Operations Accountant

Salary range is $81k to $113k.  New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:  

Under general direction, performs duties that contributes to the regional ORCA program by playing a key role in the financial operations of the next gen ORCA fare collection system. This position will focus on various accounting functions related to revenue operations on a day-to-day basis, including responsibilities related to accounts receivable and accounts payable.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Understanding of the ORCA System’s 400+ products and seven ORCA Agencies’ fare policies will be key to a candidate’s success.
• Performs general bookkeeping and clerical accounting duties and responsibilities involved in financial record keeping and reporting for assigned area; maintains a variety of accounting records, logs, and files; verifies, balances, and adjusts accounting records as appropriate/necessary. Will require understanding of the ORCA system integrations, complex system business rules and additional Agency policies.
• Processes system generated invoices created through integrations to Salesforce, as assigned. Ability to pull data from multiple sources to validate and ensure accuracy is required. 
• Responsible for processing invoices, billing ORCA partner agencies for program expenses based on defined allocation shares and subsequently paying vendors/suppliers.
• Supports processing business account refunds, account adjustments, and write-offs in accordance with agency policies and ORCA system business rules
• Responsible for entering all types of cash receipts (from Agencies, Business account customers, from system integrations with Salesforce and credit card portals).
• • Performs a full range of duties in support of reviewing the AR Aging reports and work with agency stakeholders on the timely resolution of past due and disputed items with customers, maintaining positive customer relationships.
• Provides recommendations to improve quality of invoicing, and overall accounts receivable and payable functions.
• Performs a variety of clerical and routine technical accounting duties in the accounts payable function; assumes responsibility for specific assigned duties; provides associated assistance in administrative and operating programs as assigned.
• Performs a full range of duties in support of the accounts payable functions; prepares Agency invoices for payment; reviews invoices for proper coding and approvals; resolves related issues with appropriate staff; logs and matches invoices into the accounts payable system module; assists in preparing checks, wires, and ACH disbursements
• Provides strong customer service to internal employees/customers, outside vendors, and the public; communicates with customers/employees via phone, email, or in person to solve issues/problems or respond to inquiries; sets up meetings to help educate/inform others on ORCA financial processes; serves on various committees as assigned; attends and participates in professional group meetings. 
• Supports multiple aspects of the escheatment process for ORCA including customer notifications and refund requests.  Requires review of customer transaction history in order to ensure account balance accuracy.
• Actively participate in efforts to continuously evaluate policies, processes, internal controls, and best practices to support business and maximize efficiencies.
• Actively participate in monthly and quarterly close activities including preparing journal entries, working closely with external teams to obtain applicable month-end reporting, and performing certain reconciliations as needed. 
• Bring to the attention of management instances when accounting data indicates trends or situations requiring action to be taken beyond scope of responsibilities, including making recommendations.
• Supports departmental projects and resources appropriately to ensure that projects are successfully implemented while working collaboratively across the organization to ensure previously agreed upon project deliverables are met. 
• Appropriately escalate issues to leadership so issues are resolved in a timely manner. 
• Provides support to staff, partner agencies, and others as appropriate.
• Provides support to the ORCA agencies and management or their delegates on matters as directed. 
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.  
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or other related field; three years of experience with accounts receivable, accounts payable and customer service tasks OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with large financial and accounting systems preferred.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Generally accepted accounting principles and practices including GAAP, GAS, FASB, and GASB.
• Accounting processes, procedures, and internal control design.
• Automated enterprise-wide accounting systems and software for processing and reporting of financial transactions.
• Industry principles and practices of assigned area.
• Report preparation and presentation, working with report parameters, queries and data extraction.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping, storage, and document management.
• Analytical review techniques over transactions, account balances, reconciliations, and reports.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Mathematical principles.
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Customer service methods and techniques.
• Operating automated financial management systems as well as word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Working with complex chart of account structures and subsidiary ledgers and preparing a variety of financial and administrative reports.
• Understanding technical accounting and industry concepts and directions and perform professional accounting functions.
• Identifying and researching moderately complex accounting issues/problems and make recommendations to resolve them.
• Written and oral communication, including ability to summarize and document conclusions, policies, and procedures in a concise and readable manner by others.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Performing complicated mathematical calculations and analyses.
• Planning and organizing work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Identifying and resolving general problems in a timely manner using sound judgment.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required. 

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.