Senior Account Specialist

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

Our Regional Administration Division has a vacancy for a Senior Account Specialist in the Finance and Operations Department.

Finance and Operations provides agency-wide financial, administrative, and operational services supporting the Metropolitan Council as a whole and its individual divisions. These services include accounting, financial reporting and payroll; the Council’s operating and capital budgets; contracts and procurement; computerized systems for financial and personnel information; risk management; treasury functions; and services supporting the Council’s headquarters facilities.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

• Audit bills, claims and related documents by recalculating and reviewing them to ensure accuracy of transactions and conformance with relevant payment conditions.
• Process accounts payable transactions and review monthly vendor statements for accuracy.
• Prepare payment documents such as accounts payable forms, claims, and similar items to initiate payments.
• Validate vendor invoices with purchase orders and receiving.
• Reconcile account discrepancies by identifying errors, tracing errors to their sources, obtaining correct data, and entering corrections.
• Prepare periodic reports to document transactions.
• Scan all verified accounts payables transactions for other Council staff to view online.
• Assist in printing checks and employee expenses.
• Enter relevant transaction data into People Soft Financial system with precise calculations reflecting the transaction.
• Perform routine clerical work such as route mail, receive and sort incoming mail, and deliver outgoing mail.
• Use substantial knowledge of accounting procedures/coding; processes, reviews, approves, and posts payments.
• Develop, improve, and install work instructions and forms by applying knowledge of accounting procedures and policies and recommending procedural revision in response to new systems or identified needs.
• Review and assist with issues brought forward by Account Specialists.
• Ensure accuracy of 1099 data and issue 1099s to vendors.
• Remain current with State and Federal tax laws.
• Submit State and Federal tax documents as required.
• Maintain established department P-card payment process.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate’s permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

• High School diploma or GED; AND at least five (5) years of related work experience.
• Associate degree in accounting or finance AND at least three (3) years of related work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting or finance AND at least one (1) year of related work experience.

• Experience performing account reconciliation, auditing payment discrepancies, processing accounts payable payment transactions, and preparing electronic fund transfers.
• Experience using business accounting software (preferably People Soft Financials).
• Experience using an electronic document management system (preferably Application Xtender).
• Experience using Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Experience working with governmental accounting.
• Experience with tax reporting.
• Specific experience working with Accounts Payable in a large, complex organization.
• Associate degree or higher.

• Proficient computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Knowledge of general office methods, procedures, and equipment.
• Knowledge of document scanning practices and systems.
• Knowledge of alpha/numeric filing…