Senior Accountant/Chief Deputy Tax Collector at Jefferson County in Madras, Oregon

Job Description:

Position is closes 10/31/2024. First application review date will be October 16, 2024. 

The Senior Accountant/Chief Deputy Tax Collector performs a complete range of professional accounting and financial analytic activities in connection with accounting for Governmental and Proprietary funds. This position is responsible for overseeing accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, monthly journal entries and reconciliations, and any other operational fiscal affairs as needed in the Finance/Tax Department.  

This position works under the direct supervision of the Finance Director/Custodial Officer/Treasurer (if the Finance Director is the County Treasurer)/Tax Collector. The Senior Accountant represents a level of para-professional accounting skills.  Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, methods & practices. A strong background in fund accounting as prescribed for governmental units, is preferred. This position exercises independent and highly technical thought, and analysis in financial management to produce reports, statements and analysis. 

Essential Duties

• Greets public and other staff in a courteous and professional manner in person, telephone, email.
• Reviews transactions for accuracy, proper account coding or classification, and allocation.   
• Reconciles fixed assets, expenditures, cash, accounts payable, payroll and accounts receivable.
• Maintains County Insurance Property, Auto, and Equipment schedules throughout the fiscal year.
• Assists Finance Director in annual and supplemental county-wide budget preparation. 
• Reconciles cash balances, tracks errors through accounting system and recommends appropriate correcting entries. Maintains master records of all manual journal entries.
• Reviews and provides preliminary approval of all tax adjustments and refunds. Analyzes and corrects complex errors in tax accounts and reconciles Tax Office financial activity.
• Manages the taxation computer system as it relates to tax statements, tax collection, and tax distribution. 
• Proposes, communicates, and drafts policies and procedures to optimize customer service and financial proficiency as it relates to Tax Collection, Custodial Officer, Treasurer, and General Ledger Management (i.e. Standard Operating Procedures).
• Reviews compliance with laws related to tax accounts in bankruptcy, real property tax foreclosure, and personal property garnishments and seizures.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation for the County’s bank accounts and reviews monthly Financial Investment report for compliance with County Investment Policy. 
• Ensures segregation of duties is in place for cash handling, reconciling investments, and deposits.
• Prepares and distributes various monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Prepares audit reports and work papers as designated by the Finance Director.
• Develops and coordinates the completion of the Annual Grantee Performance Report (if applicable), Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), and other contract/grant documentation as needed.
• Maintains and processes payroll accounting records including resolving errors, balancing accounts, and preparing records.
• Reconciles, analyzes, and interprets standard payroll and accounting data and records.
• Prepares and proposes training for various County Departments on County Policy and Procedures.
• This position serves as a backup to the Staff Accountants and Finance Director when needed to maintain essential fiscal functions when staffing resources are limited. 
• This position serves as a chief deputy tax collector under the delegation of the appointed Tax Collector.  
• This position serves as chief deputy treasurer under the delegation of the elected Treasurer if the Finance Director is the County Treasurer.  
• Regular attendance is an essential function of the position.
• Performs other duties as required to achieve objectives for the position.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills: Specialized professional knowledge of the principles of financial accounting, cost-benefit analysis, and financial management of projects and programs.  Requires technical knowledge of general payroll laws, regulations, procedures, practices and fair employment practices and laws.  Requires basic knowledge of common employee benefits plan provisions such as group insurance, paid time off, retirement and capital accumulation plans. Requires demonstrated skills at accessing relational databases, verifying numerical and demographic information, and entering information onto established data entry screens.  Requires a considerable knowledge of office procedures, practices, and equipment.  Skill in various PC based programs. 

Abilities: The ability to effectively communicate with public, employees and administrators in a professional, open, and friendly manner. Must be able to perform account and variance analysis, prepare account adjustments, and complete financial statements and custom reports using PC-based financial software and spreadsheets.  Ability to coordinate and prioritize numerous complicated assignments often time with strict deadlines while dealing with interruptions from the public. Ability to perform detailed work involving both numerical data and legal descriptions.    Ability to follow written and verbal instructions. Must be able to meet various deadlines, sometimes under stressful circumstances.

Physical Abilities: The ability to sit at a computer screen using rapid arm, hand, and finger movement for extended periods of time.  The ability to stand, stoop, bend, kneel or crawl when required.  The ability to lift, push or pull up to 30 lbs. occasionally. Ability to engage in conversations over the phone and in-person. 

Education and Experience: A Bachelor's Degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting from an accredited four-year college or university and three to five years’ experience in a progressively responsible financial and managerial accounting capacity; or equivalent experience in a related field. May alternatively possess an Associate's degree as listed above and have 5 years of experience; or 8 years of an equivalent combination of related education, training and experience to perform the aspects of the job. 

Working Experience: Work is performed indoors and outdoors where some safety considerations exist from physical labor and handling of light-to-medium weight, yet awkward materials.

Probationary Requirement: This position is based on the successful completion of a nine-month probationary period.

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