ACCOUNTANT III

Introduction

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a diverse workforce committed to providing exemplary service to its residents. If you are passionate about being part of an inclusive team of public servants, please consider the following opportunity.

Purpose

The Accountant III provides financial accounting support for the Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) by preparing financial statements and reports, performing audits, analyzing accounts, forecasting revenues, maintaining the utility's financial model and preparing simplified and conventional utility rate cases.

Essential Functions

Accounting and Auditing

• Process principal and interest payment requests on all outstanding debts, pursuant to applicable debt service schedules.
• Prepare monthly accounting reports for the four services charges collected by MWW on Municipal Service Bills.
• Prepare trial balance and annual financial statements in accordance with Public Service Commission (PSC) requirements and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Close the MWW books by preparing monthly journal entries and provide monthly reports for financial and non-financial analytics.
• Act as the primary contact for external auditors and prepare and compile the utility's audit documentation, including prepared by client (PBC) work papers.
• Work with the Comptroller's Office to assemble, coordinate and submit MWW's audit reports as well as portions of the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Capital Project and Grant Accounting

• Maintain accounting for capital projects such as water main installation and replacement, lead service line replacement and other major infrastructure and equipment purchases.
• Work with various City departments and managers to ensure complete reporting for grants and loans.
• Prepare and coordinate the development of MWW General Obligation loans and other grant work papers.
• Process MWW's Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) applications and follow up with all required documentation, submittals to the State's Department of National Resources (DNR), and recordkeeping on E-grants.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare reports of monthly water sales and consumption.
• Prepare reports to forecast quarterly water sales and consumption.
• Prepare periodic financial statements to update MWW's financial model.
• Prepare monthly expense spending and equipment reports, comparing section budgets with year-to-date expenditures and other operational reports; maintain related work papers and support.
• Prepare annual work in progress (WIP), deferred debits, and annual accruals.
• Prepare monthly reports to support MWW's activities associate with the Mayor's Action Plan and Policies (MAPP).

Utility Rate Case Preparation

• Prepare simplified and conventional rate cases, including filing the application, making projections, preparing exhibits and processing water rate case increases.
• Assist consultants hired to work on the rate case applications on behalf of the MWW.
• Prepare cash flow estimates and related information for rate increase proposals and other analysis and reporting topics.

Budget Preparation

• Assist in the preparation of MWW's annual budget, including assembly of supporting documentation and work papers.
• Respond to budget inquiries and supply information to assist MWW managers in analyzing spending patterns and variances.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university.

Two years of full-time equivalent professional (post degree) accounting experience.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. However, there is no substitution for a bachelor's degree in accounting.

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates' education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

Desirable Qualifications

• Public utility accounting experience.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

Technical

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), accounting theory and practice.
• Knowledge of accounting standards for government entities, such as the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards.
• Ability to learn and perform capital project and grant funding and reporting.
• Ability to learn, interpret and apply the provisions of the Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations related to publicly owned water utilities.
• Knowledge of mathematics and the ability to make accurate calculations.
• Knowledge of financial management and other software programs, including spreadsheet and word processing.
• Ability to learn and use the City's Financial Management Information System (FMIS).
• Ability to learn and use MWW's customer information system (enQuesta).
• Ability to learn and use MWW's customer information system reporting software (Cognos).
• Ability to develop and run periodic and ad hoc reports.
• Ability to research new accounting developments and to translate the implications of adoption and implementation.

Communication and Interpersonal

• Verbal communication skills to clearly communicate effectively with different levels of personnel inside and outside the organization to explain budget requirements, spending reports and variances.
• Interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective and professional working relationships.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy.
• Written communication skills to create business correspondence, reports and footnotes to financial statements.
• Ability to work well independently and to function as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment with people whose backgrounds may differ from one's own.

Critical Thinking and Planning

• Analytical skills to research and review information to determine trends and variances and to offer solutions.
• Problem solving skills to research issues, analyze data and make recommendations.
• Ability to effectively organize and prioritize multiple work assignments within varying deadlines.
• Attention to detail to ensure accuracy in work and compliance.
• Ability to use sound judgment.

Professionalism

• Honesty, integrity and the ability to adhere to fundamental principles of ethical behavior for accountants and use City resources responsibly.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Current Salary

The current salary range (2JX) is $72,768-$92,611 annually, and the resident incentive salary range for City of Milwaukee residents is $74,951-$95,390 annually. Appointment above the minimum is possible based upon level of experience and other qualifications and is subject to approval.

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program that includes the following:

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Onsite Clinic Services
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit http://city.milwaukee.gov/Benefits.

Selection Process

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: an evaluation of education, experience and/or responses to supplemental questions; a written or performance test, a structured interview, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to structured interviews and performance examinations. Structured interviews may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE - The selection process will be held as soon as practical after the deadline listed above. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the selection process components. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative selection process dates or times. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

Additional Information

• Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobapscloud.com/MIL.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Conclusion

EEO 202

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.