What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Accountant position at Dane County?
The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within the next six (6) months.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION
As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
DEFINITION
Under general supervision, performs responsible professional accounting work compiling, analyzing and reconciling fiscal information. Maintains, analyzes and documents financial records. May work on developing, implementing and maintaining departmental accounting policies and procedures and internal controls. Monitors purchased services for compliance with contractual requirements, prepares fiscal and other reports. Performs related work as required.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Senior Accountants may work in one of the following departments or areas:
HUMAN SERVICES: Maintains complex accounting and financial control records. Prepares, analyzes, reviews and reconciles state revenue claiming reports. Prepares annual spreadsheets and year-end revenue and expenditure closing entries in cooperation with departmental management and accounting staff. May supervise accounting staff. Assists in the development of department budget, preparing policy analyses and summaries as required. Completes substantive analytic studies and written reports, develops and maintains departmental reports as well as provides technical assistance to departmental staff as necessary.
PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON and DANE COUNTY: Maintains complex accounting and financial control records. Prepares, analyzes, reviews and reconciles state revenue claiming reports. Prepares annual spreadsheets and year-end revenue and expenditure closing entries in cooperation with departmental management and accounting staff. Assists in the development of department budget, preparing policy analyses and summaries. Completes substantive analytic studies and written reports, develops and maintains departmental reports, and provides technical assistance to departmental staff. Assists in preparing audit documents for the external audit. Works with budget staff to ensure that accounting follows GAAP policies. Reviews entries and transactions for accuracy and appropriateness. Leads the quarterly budget projections process and reporting to City Finance. Prepares budget amendments.
BUDGET, CONTRACTS AND OPERATIONS: Performs onsite and/or desk contract compliance reviews of purchase of service providers, prepares related reports and best practice training documents. Maintains complex accounting and financial control records. Prepares, analyzes, reviews and reconciles state revenue claiming reports. Prepares annual spreadsheets and year-end revenue and expenditure closing entries in cooperation with departmental management and accounting staff. May supervise staff engaged in the recording and compilation of purchase of service contract compliance records. Assists in the development of department budget, preparing policy analyses and summaries. Works in cooperation with team of staff to provide analysis of budget variances throughout the year to the FMS Division Administrator, completes substantive analytic studies and written reports, develops and maintains departmental reports as well as provides technical assistance to departmental staff.
CONTROLLER’S OFFICE: Acts as central contact for departments on grant programs. Maintains a database of active grant programs with revenue and expenditure accounts, department contact, name and amount. Maintains a knowledge of current grant reporting requirements and ensures compliance. Acts as administrator for access to federal and state programs such as grants.gov, asap.gov, justgrants.gov. Provides training on uses of this system, acts as authorized signer for grant applications. Coordinates single audit process with departments and drafts Schedule of Federal and State awards for auditors. Reviews minutes of the County Board meetings to identify new or changes to existing grant programs. Prepares quarterly billings to the City of Madison for shared expenses including capital projects. Tracks capital projects to ensure billing is complete by project end. Oversees general billing work including setting up charge codes, assisting with billing issues, prepares invoice maintenance batches for adjustments and voids. Reconciles General Billing module to General Ledger, identifies discrepancies and prepare adjusting entries. Set up and maintain credit card payment processing systems for departments. Reconciles departmental credit card revenues monthly at a minimum to ensure recording in MUNIS. Assists with and serves as backup on recording of fixed asset purchases and calculation of depreciation. Reviews invoice maintenance, change orders and PO maintenance. Reviews, approves and enters purchase order maintenance requests from Purchasing. Compiles information needed for the indirect cost plan consultant.
SYSTEMS EMPHASIS: Plans, implements and maintains integration of the county’s general ledger system with the department. Provides the department’s management and accounting staff with budgetary projection and control mechanisms using electronic data processing (EDP) adaptations in cooperation with the Dane County Controller’s office. Designs and implements budgeting systems that allow the department to connect with and support countywide systems and departmental budget systems to allow for customized, detailed financial reporting and projections for department managers along with required reports to the State. Work is also performed on developing and managing centralized processes and information systems for integration of purchase of service (POS) contract monitoring, compliance and reporting activities.
Education, Training and Experience:
Minimum Requirements: Any combination of education, training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university, and three (3) years’ professional accounting experience. Preferred Requirements: Additional credit will be awarded for: (1) Governmental and centralized accounting systems and auditing experience; and (2) Experience in designing accounting systems with EDP applications.
Special Requirements:
Must have a valid driver’s license, or access to reliable personal transportation, or equivalent.
Background Check Statement: Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job’s responsibilities. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record. However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position’s responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant’s criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
For Bilingual Positions:
- Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.).
- Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job.
*If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/ examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.
Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:
Ability to operate a personal computer for prolonged periods. Ability to see and hear within normal ranges with or without adaptive devices. Ability to use finger, wrist and hand motions.
Comprehensive knowledge of established accounting principles and practices. Knowledge of cost accounting, auditing techniques and program budgeting methods. Knowledge of financial analysis and reporting. Knowledge of, or ability to learn governmental accounting and budget systems; County and departmental functions and regulations. Knowledge of personal computer usage including Microsoft Office Suite applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Access, etc.). Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills. Ability to compile, verify, and analyze complex financial records and reports. Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles and procedures. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships. Ability and flexibility to move from one assignment to the next and to apply professional knowledge to solve special or unique problems. Ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
Salary : $42 - $55
