Junior Accountant

POSITION TYPE: Hourly, Non-exempt
JOB SUMMARY:  This position is responsible for providing support to the Finance department activities by processing, recording, updating, and reconciling fiscal data, and generating periodic reports in compliance with established financial practices. This position is also responsible for administering the City’s licensing program to ensure compliance with municipal codes, state regulations, and City policies. This position processes license applications (business, trade, liquor, etc.) and renewals, maintains accurate records, provides customer service to the public, and coordinates with internal departments and external agencies to support lawful business operations within the City.

MAJOR DUTIES:     

• Validate and process application materials for license approvals while ensuring program compliance, accuracy of data, coordination with impacted workgroups, analysis of compliance with related municipal codes, and timely follow-up communication with customers. 
• Proactively research and resolve customer questions and concerns. Identify common pain points to improve education, navigation, and access, and the overall customer experience.
• Provide excellent service to internal and external customers. Demonstrate compassionate communication skills; evaluate issues and potential solutions; help resolve problems when appropriate; work with managers to address systemic issues; and ensure that others in the city organization receive the necessary licensing-related training and tools to perform their duties effectively.
• Maintains accurate financial records and files, ensuring compliance with legal and administrative requirements. Maintains business license database; monitors business license status. Issues renewal notices and keeps accounts of payment and business license taxes.
• Serves as receptionist; responds to public inquiries regarding City business license requirements.
• Performs internal audits and investigations of businesses to ensure compliance and correct payment of taxes. Investigates business license compliance through investigation procedures to include research of fictitious business name filings, telephone directories, newspaper advertisements, sales tax monitoring, etc. Assists the Accounting Manager with annual audit and additional tasks and projects as assigned.
• Prepare daily deposits, balance the Finance cash drawer, and verify deposits from other departments. Reconcile cash, check, and credit card transactions with system reports. Maintains ledgers, registers, journals/posts, and financial data in proper accounts.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:

• Understanding of basic accounting principles, fee collection, and cash handling.
• Ability to interpret and apply municipal codes, policies, and regulations.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritize workload independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and financial software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's degree in public administration, business administration, accounting, or a related field.
• Two (2) years of clerical accounting or office experience, particularly in handling financial records and public interaction.
• Experience with customer service and public-facing administrative work.
• Strong knowledge of computerized financial systems and Microsoft Office products.

Salary per hour $20.48, plus a generous benefit package.

• Bi-weekly pay periods.
• Thirteen paid holidays per year.
• 96 hours of vacation – accrued throughout the year.
• 96 hours of sick leave – accrued throughout the year.
• 2 days of personal leave per fiscal year. Must be employed on July 1 of the fiscal year to receive.
• City paid monthly premiums for health and dental insurance – Employee only.
• City paid monthly life insurance for employee only (1 times annual salary up to $50,000).
• Optional group term life insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Optional vision insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Voluntary deferred compensation plan – not matched by the City.
• Retirement (LAGERS) paid by the City. Missouri LAGERS – A Secure Retirement for All (molagers.org).
• Total compensation value (Hourly starting rate plus benefits value) for this position is $28.68 hourly.

Before final appointment, successful applicant will be required to successfully complete a drug test and background investigation.
The City of Cape Girardeau reserves the right to notify only those individuals selected for an interview as to the status of their application for employment. EOE/ADA/M/F/V