NATURE OF WORK

Serves the public with supervisory and professional, advanced general or highly specialisted accounting or fiscal work.

DISTINGUISING FEATURES

Work involves planning, organizing, and directing the accounting and financial activities, reporting of financial information, disbursement of funds, and ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and reporting requirements.  Work is performed through subordinate supervisors, professional, technical, and accounting support staff.  This is a single position class.  The employee has regular contact by phone and in person with department heads and managers regarding various accounting and reporting information; with external financial and governmental auditors; with financial advisors regarding debt financing issues; with various banking institutions, regarding various banking functions and relationships; and with citizens, to answer questions and resolve problems.  Work is performed with considerable professional independence and latitude according to professional standards, federal and state laws, local ordinances, rules and regulations.  The employee may also represent the Finance Director at meetings, as assigned.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS(These essential duties are only illustrative.)

Supervises and participates in maintaining and updating of financial accounting and reporting systems, including fund accounting, budgeting, employee and pension payroll and benefits, accounts payable, cash disbursements, cash receipts, fixed assets, general city billings, plus cost allocation and interdepartmental billing.

Supervises and participates in making changes to accounting systems in response to changes in GAAP, legal requirements, internal controls, and operational improvements.

Prepares, designs, modifies, and evaluates financial reports to generate the City’s annual financial statements and single audit report; and administers reconciliation of accounts.

Supervises and participates in daily management and direction of the City’s local sales tax program including directing the work of staff involved in tax collection and recording, maintenance of the reporting and tracking systems used to administer the program and resolution of problems and disputes between the City and taxpayers.

Coordinates and resolves problems with other departments, local, state, and federal agencies, and the general public.

Directs staff in preparing audit work papers and schedules; and confers with external auditors regarding prospective changes in reporting practices to avoid possible audit exceptions.

Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of supervisory, professional, and technical subordinates; directs and coordinates activities of subordinates responsible for general and specialized accounting.

Develops, implements and evaluates accounting controls, policies and procedures to ensure assets, liabilities, and revenue and expenses are properly stated; reviews, recommends, and implements changes in the automated financial reporting system and related procedures to provide assurance that adequate internal control, sufficient security, and adaptability are present.

Oversees installation of new accounting software and establishes accounting procedures; and directs close out and year end accounting and set up for new fiscal year.

Reviews official financial statements used for city borrowing and prepares supplemental schedules as needed; reviews or prepares funding documentation and bond covenant conformance and repayment schedules.

Prepares periodic special reports and calculations; compiles information used in collective bargaining and actuarial studies.

Stays current on changes and developments in GASB, Federal Single Audit regulations, and GFOA guidelines.

Maintains reasonable and predictable attendance.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the direction of the Finance Director with considerable latitude and independence in carrying out tasks and assignments to completion.  Work is reviewed for accuracy, completeness compliance with governing policies and procedures, and annually for overall results achieved.  Special projects or situations may be reviewed at conclusion.  The employee uses a variety of guidelines in performing work, including state laws and local ordinances, federal and state rules and reporting requirements, professional accounting principles and standards, and City rules and regulations.  These are used to assure compliance and accurate interpretation of decisions.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises supervision over supervisory, professional, technical and program support staff engaged in carrying out the various functions and requirements of their respective responsibilities.  Supervisory responsibilities include assigning and evaluating work, resolving personnel problems, setting performance goals and standards, making hiring and disciplinary decisions, and performing other supervisory functions.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed primarily in an office setting and is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying items under 25 pounds such as papers and files.  Work may require periods of extended computer use and performing tasks with set deadlines.

SUCCESS FACTORS (KSAs)

Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting, finance, auditing, and expenditure control systems and procedures.

Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices, as applied to governmental accounting, and related systems and procedures.

Thorough knowledge of municipal policies and state and federal laws relating to governmental accounting and financial auditing.

Thorough knowledge of automated accounting systems.

Knowledge of MS Office Suite or other word processing, spreadsheet and data base software standards that may be adopted by City departments.

Ability to apply accounting principles to the development, maintenance, or auditing of fiscal and accounting records.

Ability to analyze accounting or fiscal systems and prepare accurate and timely financial statements and reports.

Ability to evaluate, develop, and initiate revisions in established accounting systems, procedures, records, and controls.

Ability to manage a team with a broad range of specific tasks.

Ability to verify data, formulate conclusions, and prepare complex and comprehensive financial reports.

Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and complete financial records and reports, and manage internal preparations for external financial audits.

Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a diverse group of people.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by the work of the position.

Skill in recognizing and reconciling discrepancies in the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers.

Skill in the operation of a personal computer.

EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field and 8 – 10 years of increasingly responsible governmental financial accounting and reporting experience, including at least 3 years of supervisory experience.  Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training, which ensures the ability to perform the work, may be substituted for the required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a valid Illinois driver’s license.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification desirable.

Residency Requirement:

Effective June 1, 2018 all newly hired employees, including newly hired Department Heads, shall live within the municipal boundaries of City of Rockford within six (6) months of their completion of their introductory period.

Classified employees hired after January 1, 1984 may live anywhere in Winnebago County or anywhere within an area fifteen (15) miles from the Public Safety Building within six (6) months of their date of completion of probation.  Employees hired prior to January 1, 1984 shall be subject to their conditions of employment in effect at that time.

All applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunity without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, sexual orientation, military status, order of protection status or unfavorable discharge from military service.