Accounting Manager

Overview

The Accounting Manager is an exempt position that performs complex professional and administrative work, overseeing the preparation and coordination of accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting functions. This role involves the continuous supervision of all personnel within the team and ensures that all financial records and files are maintained according to established standards. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Assistant Director of Finance.

This position is not eligible for telework.

The Town of Blacksburg is an EEO Employer M/F/D/V

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Maintain the integrity of public funds through rigorous governmental accounting practices.
• Oversee accounting staff activities, including conducting annual and probationary performance reviews.
• Manage purchasing card accounting and internal controls while coordinating payroll, benefit payments, and change of status entries.
• Supervise the maintenance of the general account ledger and all subsidiary ledgers; review and update entries, reconcile accounts, and prepare adjusting journal entries.
• Review accounts payable invoices and corresponding ledger entries to ensure accuracy and compliance with governmental standards. Generate voided check entries as necessary.
• Manage the accounting division budget, monitor expenditures, and maintain various budgetary and vendor-related files.
• Review and submit critical fiscal, statistical, and narrative reports, including State sales tax, 1099s, and unclaimed property.
• Administer payroll, travel, and cell phone allowances.
• Serve as a backup for payroll processing, accounts payable, cash closeouts, bank deposits, and business license processing.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director or designee.

• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting and budgeting principles, rules, and regulations is critical for supervising the maintenance of the general account ledger and preparing accurate adjusting journal entries.
• The ability to understand and apply laws and established policies to the maintenance of complex financial records, particularly when administering payroll, travel, and allowances.
• The ability to verify accounting documents and forms for accuracy and completeness is essential when reviewing accounts payable invoices and corresponding ledger entries or generating voided check entries.
• The ability to analyze reporting data and make rational recommendations supports the Manager's duty to manage the division budget and monitor expenditures.
• The ability to prepare complete and accurate reports from various accounting data is necessary for submitting mandated fiscal and narrative reports, such as 1099s, State sales tax, and unclaimed property reports.
• The ability to post accounts and perform mathematical computations with speed and accuracy, a task that can be optimized through the use of personal computers and applicable software packages like Navi Line.
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, vendors, and the general public is a core requirement.
• The ability to understand and follow oral and written directions and establish work procedures is vital for providing continuous supervision over all personnel within the team.
• The ability to operate personal computers, including high‑level proficiency in Microsoft 365, and the willingness to explore automation for repetitive financial tasks.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with coursework in accounting, or related field, and five to ten years of experience in public finance, including some supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Fidelity bond required.
• Financial software training (Naviline) within six months.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record.

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, and using hands to finger, handle, or feel, frequently requires repetitive motions, and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, and lifting.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data.
• Work has no exposure to environmental conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).