Accountant III

Position Type:
LEAD - CENTRAL OFFICE PROFESSIONAL/ACCOUNTANT III (V11021)

Date Posted:
12/5/2024

Location:
GREENWOOD BLDG E CONTROLLER (098512)

Closing Date:
Open Until FilledBALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CLASS TITLE: Accountant III

WORKING TITLE: Accountant III, Systems Accountant

TITLE CODE: V11020
SCHEDULE: Full Time

REPORTS TO: Supervisor, Business Systems Support

DEFINITION: This position will be relied upon to create system reports and troubleshoot/resolve system issues. They will also assist with the daily, monthly, and year-end accounting tasks for the entire school system. The accountant will review, reconcile, and analyze reports, prepare annual consolidated financial statements, monitor compliance with established policies and procedures, develop training materials, conduct training, and provide support for all schools and offices affected by the accounting operation. Lead in the design, development, and maintenance of automated systems for accounting related functions including accounting for general funds, capital construction, restricted grants, payroll, benefits, investments, financial reporting, cost allocations, and document management.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Serve as the systems accountant for accounting automated systems. Provide project leadership on system implementations; system testing and maintenance; design, implement and maintain necessary system workflows.
• Assist Business Systems Supervisor with report design, development, and testing. Design system queries/downloads. Develop reports and downloads to provide data to external auditors.
• Assist the Business Systems Support Supervisor with all aspects of report writing, system management/maintenance, and financial reporting. Evaluate new software enhancements.
• Create and monitor system assurance jobs to ensure the integrity of the data. Analyze discrepancies to determine the corrective action required to resolve the issue.
• Oversee the work of the Grants and Financial Reporting office including reviewing journal vouchers and coordinating account reconciliations performed by other accountants and staff. Oversee the grants workflow at year end to ensure all grants have been reconciled and are up to date in the system with accurate information.
• Oversee maintenance of the chart of accounts for all funds and oversee scheduling and processing of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual accounting system processes for transaction processing and system updates.
• Coordinate testing and implementation of electronic document management system and establish related policies and procedures.
• Meet with end users and managers to access reporting needs in the ERP system.
• Serve as a resource for Financial ERP system testing of patches and updates. Primary liaison with Financial ERP vendor technology support staff for implementation, upgrades, troubleshooting and testing.
• Establish process and systems for backing up of system accounting data for permanent offline retention, and ability to retrieve backup data as necessary.
• Prepare financial statements, schedules, and footnote disclosures required for inclusion in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Verify and reconcile information housed in payroll and financial systems. Identify and resolve payroll accounting errors. Conduct reconciliations and financial activity analyses as necessary.
• Review transactions for compliance with procedures and State financial reporting requirements. Develop policies and internal controls to ensure compliance with industry and organizational regulations. Research accounting pronouncements and prepare technical accounting memos on complex technical accounting issues.
• Provide technical guidance on new and emerging accounting and reporting issues. Implement new policies, changes, or improvements to ensure the organization's financial health.
• Consult with and assist principals, school-based secretaries, fiscal assistants, office/department heads, and other account managers with questions about accounting procedures and the financial accounting systems.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Four years of professional accounting experience. Experience with system implementation/upgrade, report writing, IT experience. Experience with accounting systems administration, payroll accounting, and accounts payable operations.
Governmental accounting experience preferred.
Knowledge and experience with CGI Advantage Payroll/HR/Financial system preferred. Knowledge and experience with SQL is preferred.
Knowledge and experience with Oracle preferred.

Licenses and Certificates:
N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Demonstrated strong technical financial skills. Thorough knowledge of GAAP and standard accounting business practices. Thorough knowledge of general ledger, processes and procedures. Thorough knowledge of payroll accounting requirements and processes. Thorough knowledge, skills, and abilities in organizing, prioritizing, analyzing, presenting, and maintaining data, both electronic and paper. Knowledge, skills, and abilities in use of spreadsheets, word processors, and databases.
Skill and ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Skill and ability to maintain accurate records and produce necessary reports.
Ability to train fiscal, school-based and office personnel in the use of accounting software and established policies and procedures.
Ability to work independently and perform assigned accounting responsibilities with a minimum need of direct supervision and review. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to appropriately maintain confidential information.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The work of this class is generally sedentary and performed in an office environment. Requires the use of computers and other office equipment.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
May be required to work additional hours with little or no notice.

