Accounting Associate or Accountant

Under moderate supervision, performs professional accounting services using standardized methods and procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and County policies.

About the Role

This is the first in a series of three professional accounting-related job classifications within the Finance job family. Incumbents typically perform routine professional financial accounting duties that require the application of standard accounting theories, principles, and techniques. This classification is distinguished from the Accountant Senior classification in that incumbents usually consult with higher-level accounting staff for advice and assistance and are not typically responsible for more complex accounting functions. Duties require some degree of initiative and independent judgment and may require a flexible work schedule to meet department needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, schedules, and reports including completion of accounting entries and reconciliation of accounts and statements.
• Develops or assists in developing non-standard reports and statements, such as detailed cost and financial analysis, forecasts, trend analysis, and projections.
• Participates in or completes special accounting studies.
• Monitors revenue and expenses for assigned accounts.
• Completes journal entries, maintains ledgers, and prepares cost accounting information.
• Verifies accounts and reconciles and analyzes entries, transactions, ledgers, and reports.
• Maintains filing system of accounting data, such as canceled checks, bank statements, and other documentation.
• Interprets and analyzes accounting data and financial reports and recommends action.
• Assists in developing and implementing accounting systems and procedures for the department.
• Assists in drafting financial policies and procedures.
• May assist in budget preparation and maintenance.
• Monitors compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Maintains accounting controls and financial security by following policies and procedures and internal controls.
• Assists department staff and other clients by providing procedural/financial information and guidance with automated or manual systems.
• Provides assistance with and verifies required documents are completed, reviews for accuracy, and submits to appropriate staff for further processing.
• Instructs staff in entering information into the accounting system.
• May train or assist in training, reviewing the work of, and providing technical assistance to lower-level accounting staff making ledger entries, completing reconciliations and trial balances, maintaining payroll, purchasing, or travel records, and completing other accounting and bookkeeping work.
• May perform specialized accounting functions, such as grant accounting, accounting related to a collections program, or other types of accounting functions.
• May assist in establishing and maintaining a system for reviewing delinquency of tax accounts or court fine and fee accounts.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a directly related field AND two (2) years of increasingly responsible relevant professional-level accounting or financial analysis experience.
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a directly related field may substitute for the two (2) years of required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Valid Texas Driver’s License.
• Working knowledge of QuickBooks and/or SAP accounting software.

Skills

Knowledge of:

• Policies, practices, procedures, and terminology of assigned function.
• Federal, State, Local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and standardized financial practices.
• Manual and automated systems relating to assigned function.
• Modern office practices, procedures, and methods.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Entering and reconciling financial data and reporting and monitoring fund and ledger balances.
• Completing professional financial reports.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Analyze, calculate, consolidate, reconcile, and interpret accounting data and identify errors.
• Develop and maintain financial spreadsheets, accounts, and ledgers.
• Prepare accurate financial statements.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

• Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-15 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.
• Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing, crawling, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting to perform the essential functions.
• Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Schedule

8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location

416 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701