Town Accountant

JOB TITLE: TownAccountant
DEPARTMENT: Finance
LOCATION: AccountingOffice, Duxbury Town Hall
REPORTS TO: FinanceDirector
FLSA STATUS: Exempt,Benefit eligible
POSITION GRADE: Grade12, Personnel Plan, Management Provision (non-union)
RATE RANGE: $ 78,381 -$ 109,734 (Actualsalary based on qualifications)
1. Natureof Work: The Town Accountant manages and supervisesthe proper expenditure of all Town funds and the proper recording andmaintenance of financial records, approves all financial payments and auditfinancial records and transactions. TheTown Accountant is responsible for maintaining and improving upon theefficiency and effectiveness of all areas under his/her direction andcontrol. Employee is required to performall similar or related duties.
2. SupervisionReceived: Under direct supervision of the FinanceDirector, the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordancewith standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibilityfor determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independencein planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the workmethods. The employee is expected tosolve through experienced judgment most problems of detail or unusualsituations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve theparticular problem. Instructions for newassignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desiredobjectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussedwith supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out andcarries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriatenessof actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; themethods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail.
3. SupervisoryResponsibility: Employee has direct supervision of allsubordinate full time and part time positions, and seasonal positions. Employee, as a regular and continuing part ofthe job, is accountable for the quality and quantity of work done bysubordinates and assures the accomplishment of the assigned work in theprescribed manner. Supervisory functionstypically consist of most of the following: plans, schedules and coordinateswork operations to meet schedules, deadlines and priorities; revises workschedules to meet changes in workload or availability of manpower; recommendsand justifies to higher levers of management changes in the organization ofwork, work methods or assignment of functions to positions that may affectstaffing patterns, costs, work standards, etc; assures that completed workmeets the required standard of quality, timeliness and cost, taking correctiveactions as necessary; oversees attendance and leave, typically includingapproval of ordinary sick and vacation schedules; advises employees ofperformance requirements and prepares formal evaluations of performance;informs subordinates of organizational policies, goals and procedures; resolvesemployee complaints and effects disciplinary actions, oral warnings andreprimands.
4. Confidentiality: Employee has regular access to confidential information of thedepartment. Confidentiality must bemaintained with regard to this information in accordance with DepartmentalPolicy and the Public Records Act.
5. Accountability: Duties include department level responsibility for technical processes,service delivery, and contribution to municipal wide plans and objectives andfiscal responsibility for the Town. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could severelyjeopardize department operations or have extensive financial and legalrepercussions, excessive costs, delay of service delivery, and adverse publicrelations.
6. Judgment: Guidelines may be in the form of administrative or organizationalpolicies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to aspecific department or functional area. Extensive judgment is required to develop new or adapt existing methodsand approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusualrequirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies. The employee is recognized as the departmentor functional area's authority in interpreting the guidelines, in determininghow they should be applied, and in making recommendations for operating policies,standards or criteria. Requires understanding,interpreting and applying complex federal, state and local regulations.
7. Complexity: The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories,principles, techniques and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern such matters asstudying trends in the field for application to the work; assessing servicesand recommending improvements; planning short- and long-range projects; anddevising new techniques for application to the work, and recommending policies,standards or criteria.
8. Natureand Purpose of Public Contact: Employee interacts constantly withco-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peersfrom the other organizations, representatives of professional organizations,and news media. The employee serves as aspokesperson or recognized authority of the organization in matters ofsubstance or considerable importance. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of adepartment to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations orguidelines. Excellent communication andcustomer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy inresolving complaints or concerns of the public.
9. EssentialFunctions: Theessential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrationsof the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of dutiesdoes not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, orlogical assignment to the position.
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• Plan, direct, and coordinate the functions ofthe accounting department.
• Monitor expenditures of Town and School fundsfor accuracy, lawfulness, proper authorization, and availability of funds byexamining and approving vouchers, department bills and payrolls.
• Review, enter and manage all grant awardsincluding establishing appropriate budgets and controls.
• Approve and draw weekly warrant(s) for approvalby the Town Manager.
• Review and post daily deposits turned over fromthe Treasurer/Collector.
• Perform journal entries and budgetreallocations, as needed.
• Maintain custody of all Town contracts.
• Compile and maintain accounting records of allfixed assets and inventory.
• Prepare financial reports to Townboards/committees and department heads.
• Reconcile receivables and cash to Treasurer'sbalances on a monthly basis.
• Complete all year-end closing activities withinthe financial systems(s) and complete all required reporting to 3rdparty agencies.
• Provide information and reports as requested insupport of the annual town financial audit.
• Prepare annual financial report(s) to the stateincluding Schedule A and Tax Rate Recapitulation.
• Communicate regularly and effectively withdepartmental staff to support payable, receivable, and grant managementactivities.
• Support and train users in the proper use of thefinancial accounting system(s).
• Participate as a member of the Town's financialteam to develop, modify, and/or review financial policies and procedures.
• Other work as may be required by the FinanceDirector

10. Recommended Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience: Graduate of a four year college with a Bachelor's degree in Finance orAccounting with three to five (3-5) years related work experience; or anyequivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides therequired knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions ofthe job.
Special Requirements: MA CertifiedGovernmental Accountant or eligible to take the exam; driver's license.
11. Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of municipal accountingand auditing principles, practices and procedures; thorough knowledge ofgenerally accepted accounting principles, promulgation's of the GovernmentalAccounting Standards Board (GASB), applicable Massachusetts General Laws,regarding finance, insurance and procurement; knowledge of municipal budgetaryfunctions; knowledge of financial accounting software; thorough knowledge of municipal organizations and operations of towndepartments.
Abilities: Ability to develop effective workingrelationships with department personnel, subordinates and with the generalpublic; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
Skill: Excellent organizational skills; excellentdata processing skill in the use of personal computers and financial softwareincluding word processing and spreadsheet applications.
12. Work Environment: The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices,with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions aregenerally not unpleasant. Employee isrequired to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings and toaccomplish work assignments.
13. Occupational Risk: Duties of the job present little potential for injury. Risk exposure is similar to that found intypical office settings.
14. Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical demands describedhere are representative of those that must be met by an employee tosuccessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made toenable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essentialfunctions.
Physical Demands: Little or nophysical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting toperform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, andstanding. There may also be someoccasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computerpaper generally up to 30 pounds.
15. Motor Skills: Duties involve assignment requiring application of hand and eyecoordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include using a personal computer.
16. Visual Demands: Position requires the employee to constantly read documents and reportsfor understanding and analytical purposes.
Town of Duxbury is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled