DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  This is important accounting work involving responsibility for supervising the proper analysis and maintenance of accounting records. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring accuracy, consistency and organization in all accounting and fiscal functions for a department or agency. Work involves responsibility for the maintenance of a comprehensive system of governmental or other municipal accounts, by applying principles of accounting. Work also involves establishment and implementation of departmental accounting procedures. Responsibilities include a variety of general ledger functions, as well as reconciliations, funds accounting, preparation of financial statements, and other related work. Work is performed under the general supervision of a higher-level administrator or department head with wide leeway allowed for the use of independent judgement in completing the work. Direct supervision is exercised over subordinate account‑keeping clerical employees. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)

• Maintains and oversees maintenance of all general ledger accounting operations and functions;
• Performs or oversees record-keeping and required fiscal reporting for agency, district, local, state and federal agencies;
• Prepares and oversees preparation of a variety of fiscal reports, including financial statements, budget projections, reports to governmental agencies etc.;
• Prepares bank reconciliations and balances for a variety of accounts/funds such as general, payroll, capital projects, trust and agency, special aid, etc.;
• Tracks a variety of complex accounts throughout the budget year and makes all necessary adjustments in balances;
• Performs difficult or unusual accounting tasks; 
• Assists in formulating fiscal and accounting aspects of agency policy;
• Develops clerical procedures to comply with state and federal regulations;
• Uses finance software for accounting purposes;
• Checks, classifies and codes financial transactions for computer input;
• Analyzes records of past and present operations, trends and costs, estimated revenues, and appropriations;
• Assists in the preparation of schedules and annual financial statements required in the annual year end closing process;
• Maintains records, billing processes, reconciliations and reports to governmental agencies;
• Supervises and trains fiscal or account-keeping, or lower-level clerical employees, to ensure arithmetical and clerical accuracy, completeness and proper extension;
• Assists and provides guidance to lower-level employees in the completion of the work;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Good knowledge of accounting principles, practices and techniques, particularly as they relate to governmental accounting; good knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment; ability to maintain and audit comprehensive accounting records including general journals and ledgers; ability to prepare closing entries and financial statements and reports; ability to use and learn software used for financial and tax accounting; ability to understand and interpret difficult written and tabular materials; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees, program officials and others; tact and courtesy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Either

1. Bachelor’s degree in accounting ,finance, business administration, or similar field and three (3) years of general or municipal accounting experience, which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or preparation of financial statements, one (1) year of which must have been at the supervisory level; or
2. Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of general or municipal accounting, which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or the preparation of financial statements, one (1) year of which must have been at the supervisory level;
3. Associate’s degree in accounting ,finance, business administration, or similar field and five (5) years of general or municipal accounting experience, which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or the preparation of financial statements, one (1) year of which must have been at the supervisory level; or
4. Associates degree or completion of sixty (60) college credits and seven (7) years of general or municipal accounting experience, which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or the preparation of financial statements, one (1) year of which must have been at the supervisory level; or
5. Graduation from high school or possession of a comparable diploma and (9 ) years of general or municipal accounting experience, which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or the preparation of financial statements, one (1) year of which must have been at the supervisory level.

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

SUBSTITUTION NOTE: Certification as a Public Accountant by the State of New York may be substituted for two (2) years of general accounting experience.

9/23

Competitive Class