Accountant , II, or Senior

General Duties

Under specified supervision, performs professional level accounting functions for the City of Thornton, which may include recording and reporting complex financial transactions, reviewing accounting records, and preparing financial statements and reports. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from level I or, when filled from the outside, require previous and directly related experience.

Under general supervision, this is the entry-level class in the professional accounting series. Incumbents entering the class have limited related work experience. The Accountant I class is distinguished from level II by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the II level. Incumbents are expected to exercise more independence and initiative as procedures and processes of assigned area of responsibility are learned.

Under direction, this is the journey-level class in the professional accounting series and is distinguished from level I by the ability to perform the full range of duties with considerable independence and initiative and only occasional instruction or assistance.

Under general direction, performs professional-level accounting functions for the city of Thornton, which may include recording and reporting complex financial transactions, and preparing financial statements and reports.

• Performs a wide variety of complex and routine accounting duties.
• Maintains detailed financial records of enterprise, capital projects and other funds.
• Approves encumbrances and payments of capital funds ensuring compliance with contracts and budget authorizations.
• Assists with annual audit of capital assets, materials inventory, and cash audits.
• Prepares accounting entries for water rights, land, enterprise and other governmental capital assets.
• Posts, balances, and reconciles transactions in general ledger; prepares or reviews monthly financial statements.
• Prepares journal entries for land sales, land and asset dispositions, bond refunding, contributed capital, auctions, and other non-routine transactions.
• Prepares property tax entries, accruals, and the annual mill levy certification.
• Prepares city debt service payments, applicable debt service schedules, Continuing Disclosure Statement and other financing transactions.
• Assists with annual budget process and annual audit of City financial records, preparing account reconciliations, year-end accounting entries, various schedules, and year-end close. Assists with the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
• Performs account research and analyses for other departments.
• May train or assign and review the work of other employees as directed. May perform back-up functions for supervisor as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Accountant I:
  Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited college or university; one year of related experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Accountant II:
  Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited college or university; two years of professional accounting experience, preferably in municipal government. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Senior Accountant:
  Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited college or university; five years of professional accounting experience, preferably in public accounting and/or governmental accounting/finance. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. Certified Public Accountant license preferred but not required.

• CPA designation desired.
• May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

• Accountant I:
  Knowledge of the policies, procedures and goals of the City of Thornton and the department. Knowledge of the principles and practices of fund accounting. Knowledge of the general principles, methods, techniques, and practices of automated accounting. Skill in posting, balancing, and reconciling transactions in a general ledger. Skill in accurately performing complex mathematical computations. Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software including word processing, data base management, spreadsheet applications and electronic mail.
  
  Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, other agencies and the general public.
• Accountant II:
  Knowledge of City of Thornton accounting, budgeting and bookkeeping policies, goals and procedures. Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures and Governmental Accounting Standards Board statements and pronouncements. Skill in maintaining detailed financial records of…