finance, and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

• Data Utilization:  Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Human Interaction:   Requires the ability to work with others to coordinate the more complex programs and more complex problems associated with the responsibilities of the job. Often represents the department and/or organization when dealing with others.
• Equipment:  Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal:  Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Math:  Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
• Functional Reasoning:   Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Situational Reasoning:  Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.
• Physical Abilities:   Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
• Sensory Requirements:   Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors:   Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

 The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.