GRADE: 06/OPE

SALARY: $79,915 to $126,019 (Annual Salary Scale for Exempt 12-Month Employees Represented by BCPSOPE 2024-2025 Effective July 1, 2024)

OTHER COMPENSATION: This position may be eligible for comp time. Visit the BCPS website to review the OPE Master Agreement for additional information at https://www.bcps.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2828&pageId=69996497.

FLSA: Exempt

RETIREMENT: Eligible for the Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System.

BENEFITS: BCPS offers a comprehensive benefits program for eligible employees including options for medical plans, dental plans, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability coverage, and 403(b)/457 plans. Other benefits include paid vacation, paid holiday's, sick, personal business, and bereavement days, and flexible leave options such as FMLA, sick bank, and board approved leaves. All new hires will attend a benefits meeting upon hire.

Visit the BCPS website for additional information about benefit plans for BCPS employees at
https://www.bcps.org/hr/compliance/benefits_and_retirement

This document describes the duties and responsibilities of a position or group of positions. It shall not be held to exclude duties not referenced nor limit the right of management to assign work to employees.

Citizenship, residency or work VISA in United States required

Application Instructions
Please read and carefully follow the instructions provided below.

• Applicants are required to have a completed application on file for employment with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Each time an applicant applies to a job with BCPS, the application must be resubmitted. If an applicant started an application with BCPS in the past and at a later date decides to apply for additional positions, it is the applicant's responsibility to review the entire application and ensure that all data is up to date (for example, the applicant may need to add additional schooling or certifications, an additional work experience, or provide updated references). The applicant must remember to review the entire application each time for accuracy and submit each time for a new or different vacancy.
• Professional references must be submitted to complete your application. Examples of professional references include current and former principals, supervisors, managers, mentor teachers and university/college supervisors. Personal references from colleagues, friends, community members, etc. will not be accepted. Applicants should notify their reference proactively to inform them they will receive a form via email through a MAILBOT email address from Baltimore County Public Schools. Applicants should also inform their reference(s) of the job they are applying to.
• Be sure to account for all periods of employment and unemployment, including student teaching and internship experience, and include names, addresses, and telephone numbers of employers.
• Be sure to answer all criminal background questions. If you answer "yes" to any of the criminal background questions you must provide a written explanation. A criminal offense does not necessarily exclude an applicant from employment with BCPS. Factors such as passage of time since the offense, the nature of the violation, and the extent of rehabilitation will be taken into consideration.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• All persons employed by the Baltimore County Public Schools, regular and temporary, are required to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background investigation (per COMAR) completed. The fee charged for fingerprinting is $109. An identification card will be issued which must be shown prior to employment.
• Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the US.
• If you have military experience you will be asked to provide a copy of DD214.
• Official transcripts will be required upon hire and must be sent via escript/clearinghouse from your university.
• Some positions will require employees to undergo a physical examination and/or drug testing.
• All newly hired personnel must attend a Benefits and Retirement Orientation meeting.
• Additional job verification may be required for salary credit.

Non-Discrimination Statement
The Board of Education of Baltimore County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to educational programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding the Board's nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: EEO Officer, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Baltimore County Public Schools, 6901 Charles Street, Building B, Towson, Maryland 21204 ([redacted]). There is a compliance officer responsible for identifying, preventing, and remedying prohibited harassment concerning students. Complaints of harassment should be directed to the executive director, Department of School Safety and Security, 9600 Pulaski Park Drive, Suite 118, Baltimore, MD 21220 ([redacted]).

Contact Information
Shawn Stahl
Manager, Office of Staffing
6901 Charles Street, E Building
Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone:
Fax:
Email: