Financial Analyst

General Statement of Duties

Performs responsible professional accounting and financial work in the Finance Department.

An employee in this class performs analytical, administrative and fiscal control work for the city. Work includes general ledger accounting, budgetary accounting, cost accounting, research, forecasting, spreadsheet development, finance software implementation/training, and financial reporting. The position serves as the City’s internal auditor, purchasing specialist, and budget analyst, and has authority for daily operations of the Finance Department in the absence of the Director.

The employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative in identifying and resolving the daily problems and activities of the fiscal control system. Work is performed in an office setting and employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Work is performed in accordance with established professional standards, government financial procedures and North Carolina General Statutes governing responsibilities of government fiscal operations.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Finance Director, and is evaluated through conferences, reports, and an independent audit of financial records.

Assists the Finance Director by providing technical guidance to technical accounting staff and preparing a variety of financial records, reports, spreadsheets and analyses; interprets and enforces fiscal policies and practices for the department.

Performs journal entries; reconciles monthly cash collections and bank statements; maintains and updates chart of accounts; enters budget amendments and updates; prepares year‑end entries to close out fiscal year.

Serves as purchasing specialist for the City; recommends purchasing manual for the City and trains departmental users; prepares and sends out requests for proposals for various goods and services; records bid information from formal bid openings; assists with reviewing contracts and coordinates review with City Attorney; approves requisitions and files electronic purchase orders for Finance Director review; codes invoices and submits to accounts payable;

enters purchase orders if necessary; assists departments with related issues.

Balances and posts daily cash collections to the ledger; monitors cash availability and balances and oversees wiring of funds from and to central depository.

Serves as internal auditor and develops and implements internal audit policies and procedures City‑wide such as cash handling, safekeeping of City assets and City financial activities; signs out City credit card and reviews receipts for proper budget line‑item coding; research cost reductions for departmental activities; evaluates and recommends updated finance department procedures and processes.

Assists the auditors and prepares Comprehensive documentation during the annual audit of the City’s financial records; assists in preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) that is submitted for the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program Award, including preparation of spreadsheets, graphs and charts, and coordination of printing and disbursement of the document. Prepares reconciliation of balance sheet accounts monthly to include payroll liability accounts.

Assists in preparing the annual city budget, analyzes historical trends in revenues and expenditures, and helps all city departments prepare, key, and balance budget requests.

Performs grant accounting; establishes spreadsheets for each grant; maintains adequate accounting records to document compliance with local, State, and Federal laws and ordinances.

Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of North Carolina General Statutes and financial practices and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of the principals and practices of public finance administration including accounting, budgeting and payroll in government.
• Considerable knowledge of the practices of professional accounting and auditing.
• Consider…