Accounts Payable Principal Accountant

Are you an experienced Principal Accountant looking for the opportunity to join a phenomenal organization that's focused on serving the community?
Maybe you're a senior accountant with strong leadership experience who's ready to take the next step in your career.
This might be the role you've been looking for!
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has an opportunity for an Accounts Payable (A/P) Principal Accountant to lead a team of accounting professionals. You would function in a sophisticated, fast-paced operational environment with annual disbursements exceeding $600 million.
Working at the highest-level accountant classification the City has, you are the in-house authority for SPU's payables function. You report to and support the AP Manager in the Accounting Division.
About Seattle Public Utilities: SeattlePublic Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.
For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), checkout the:

• SPU Website
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.
We know work isn't only about what you do it's also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities (As Appropriate)
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

Directing a team of 15 AP accounting professionals, you would be responsible for day-to-day operations, ensuring daily invoice processing deadlines are met, while maintaining strong procure-to-pay internal controls to mitigate audit issues or errors.
Responsibilities include:

• Handling staff scheduling, workload, and resource planning
• Development and implementation of policies and procedures
• Supporting the unit with strong internal control processes to mitigate errors, fraud, and waste
• Monitoring payables aging, timely payment, and early payment discount for over 35,000 transactions annually
• Developing reports to meet business needs and ad hoc query building in a large financial system
• Redefining payables to conform to industry best practices

*Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field (requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter credit units in accounting with no substitution allowed) and/or professional certification as a CPA.
Experience: Four (4) years professional experience in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, or related work with one year experience at the senior level.
Education and Experience Equivalency: Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.
Desired skills and experience we're looking for:

• Assessing accuracy and completeness of transactions and compliance with federal, state, and city laws, and accounting standards
• Documenting workflows and process narratives
• Skilled in reconciling large, complex data sets from different data sources
• Advanced accounting knowledge including subledger and encumbrance accounting plus assessing impacts to budget and financial reporting
• Decision making - a strong comfort level communicating your rationale and owning results
• Managerial, supervision, or lead experience is a plus

We're also looking for someone who has excelled because of their:

• Organizational skills - ability to prioritize and manage projects and deliverables
• Strong analysis and strategic thinking - to identify opportunities, risks, and to provide relevant financial analysis, business case, issue paper
• Initiative - willingness to take on challenges and work to solve them
• Public speaking and communications skills - ability to present and communicate complex accounting and financial information in non-technical terms
• Strong collaboration skills - ability to listen to customer perspectives and work towards solutions
• Extensive knowledge of accounting and financial reporting systems such as PeopleSoft or other enterprise systems, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Leadership - to ensure monthly accounting activities are complete for ease of year-end close

Additional Information
This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be required to come into the office twice a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.
Who may apply: The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values different perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The full salary range for this position is: $45.68 - $53.20 Hourly
How to Apply:

• Submit complete City of Seattle online application
• Upload your current resume that illustrates your related skills and abilities, AND
• Include a cover letter that addresses your knowledge and experience related to this position

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Ernest Stephens at Ernest.Stephens@Seattle.gov.
This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
Employment Type: Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time