Accounting Specialist at Alexander County, NC

About the Department

 Performs accounting and paraprofessional duties in the Finance Department.  An employee in this class performs paraprofessional accounting duties as part of a two-person team in processing purchase orders and accounts payable, preparing bank deposits, and providing other assistance for the department. Work involves applying established accounting or administrative procedures, principles of bookkeeping, and basic fund accounting or other financial procedures. Work assignments are performed in accordance with established procedures with unusual situations being referred to the supervisor for guidance. Some judgment is required in selecting and applying appropriate procedures and using a variety of manuals. Work is performed under regular supervision of the Deputy Finance Director and is evaluated daily through observation, work completion, and conferences.

Position Duties

• Sets up new vendors in the accounts payable system.  
• Processes purchase order requisitions and distributes approved purchase orders to departments on a daily basis.  
• Matches purchase orders with invoices; checks for accuracy on math, dates, proper account numbers and amounts, sales tax, etc.; enters invoices into computer records, prints checks and forwards accounts payable report to the supervisor for review.  
• Allocates expenses to individual departments for invoices with consolidated county government charges. 
• Maintains fixed asset inventory and communicates with departments to keep the inventory updated.  
• Processes voided checks.
• Prepares bank deposits for operating accounts.
• Reconciles monthly NCCMT investment account statements to the general ledger.
• Reconciles monthly bank statements for payroll accounts and employee flexible spending accounts.
• Keys journal entries in the financial accounting system for bank deposits of all departments. 
• Prepares quarterly journal entries for water revenue reports from City of Hickory.
• Completes annual 1099 reporting to vendors and the Internal Revenue Service.
• Coordinates the record retention tasks for Finance Department documents.
• Assists with the County’s online auctions of surplus property.  
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and without constant supervision in all areas of job duties.
• Working knowledge of accounting processes and procedures.
• Working knowledge of governmental bookkeeping practices and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of modern office practices and techniques including use of computers for word processing, spreadsheet functions, data retention and retrieval, and other office practices.
• Ability to understand and apply policies and procedures to the maintenance of financial records and reports.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Ability to use calculating and adding machines, and automated equipment for the maintenance of accounting records.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department heads, governmental officials, fellow employees, vendors, and the public.
• Knowledge and ability to use correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and perform basic math skills.  

Other Qualifications

• Associates degree in business administration, accounting, office management or related area; or
• Graduation from a high school supplemented by accounting courses and considerable experience in an accounting or fiscal office environment; or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

• One year of experience in general accounting work.