Accountant II

Position Overview

The Accountant II (Payroll) position is responsible for supporting the accounting and recordkeeping of employee compensation and benefits, with 50% of the work focused on payroll accounting activities and the other 50% on general governmental accounting tasks. This role involves reconciling, analyzing, and resolving discrepancies, reviewing quarterly and annual tax filings, and providing support and resolution to employees regarding tax withholding, W-2 reporting issues, and other general accounting matters. The Accountant II (Payroll) will work closely with various levels of the finance team, as well as with Legal and Human Resources team members, internal and external auditors, and other colleagues to foster development and create a collaborative team environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

(All duties listed may not be included in any one position nor does the list include all tasks found in a position of this class.)
PAYROLL ACTIVITIES

• Support timely payroll processing and related services and activities for the organization’s staff.
• Ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations, pension plans, various payroll deductions, and other mandated requirements, including related analysis.
• Support all payroll disbursements, maintaining extensive backup documentation.
• Review agency-wide timecards and Human Resource action forms, and process in-house employee payroll disbursements and benefit changes.
• Prepare and file complex tax reports, process payroll journal entries, perform payroll reconciliations, and investigate and correct accounting errors.
• Support the implementation and integration of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for in-house payroll functions and other process improvements.
• Stay up to date on changes in state or federal payroll legislation.
• Assist with state unemployment and local tax agency account setup.
• Coordinate internal and external reporting to ensure timely W-2 submissions and proper payroll tax reporting.
• Provide excellent customer service by offering timely responses and assistance to staff regarding payroll questions.

• Plan, coordinate, review, and participate in advanced level professional analytical and administrative finance and accounting duties.
• Maintain and monitor financial management systems and records; ensure financial records are accurate and comply with regulations, codes, policies, rules, and procedures.
• Coordinate and support the preparation of organization records for internal audits, the annual external financial audits, and audits by various governmental and outside agencies.
• Participate in period-end closing procedures, including closing duties and complex reconciliations and financial reports.
• Develop and implement automated procedures and processes to create efficiencies with reporting workflows.
• Research balance tax transactions and submit monthly/quarterly files.
• Prepare various journals for the month-end closing process.
• Clear cash deposits and appropriate transfers from suspense ensuring coding is reasonable.
• Perform analysis and prepare schedules for auditors or management as requested.
• Interact with Finance management to explain processes and reply to inquiries.

Education, Experience, and Qualifications

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• CPA preferred; MBA beneficial but not required.

• Two to four years of recent full-time analytical payroll, finance, and/or accounting operations experience.
• Experience with transactional calculations, deductions, accounting, reporting, and reconciling accounts.
• Knowledge and experience with the principles and practices of financial accounting, audits, and Governmental fund accounting and reporting.
• Familiarity with laws, regulations, and reporting requirements pertaining to municipal finance administration.
• Experience preparing for and coordinating internal and external financial compliance and performance audits.
• Ability to implement and maintain internal control procedures and transaction processing efficiency.
• Experience with Kronos and Tyler ERP or implementing a new payroll or accounting system is preferred.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and prioritization skills; attention to detail.
• Technical Accounting or analytical/reconciling experience required.
• Broad experience with cross-functional teamwork and interaction with all levels of an organization.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and report financial and transactional data.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• High skillset in data retrieval, manipulation, calculation, and analysis using an ERP system and Excel.
• Intermediate Excel skills including VLOOKUP’s, IFs, SUMIFs, and pivot tables preferred.
• Must successfully pass a pre-employment criminal background check and credit check.

Other Requirements

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Sitting for periods of time up to 90% of time worked.
• Adequate hearing and visual acuity to successfully perform the essential job requirements.
• Ability to speak and comprehend English coherently to exchange information in person and via phone.
• Must be physically capable of lifting upwards of 25 lbs.
• Up to 25% required travel throughout Madison County to various county offices and buildings.