Accounting Manager Description

About Marin Housing Authority / Careers

Established: May 19, 2020

Definition

Under general supervision, performs professional accounting duties; maintains, develops and analyzes fiscal statements and records; prepares financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Governmental Accounting Standards; and performs related work as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

General supervision is received from the Chief Financial Officer.

Class Characteristics

This is the mid-management level class in the professional Accountant series. Incumbents are expected to perform the full range of professional accounting work including the more complex and technical accounting functions. Incumbents are expected to have a thorough knowledge of governmental accounting systems and procedures and the ability to exercise independent judgment within established systems and procedures.

Example of Duties (Illustrative Only)

• Reviews and prepares various analysis and work papers in preparation for audit examination pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards(GAAS).
• Participates and/or directs the posting, balancing, and reconciliation of the general and subsidiary accounts; researches and analyzes transactions to resolve budget problems; provides analysis of available funds at management's request; analyzes budget transactions.
• Responsible for period-end close for full cycle accounting and reporting, maintaining oversight and analysis of the general ledger.
• Participates in the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and other statistical and financial reports; prepares work papers, financial statements and various reports for federal and state agencies as well as for reporting and analysis.
• Assists in identifying and resolving problems and inconsistencies involved in maintaining accounting controls, systems and procedures.
• Directs and coordinates activities of financial accounting and reporting team by providing guidance regarding accounting functions, monitoring customer service delivery, recommending improvements to policies, procedures, and systems, and reviewing external and internal financial reports and work products of staff.
• Implements and monitors all new financial accounting and reporting standards by assessing the impact of new standards on financial accounting operations and reporting, ensuring that all impacted city personnel receive training and guidance, recommending changes to accounting systems, expressing the impact of the changes to upper management, and ensuring the compliance of external auditors.
• Provides mentorship for Finance & Accounting staff by establishing individual performance objectives, reviewing work products, providing feedback on performance, ensuring that team members receive the proper training, and motivating and rewarding team for meeting expectations.
• Analyzes and recommends improvements to existing processes, policies, procedures and internal controls by presenting recommended policies to the executive team, responding to internal or external audit suggestions for enhancements to internal controls, and participating in departmentwide training of impacted personnel.
• Coordinates team strategic planning by defining new strategic objectives, projects, enhanced services and related resource needs, aligning the team structure to meet end user needs, preparing a strategic planning document to support the annual budget process, as well as monitoring and reporting the results on a monthly basis.
• Point of contact for technical finance questions related to accounting software application, as well as finance elements within the payroll and benefits reconciliations.
• Perform other related work as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Procedures (GAAP) and General Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Rules and regulations governing federal, state and local programs; Code of Federal Regulations; Housing and Urban Development Guidelines; low rent housing accounting.
• Principles, concepts, practices, methods and techniques of government accounting, internal control structures, and fiscal management.
• Principles and methods of municipal government accounting and auditing.
• Principles of financial administration, including budgeting and reporting; internal auditing controls; financial and managerial analysis; cost accounting and analysis.
• The methods and techniques of automated accounting systems, including use of applicable software packages, databases and related systems.
• Basic business law and economics.
• Modern office procedures, practices, methods, and equipment; research techniques.

Skill in:

• The ability to learn governing laws, ordinances, and regulations of financial operations of the Housing Authority and its departments.
• Work organization and accomplishment
• Analysis, interpretation and communication of financial data
• Techniques required to maintain accounting records through automated accounting systems (includes personal computer skills and mainframe computer skills)
• Applying accounting principles and practices.
• Analyzing and evaluating accounting data to arrive at logical conclusions; preparing financial reports as needed.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in written form.
• Management including effective interpersonal skills and imparting knowledge to others.
• Adjusting to workload changes and working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Operating standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, facsimile equipment and multi-line telephones.
• Analyzing a complex situation, identify the core problem, communicate and propose solutions

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university majoring in Accounting or Finance and 5 years of general accounting experience, preferably in either non-profit or government.

Certified Public Accountant license or have passed CPA certification exams, preferred.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time, talk and hear within standard ranges. The employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or computer controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Work is performed in a normal office setting with moderate noise levels.

Marin Housing Authority is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.  Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and for religious reasons.