Accountant II en City of Norfolk, VA

About the Department

Position Duties

• Reviews and evaluates departmental accounting systems; designs and, with supervisory approval, implements new systems for recording transactions. Collaborates with departmental managers to ensure timely and accurate receipt of necessary data.
• Prepares, reviews, maintains, and/or submits complex accounting, financial, and analytical reports, spreadsheets, records, and documentation. Processes checks, purchase cards, invoices, and other financial materials. Maintains databases and online systems; researches and analyzes financial transactions, trends, expenditures, and revenues; and provides recommendations based on findings.
• Performs professional accounting duties, including maintaining the general ledger, analyzing financial data, preparing and submitting journal entries, and managing capital project accounts, fixed asset schedules, and financial statement reporting.
• Analyzes and maintains financial statements and schedules by reviewing the general ledger and making necessary adjustments.
• Interprets departmental needs for narrative and statistical financial reporting. Develops report formats and timelines to meet those needs and ensures the availability of accounting data for reporting purposes.
• Researches and analyzes vendor account statuses. Conducts periodic audits of parking lease tenant accounts, ledgers, and government reports. Prepares account adjustments in both manual and computerized records, annotates records to explain changes, and reconciles account balances by cross-referencing source documents.
• Manages vendor billing, including auditing for accurate coding.
• Collaborates with senior management to gather technical information for developing contract scopes, specifications, and bid requirements for acquiring goods, services, and equipment.
• Assists with reviewing vendor and supplier payment requests for completeness and compliance with contract and purchasing requirements. Manages the bi-weekly payment disbursement process from planning through approval.
• Maintains the Parking Division’s contract database, tracking financial and operational needs, contract status, terms, performance, and related fiscal information.
• Maintains relationships with key vendors to resolve billing issues and discrepancies.
  
• Oversees expense reporting and Bank of America credit card reconciliation, ensuring compliance with policies, proper documentation, and accurate expense coding.
• Supervises and provides guidance to the Accountant I and/or Accounting Technicians, ensuring timely and accurate task completion.
  
• Assists with or leads the monthly Accounts Payable close, including processing accruals and managing the monthly close checklist.
  
• Assists with cash forecasting and bank reconciliations.
• Collaborates with internal teams and departments to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and contribute to the development of accounting procedures.
• Develops and maintains procurement reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to support decision-making. Monitors procurement data to identify trends, improvement opportunities, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Supports procurement projects, including system upgrades, process improvements, and implementation of new functionalities.
  
• Participates in staff meetings to discuss emerging issues and challenges. Offers solutions and serves as a technical expert on accounts payable and vendor database systems.
• Evaluates financial statements, vendor invoices, and expenditure budgets to ensure accurate recording and reconciliation. Calculates shortages and verifies computations for accuracy.
• Provides excellent customer service by responding to inquiries and complaints from the public, agencies, and City departments.
  
• Assists with special projects and performs other related duties as assigned by management.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Required:

• One (1) year of experience.

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of governmental accounting experience
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Three (3) years of outstanding accounts receivable collections experience.

• Desktop computer applications related to the work such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), PowerBI, and other related applications and systems. Knowledge of and experience with the City’s parking and financial systems is highly desirable.
• Principles and practices of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including procedures, systems, financial reporting, and methods of reporting.
• The principles and practices of governmental accounting.
• Arithmetic and statistical principles and practices as commonly applied in the accounting field
• The application of data processing techniques to the maintenance of accounting records.
• Strong expertise in ERP Supply Chain and Procurement module configuration and management.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and techniques, including Excel and ERP reporting functionalities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of procurement of best practices and industry trends.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives and project management is a plus.

• Supervise the work of technical and clerical staff engaged in maintaining and reviewing accounting records.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete statistical, financial and other written reports and correspondence, expressing ideas clearly regarding revenue billing and collection requirements.
• Keep accurate financial records and maintain accessible filing system and database administration.
• Identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and arrive at logical decisions, often in tense situations.
• Interpret ordinances, rules and regulations fairly and impartially,
• Direct and coordinate the work activities of a large support staff.
• Understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the public.

Other Qualifications

Work Schedule:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, 40 hours per week