Senior Accountant

The City of Fairburn is seeking to fill a qualified, highly skilled professional for the Senior Accountant position. Under general supervision, this position is responsible for performing complex professional accounting functions involving the research, statistical analysis, preparation and maintenance of financial records and reports, and coordinates the operations of the accounts receivable and/or payable and/or payroll functions of the city; Provides staff leadership. Reports to the Finance Director.

JOB SUMMARY
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for performing complex professional accounting functions involving the research, statistical analysis, preparation and maintenance of financial records and reports, and coordinates the operations of the accounts receivable and/or payable and/or payroll functions of the city; Provides staff leadership. Reports to the Finance Director.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
•Posts, reviews and verifies financial transactions relating to accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, purchasing, and cash management; prepares and/or reviews journal entries, general ledger reports and trial balances; identifies discrepancies or problems and makes necessary adjustments and corrections; reconciles and balances reports.
•Prepares the accounting schedules for the compilation of the City’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR); prepares reports and related debt schedules for bond compliance, and inclusion in the CAFR.
•Reviews, monitors, and reconciles capital projects, capital assets and bond expenditures; reconciles capital bond cash transactions.
•Assists in the development and updating of accounting systems and prepares various complex financial reports and statements such as statement of financial condition, capital asset values and depreciation, capital projects reports, and depreciation schedules, as required to comply with local, state and federal regulations throughout the year.

•Ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
•Processes monthly reconciliation of the city’s general ledger accounts and bank accounts; reconciles computerized revenue subsidiary accounts.
•Provides assistance to internal and external auditors in auditing financial statements and records.
•Responds to inquiries from city employees, vendors, auditors, governmental officials, local governments and the general public regarding the city’s financial activities and operations.
•Prepares accounting reports, accounting schedules, financial reports, and budget documents.
•Works as part of the Finance team to improve methods, communication and customer satisfaction with other departments and the general public.
•Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; reads professional literature; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
•Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Economics, or equivalent; supplemented by 4-5 years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting, budgeting or general ledger maintenance, research and/or budgeting activities, and municipal audits; with one (1) year of lead work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Masters’ degree preferred. Local government a plus.

Licenses or Certifications:
Valid State of Georgia driver’s license.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification desirable

Special Requirements:
Requires an acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check, an acceptable driving record, and possessing a satisfactory credit history.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
•Knowledge of the modern principles and practices of public finance administration with particular emphasis on generally accepted accounting principles and standards that apply to governmental accounting and reporting.
•Knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of municipal accounting principles, procedures, applications and budget preparation.
•Knowledge of practices and procedures established by the Government Finance Officer's Association (GFOA), Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and other appointed boards and professional standards organizations.
•Knowledge of or ability to learn policies and procedures of the City.
•Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
• Skill in preparing, analyzing, and interpreting a variety of financial documents and reports.
• Skill in the operation of a computer and various software applications for word processing spreadsheets, graphic presentations, and database management.
• Skill in use of Excel (e.g., Formulas, Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, other functions, charts, tables)
•Ability to perform complex arithmetic, algebraic, and statistical applications to perform financial transactions.
•Ability to employ accounting principles and practices in the analysis and reporting of financial data.
•Ability to work independently and meet assigned schedules and deadlines.
•Ability to maintain accurate and accessible records.
•Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
•Ability to interact effectively with senior leadership, department personnel, and others with tact and diplomacy.
•Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with vendors, coworkers, management, and other individuals in contact during the course of work.
•Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
•Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
•Ability to effectively communicate ideas and proposals verbally and in writing, to include the preparation of detailed reports which include numerical information and statistics.
•Ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is moderate work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force. Work requires regular and, at times, sustained performance of moderately physically demanding work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and that may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office environment. Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The City of Fairburn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss accommodations with the employer.