Chief Accountant

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Mount Vernon, WA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 02021-0325
Department: Auditor's Office
Division: Accounting
Opening Date: 03/26/2025
Closing Date: 4/8/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Summary
Responsible for directing the functions of the Accounting Division within the Auditor's Office; coordinating activities with related county departments, districts, and outside agencies; controlling, monitoring, analyzing and administering the financial accountability of Skagit County in the recording and reporting of financial data. Responsible for compilation of the County's annual financial report and coordinating the annual state audit within the accounting department including overall oversite and review of the state's audit for all county departments. This position works closely with all departments to ensure all departments are in compliance and can have a go to person for questions and policies.
Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3 ($9,564.18/mo. - $10,246.42/mo.) for the Chief Accountant, dependent upon qualifications.

Progressive increases are based upon years of service with Skagit County, up to 10 total steps (top step $12,726.62/mo.). The Chief Accountant is Range 33 of the General salary schedule (Non-Rep).
Essential Functions

• Ensures accounting activities are in compliance with applicable local, state and federal regulations. Reviews and analyzes the county's fiscal policies and procedures, makes recommendations for improvements and efficiencies, leads implementation of new processes.

• Serves as consultant to other county departments on fiscal, accounting, reporting, and compliance issues. Leads or assists with the development and implementation of county-wide policies, procedures and practices related to these areas. Ensures County goals are met for accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, internal audit and grants management functions.

• Responsible for providing complex accounting, fiscal and related compliance services and support county-wide, at a senior professional level. Assists departments with accounting, management reporting, and other fiscal needs, provides services and support to enhance and improve operational efficiencies.

• Establishes, reviews, and administers procedures, systems and policies for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, grants, interfund transfers and transactions, journal entries, and data entry and control on a county-wide basis.

• Monitors and evaluates the performance of the Auditor's accounting staff, systems and procedures.

• Responsible for overseeing the efficiency and integrity of the county's financial system processes, external financial reporting, and internal management reporting.

• Coordinates compliance with budgetary practices and processes. Ensures integrity of financial information from a budget perspective.

• Reviews, interprets and distributes information from various governing authorities.

• Prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and is the primary contact and coordinator for the county's annual financial audit with the State Auditor's Office.

• Responsible for administering Skagit County debt funds including budgeting, funding and payments

• Reviews interprets, and distributes information to and from various federal, state and local governing authorities

Supervisory:

This is a supervisory position all accounting department staff and temporary employees assigned to the Auditor's Office accounting division.

The Chief Accountant is directly responsible for establishing work rules and performance standards; resolving grievances and other sensitive personnel matters; providing for the training and motivation of subordinates in order to make full use of individual capabilities and to meet changing system demands.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

As time allows and not to interfere with the primary tasks of the job function, this position may be tasked with performing related duties. Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the position description but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee's classification of work.

Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in governmental accounting & Single Audit principles

• Four years of upper management responsibility preferred
• In depth understanding and upper-level experience with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Washington State BARS (Budget, Accounting, Reporting System), and ACFR (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report) preparation following GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) 34 model, and budgeting for county government similar to Skagit County.
• Experience with integrated financial accounting systems, preferably in government.

Requires knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations as they relate to county finance and payroll and the ability to interpret and apply them. Possess a good understanding of the statutes and ordinances applicable to the functions of the department and ability to enforce them.

• Principles and methods of integrated financial systems design and financial reporting, internal controls, contract law and grant accounting. Expertise to utilize a variety of computer-based applications including but not limited to Microsoft office suite. High level of proficiency in Excel.

• Principles of supervision, training, performance evaluation and ability to deal with all levels of personnel issues as well as influence morale in the workplace. Complete or ensure that tasks and responsibilities are met within prescribed deadlines per procedures or statutes. Be creative and resourceful with problem-solving skills.

• Payroll practices, union contracts, federal and state employment laws and requirements.

• Apply the CPA professional code of ethics and to demonstrate trustworthiness to the organization.

Requires the ability to:

• Interpret and analyze financial data, as well as research, analyze, and evaluate new systems, processes and techniques relating to accounting methods and procedures.

• Work well independently as well as in a cooperative and teamwork environment. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with department staff, management, other county departments, local, and state agencies.

• Communicate effectively, both orally in person or by phone, and in writing via fax, e-mail and by mail. Skilled at professionally communicating and explaining processes, procedures and legalities to department staff, other county employees and affiliated agencies and districts.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work is performed in an office setting. Occasional lifting up to 40 pounds and must be able to sit for long periods throughout the day.
Hazards:

Those present in a normal office environment, including extensive use of computer monitor and keyboard.
Supplemental Information
SELECTION PROCESS:
Following review of applications and resumes, the highest qualified applicants will be interviewed and may be tested. After a selection is made, all applicants not selected will be notified in writing. Skagit County reserves the right to use applications received for this posting to fill any other positions within this classification which may open within six months following the closing of this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination in its employment practices.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: Individuals, who need an ADA accommodation to complete the application, test or interview process, please call: (360) 336-9433.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Changes to the position description may be made at the discretion of the employer.
Skagit County offers a competitive benefits package for Full-Time employees, including:

• Health Insurance: A variety of plans to choose from, including the County's Standard Medical Plan, for which the employee only pays $70 a month for medical and the County pays 100% of the dental and vision premiums for employee and dependents depending on the plan selected. Spouses may be added to the plan for $130 per month.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• Retirement: All employees must participate in a Washington State Department of Retirement Services plan, and may participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan if desired.
• Group Life Insurance: Basic insurance and Long-Term Disability is provided to employee and dependents, with additional insurance available to purchase.
• Employee Assistance Program for employees and family members for help with personal or family problems.