Summary

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The Finance Department comprises a dedicated team of 20 full-time employees (FTE) who perform a wide range of crucial functions encompassing accounting, financial reporting, payroll, fund investment, cash management, debt management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, procurement, grant administration, property tax and room tax collections and distributions, as well as budget management. At the core of its responsibilities, the Finance Department ensures the accurate and timely maintenance and reporting of all financial transactions. Adhering to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the department prepares comprehensive financial statements, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,200 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team.

ABOUT THE JOB:
The Accountant is a senior level accounting role that plays a pivotal role in supporting the financial operations of Deschutes County. They are an integral part of the Accounting team, which comprises 2 accountants, 3 senior accounting technicians, 1 payroll supervisor and 1 payroll coordinator. This position reports directly to the Controller.

This position requires an in-depth knowledge of governmental financial reporting and related systems. The two accountant roles share duties including: performing account reconciliations, preparing financial reports, monitoring transactions, proposing adjustments, evaluating financial workpapers, maintaining the capital asset database, researching/ resolving ERP system issues, and assisting with year-end close and financial reporting. As a critical position within the Finance department, the Accountant has the opportunity to drive positive change throughout the County. The ideal candidate for this role will possess self-motivation, exceptional analytical skills, and an unwavering attention to detail. Proficiency in efficiently extracting, analyzing, and manipulating financial data is essential.

The Accounting team processes transactions and provides oversight for 24 County departments staffed with varying levels of accounting expertise. As such, flexibility and excellent communication skills are crucial attributes for the Accountant to succeed in this position.

The standard schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, with a typical workweek of 40 hours. The flexibility to adjust work hours is available between 7am and 6pm.

This position is located in Deschutes County and work is in-office with the option to work at home on Mondays, as allowed by policy and approved by the supervisor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides support to departments in performing professional accounting activities, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, grants, and special funds; performs work in compliance with state and federal regulations, County policies and procedures, and government accounting standards.
• Assist Controller in preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), including fund financial statements, note disclosures, statistical tables, and other financial schedules, prepare and review ACFR audit schedules, participate in annual year-end audit, and work with the County’s internal and external auditors.
• Maintains financial records and associated accounting systems; processes transactions, updates accounts, compiles documentation, and generates reports; reviews and validates data; maintains additional accounting and technical transaction databases as needed; reviews and processes payroll data.

What You Will Bring:
Knowledge of or experience with:

• General ledger reconciliation standards.
• Generally Accepted Accounting and Auditing Principles for Public Sector financial management, including payroll, treasury, grant funds and public debt management.
• Government/Financial Accounting Standards Boards (GASB/FASB), and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) standards, practices, policies, rules, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Customer services standards and protocols.

Skill in:

• Analyzing financial issues, evaluating alternatives, and developing recommendations.
• Reviewing interrelated financial and technical records and identifying and reconciling errors.
• Interpreting and applying accounting standards and procedures, applicable federal and state rules and regulations, and County policies and procedures.
• Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Query or similar querying program.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function.

Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.

Review the full job description by clicking HERE. (Download PDF reader)

Compensation

$6,774.40 to $9,078.37 per month for a 172.67 hour work month. Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This position is available immediately.

BENEFITS:
Our robust health plan is offered at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE (Download PDF reader) for full benefit details.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or Public Administration;
• AND three (3) years of public sector accounting experience;
• OR any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills and knowledge to perform the essential functions of the job.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience and detailed knowledge of ERP systems covering multiple modules in a variety of different applications focused on governmental accounting.
• Possession of a CPA or other professional designation.

Necessary Special Requirements

The employment offer will be contingent upon pre-employment screening for criminal history and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). These screenings must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.

Deschutes County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build an inclusive environment that encourages, supports, and represents the diverse voices and needs of our communities. All are encouraged to apply – we welcome diverse perspectives and experiences.

If you are a veteran and would like to apply for Veterans’ Preference, please click HERE for information.