Financial Accountant (City Controller's Office - Non Civil Service)

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Job Summary

The Financial Accountant prepares multiple sections of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), prepares various component unit financial statements, prepares the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and the Schedule of Expenditures of State Awards (SESA), contributes leadership to external and internal audit engagements, and represents CCO as a member of various committees.

Job Description Overview

As a member of the Financial Reporting Team in the City Controller's Office (CCO), the Financial Accountant prepares multiple sections of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), prepares various component unit financial statements, prepares the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and the Schedule of Expenditures of State Awards (SESA), contributes leadership to external and internal audit engagements, and represents CCO as a member of various committees.

Essential Functions

• Provides direction and support for the work of accounting staff in all City departments, and the CCO Financial Reporting Division, related to financial accounting and reporting matters.
• Works with Managers to set deadlines and determine requirements for work performed by financial staff in all City departments.
• Performs duties as a subject matter expert in areas of governmental accounting standards related to, but not limited to, the following topics: financial statement preparation, revenue and expense recognition, capital assets, long-term debt issuance and reporting, developer payables, compensated absences, other post-employment benefits, net pension liabilities, state and federal grants, pollution remediation, landfill closure and post-closure liabilities, cash and investments, lease liabilities and receivables, property and sales tax receivables, component units, tax abatements, franchise fees, hotel occupancy tax, investment reporting and reconciliation, inventory, risk and legal liabilities, accounts payable, fund balance and net position classification, and wire transfer reporting and reconciliation.
• Interprets and applies over 100 Governmental Accounting Standards Board statements, concept statements, interpretations, technical bulletins, and implementation guides, and implements new items in the City’s financial statements, as well as leads/attends meetings to communicate processes and changes to City department staff and management.
• Reviews, interprets, and implements accounting impact of legal contracts, agreements, City resolutions and ordinances, and other documents, and provides guidance for implementation to departments throughout the City.
• Communicates with all levels of City employees, including Directors, Assistant Directors, managers, and staff on financial accounting and reporting matters.
• Supervises and provides training and instruction on finance and accounting issues to every City department, in both governmental and proprietary reporting units, all having specific accounting scenarios and different business processes.
• Review agenda items, identify errors, provide suggestions for corrections, and approve agenda items for all City departments prior to submission to the Chief Financial Officer.
• May provide detailed direction and interpretation of agenda items for implementation in accounting policies and practices set forth in approved Council resolutions and ordinances.
• Reviews detailed grant transactions, provides direction for corrections and updates to grant reporting, and prepares and reconciles City-wide SEFA and SESA.
• Prepares detailed journal entries, reconciliations, working papers, financial statements, and other supporting documents, and notes disclosures for multiple sections of the ACFR. Serves as a primary point of contact for the annual financial audit.
• Oversees, reviews, identifies errors, provides corrections, and serves as the final approver for journal entries in the financial system for all City departments.
• Prepares analytical review of changes in account balances from year-to-year with detailed research and supporting documentation.
• Plans and participates in accounting system upgrades and testing.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations for improvements to operations, and directs, supervises, and manages others to implement corrective action.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive understanding of governmental accounting and Governmental Accounting Standards Board pronouncements.
• Skill in analyzing, preparing, checking, and balancing routine fiscal transactions and accounts.
• Ability to train staff on accounting-related systems and procedures.
• Ability to interpret and apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to a complex governmental accounting system.
• Comprehensive understanding of federal and state grant accounting and reporting.
• Ability to complete approximately forty hours of annual continuing education seminars and training to maintain and improve technical and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage information technology activities to ensure effective operations.
• Ability to devise solutions to administrative problems and to plan and review the work of others.
• Ability to analyze, recommend, and implement internal control systems.
• Ability to disseminate information through the preparation of concise and accurate reports.
• Ability to demonstrate resilience in facing and overcoming challenges.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

Three (3) years’ experience in Accounting.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting OR Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business, with successful completion of at least 30 hours of Accounting coursework.

Licenses and Certifications

None

Equivalency

Master’s degree in Accounting or CPA candidate eligibility will substitute for one year of experience.

Salary Range

$66,747.20 - $83,428.80

The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.

City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.