Principal Accountant | City of Rockford

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT 

NATURE OF WORK

Serves the public with supervisory and advanced specialized professional accounting work.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Work involves performing professional accounting work and planning and supervising the work of accounting and accounting support staff in the maintenance of financial accounting and reporting systems.  Work is performed with independence, according to generally accepted accounting principles, and within the framework of established laws, regulations, procedures, policies, rules, and procedures governing the financial accounting and reporting.  Positions in the class supervise accounting work.  This is the third of a three level series of classifications.  It is distinguished from the Senior Accountant by greater complexity and significance or consequence of assignments and responsibility.  The employee is responsible for consistent and accurate financial reporting structure, punctuation and layout. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (These essential duties are only illustrative.) 

Controls input and assures accuracy of general ledger postings; codes journal entries and reviews account coding of transactions prior to data entry. 

Controls the addition and deletion of accounts to the chart of accounts; maintains indexes and coding structure for ease in preparing financial statements. 

Assists Accounting Manager in the preparation of annual comprehensive financial statements; administers the reconciliation of accounts. 

Prepares various work papers, schedules and financial statements in advance of financial audits by external independent auditors; confers with auditors and implements changes in accounting and financial reporting and internal controls. 

Assists Accounting Manager with installation of new accounting software and establishment of accounting procedures; assists with close out and year-end accounting and set up for new fiscal year. 

Reviews and recommends changes to automated financial accounting system and related procedures to enhance internal control. 

Supports internal City departments with accounting needs, including grant monitoring and distributing GATA documents. 

Prepares periodic special reports and calculations. 

Manages debt service. 

Creates and Posts journal entries timely to maintain ledger accuracy. 

Posts accounting check issuances to general ledger. 

Monitors City’s cash needs. 

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

Maintains reasonable and predictable attendance. 

SUPERVISOR RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Accounting Manager and Finance Director.  Work is reviewed for the quality of work performed and effective functioning of organizational areas of responsibility in conformance with applicable laws, ordinances, policies and regulations.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED 

Exercises supervision over technical and program support staff, or their direct work output, 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 requires periods of extended computer use and performing tasks with set deadlines and volume processing. 

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 government accounting, and related systems and procedures. 

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

Considerable knowledge of automated accounting systems. 

Knowledge of MS Office Suite or other word processing, spreadsheet and data base software standard 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 operate computerized accounting, budgeting, and related programs. 

Ability to coordinate or supervise others effectively. 

Ability to sit for extended periods of time.           

Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and complete financial records and reports, and assist in preparing 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 entries to 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 5 – 7 years of increasingly responsible governmental financial accounting experience, including at least 2 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

 Residency Requirement:

 Modified November 15, 2021:  All employees (except Police Sworn and Fire Sworn) hired on or after June 1, 2018 shall reside anywhere in Winnebago County or within fifteen (15) miles of Rockford City Hall (425 E. State Street, Rockford, IL 61104) within six (6) months after their introductory period.  Department Heads shall live within the municipal boundaries of the City of Rockford.