FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT

2A09

PAY RANGE: EP21

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is advanced performance level accounting work with in the City's Central Finance Agency. Employees in this class maintain the general and subsidiary ledgers for all City funds and prepare financial statements and evaluate, review, analyze and monitor departmental grant accounting and administrative activities. An employee in this class may also have responsibility for a City-wide accounting function involving a large volume of transactions for several accounting entities and reviewing and verifying the work of other accountants through work processes. Contact with departmental officials is necessary to obtain information to ensure that accounting transactions are handled properly. Adhering to generally accepted accounting principles and appropriate City ordinances is essential to the work. An employee in this class reports to a technical superior.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

• Work must be performed within the Central Finance Department.

• The position must be responsible for maintaining general and subsidiary ledgers for all City funds, prepare financial statements or evaluate, review, analyze and monitor grant accounting and administrative activities.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Analyzes, verifies, and records information into subsidiary and general ledgers basing allocations on supporting details provided by operating departments such as deposit summaries, letters of investment, methods of payment (payroll deduction or direct deposit), and types of interest (long term or short term); adheres to generally accepted accounting principles and City ordinances in recording transactions; prepares adjusting journal entries to transfer funds between accounts.

Examines accounting records including source documents, journals and ledgers to ensure that all data has been correctly and consistently recorded; locates and corrects imbalances caused by incorrect posting.

Reconciles cash and investments of pension accounts and monthly print‑outs from data processing to financial information maintained in specialized analysis files as well as transaction posting sources such as the Treasurer's and Revenue Department's statements; researches computerized account data to locate incorrect postings; prepares adjusting entries; contacts officials from other city agencies and banking institutions to resolve reconciliation issues; interacts with actuary for accounting reports and valuation reports; prepares schedules for employee pension contributions, investment summary, cash receipts and disbursements; updates pension information and reviews independent audit reports to include in City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Performs statistical analysis of summarized data to determine trends and estimate significant changes; distributes expenditures, encumbrances, receipts and receivables according to pre‑established schedules; prepares footnotes to explain and summarize financial data on statements and reports.

Prepares annual statements and reports utilizing the information recorded in monthly statements and reports; ensures that the information reconciles with supporting documents and reports, and adheres to generally accepted accounting principles and City ordinances.

Reviews comprehensive statements on the activities of accounting entities including data on revenue, receivables, encumbrances and expenditures; assists in completing City’s cost allocation plan.

Assigns work to a clerical support staff, which performs routine recordings of transactions into the general ledger; monitors work load; prioritizes assignments; provides technical advice and provides training in accounting standards and procedures to lower level accounting staff and citywide fiscal staff; interacts with departments when necessary to obtain cooperation and/or information.

Identifies grant opportunities; reviews the provisions of federal grant programs to determine whether such grants pertain to city operations and approves grant appropriation allotments; advises appropriate officials of the essential provisions of grants; analyzes grant accounting operations of departments; reviews the fiscal portions of grant applications for the inclusion of all costs related to the grants; and monitors departmental grant billing and budget operations or performs the billing functions for the department.

Coordinates with external auditors to provide internal supporting documentation for internal control processes; reviews independent audit findings for inclusion in the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the standards, guidelines, and requirements for governmental accounting as set forth in the statements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board

• the principles, standards and practices of the accounting profession including pronouncements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Government Finance Officers Association

• principles, practices and techniques of Governmental accounting

• the computerized accounting data base utilized by a large municipality

• computer software for government and general accounting and financial reporting

• principles and practices of public administration and their application to grants

• research methods to identify grants and their applicability to city policies and goals

• examining and analyzing financial records

• preparing a variety of computerized accounting statements and reports

SKILL IN:

• the analysis and maintenance of accurate accounting records

ABILITY TO:

• schedule, assign and review the work of clerical personnel

• learn the legal regulations and City directives governing the Municipal Accounting System and grant applications

• utilize computer software as it applies to accounting and financial reporting

• establish standards and special account procedures and forms

• prepare and interpret a variety of accounting statements and reports

• analyze and examine financial reports and records

• analyze and interpret organizational and procedural problems and to make cogent recommendations

• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and departmental officials

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 7/12.)

EDUCATION:

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in accounting.

AND

EXPERIENCE:

Option 1 – Finance Department

One year of municipal accounting experience.

AND

Two years of accounting experience at the full performance level in the City's Central Finance Agency.

Option 2 – All Other City Departments and Other Government Agencies

Four years of post bachelor’s degree governmental accounting or auditing experience.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included a bachelor's degree in accounting as an educational minimum.

City of Philadelphia Classes That Typically Meet the Experience Requirements:

Accountant

Auditor 2

Revenue Examiner 2

Contract Auditor 2

Departmental Accounting System Specialist

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Class Established 5/90

Spec. Revision: CSC - 11/96; Ad. Board - 3/97

Spec. Revision: CSC - 6/12; Ad. Board - 7/12

Latest Spec. Revision: CSC - 6/18; Ad. Board – 7/18