Accountant I

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK

Apply principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports by performing the following duties. Compiles and analyzes financial information to prepare entries to accounts, such as general ledger accounts, and documents business transactions. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs monthly reconciliation for various General Ledger Accounts
• Performs monthly and quarterly accounting for the Senior Citizens Center and works closely with the Senior Citizens Staff to gather/provide needed information
• Reconciles monthly Customer Accounts Receivable for Utility Billing, reconciling subsidiary customer ledgers with general ledger control accounts
• Performs monthly Purchase Card review and postings
• Creates and posts Journal Entries, monthly
• Pulls credit card transactions daily to be reconciled to the general ledger and 3^rd party vendor detail
• Verifies and maintains financial records pertaining to Federal and State Grants for the city and the Senior Citizens Center, including reimbursement requests
• Performs petty cash audits with the staff accountant quarterly
• Performs 941 Payroll Reconciliation Quarterly
• File Sales Tax with TN Dept of Revenue Monthly
• Works Positive Pay items daily
• Assists the accounting manager and senior accountant with duties related to Debt and Lease/Subscription management
• Receives Wholesale Beer & Liquor Receipts/Reports
• Other tasks as assigned by the accounting manager and/or accountant II.
• This position will cross-train as needed. 
• Reliable attendance and punctuality are essential functions of this role.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where standardizations exist.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Knowledge of municipal accounting procedures preferred.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the public.
• Ability to operate general office equipment. 

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

Cross trains in all aspects of the required computer system.

Assists the accounting manager and staff with special projects, reports, and budget preparation.

Assists other employees in finance and accounting as directed by the accounting manager.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the Knowledge, Skill, and/or ability required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common technical reports and legal documents. Applies good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Completes reports which conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to management and staff both orally and in writing.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts and complete tasks while using Microsoft Office Software and various other accounting programs on a P.C. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, and financial calculations involved in keeping ledgers, preparing reconciliation, and related functions. Ability to make simple arithmetic calculations rapidly and accurately.

EDUCATION

A bachelor's Degree with a major in accounting or finance from an accredited college or university is required.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 1 year of experience in accounting, finance, or a related field is required.  Prior Government Accounting experience is preferred. 

CMFO certification is preferred but not required.

SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE

Strong proficiency with MS Office is required; advanced competency with MS Excel is required for analysis and control functions.

Prior experience and strong knowledge with a computerized financial and accounting system, such as Local Government, Tyler Technologies, NextGen, or a similar accounting or other closely related enterprise accounting software system, is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is also required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, and to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. Visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of motor vehicles, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This job is performed generally in an office environment using general office equipment. Some travel between City offices is required to conduct meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Attendance at council meetings, work sessions, and other meetings may be required, as directed by the Accounting Manager or Finance Director.

It shall be the responsibility of the City of Lebanon Finance Director to assess the type(s) of reasonable accommodations which may be necessary to allow the individual to perform the essential functions of this role and to provide such necessary reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the provision of reasonable accommodations if doing so will impose an undue hardship on the employing agency or a direct threat to the safety of himself/herself or others.

This position is a security-sensitive position.