Assistant Director of Accounting

Assistant Director of Accounting is an Open-Competitive Onondaga County Civil Service position and if hired, continued employment will be contingent on qualifying for, successfully passing, and reachability off the applicable Onondaga County Civil Service Exam.

After a conditional offer of employment, a favorable background check, verification of education and work history, and illegal drug screening must be completed prior to starting employment. Proof of identity and legal work authorization will also be required.

SALARY RANGE: $75,955-$90,000

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

The work involves professional accounting tasks including the development, examination, review, or analysis of financial and accounting records. The nature of the work requires applications of General Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP) to municipal, multi-fund accounting. The nature of the work requires that the incumbent consults with government managers and administrators to evaluate the need for improved efficiencies to accounting procedures, and to design procedural changes to meet identified needs. The Assistant Director will represent the Director in his/her absence. General supervision is received from the Chief Financial Officer, or another administrative superior, with considerable leeway allowed for exercise of independent judgement. An employee in this class supervises professional and clerical accounting staff. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

• Supervises, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of a small number of accountants and/or support account clerical staff in an accounting operation.
• Supervises input in preparation of month-end reconciliations and supervises actual month end and year end closings ensuring completion in a timely manner
• Reviews preparation of journal entries to detect errors and to ensure corrections are made within established time tables.
• Independently performs the more complex accounting duties.
• Independently performs accounting work related to the automated system, such as ledger maintenance, transaction classification, or fiscal reporting, by applying established accounting methods.
• Applies established and accepted accounting methods and procedures in the preparation of supporting accounting statements.
• Verifies, codes, and classifies financial transactions following established and accepted accounting methods and procedures.
• Determines volume of data entry to provide equitable distribution of work flow to accounting staff.
• Designs and assists in the design of special accounting schedules, forms, or reports Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency of existing processes and proposing enhancements.
• Support, adhere to, and help maintain strong internal control policies and procedures.
• Trains and motivates staff to maximize accuracy and efficiency of the accounting function.
• Provide support with the annual external audit as requested.
• Prepares audit schedules as necessary.
• Perform other duties as directed.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Thorough knowledge of principles, theories, techniques, and procedures of modern accounting.
• Thorough knowledge of basic trends and current developments in the field of accounting.
• Ability to apply established and accepted accounting principles and techniques.
• Ability to compose accurate accounting reports and statements and ability to present same.
• Ability to select and apply the accounting principles, technique, or procedure best suited to a particular assignment.
• Ability to supervise staff in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
• Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts and ability to draw conclusions.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate accounting problems and to devise solutions.
• Ability to train professional and/or clerical staff involved in operation of accounting systems.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:

Two (2) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Accountant III or Auditor III.

Open Competitive:

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a baccalaureate degree in accounting, or a baccalaureate degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours, or its equivalent, in accounting and four (4) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in professional accounting or auditing, one (1) year of which must have been in supervising staff and analyzing, designing, implementing and evaluating accounting functions; or,

NOTE: Successful completion of graduate semester hours in accounting or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for work experience as follows: Thirty (30) graduate semester hours is equivalent to one (1) year of work experience; sixty (60) graduate semester hours is equivalent to two (2) years of work experience.