Senior Manager Accounting

Job Description

General Hybrid Work Statement:

This opportunity is a hybrid opportunity allowing for flexibility between virtual and in-person work subject to the Authority's telework policy.

Marketing Statement:

The Senior Accounting Manager will oversee the daily operations of the Asset Management department, including General Ledger, Asset Management, Construction in Progress, GASB 87, and GASB 96, and oversee the Month-End Close and related monthly reconciliation process. The Senior Accounting Manager is pivotal in managing a diverse team of approximately 10 members. Their responsibility to ensure the integrity of the financial statements is critical to the organization's success.

They also coordinate and facilitate audits of financial statements and other statutory reporting, further underlining the significance of their role. The Senior Accounting Manager actively identifies staff training needs and works with the accounting team and IT department to ensure that educational tools are available. This emphasis on staff development and growth opportunities is a key aspect of the role.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field

Experience

• A minimum of nine (9) years experience in accounting operations, planning/execution, financial management and/or management analysis in a large, complex organization using manual and automated financial systems to include financial reporting, analysis and the development and presentation of financial information. Demonstrated experience in researching, interpreting, reporting, and implementing the provisions of US GAAP
• A minimum of five (5) years management experience in an accounting and/or financial environment, demonstrating experience in leading and motivating a large team and managing large and complex financial transactions

Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred

• A Master's/advanced degree or certification in the fields of accounting, finance or related field
• Active certified public accountant (CPA) license
• Experience with PeopleSoft Financials
• Experience in reporting in accordance with US GAAP, as applicable to governmental entities

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Accounting is responsible for effectively building and sustaining teams to accomplish managing change, people and processes. The scope involves developing and implementing policies and procedures, best practices, and internal controls; performing accounting research; analyzing financial information; and financial reporting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP). The incumbent is also accountable for coordinating cross-departmental, cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity and reliability of financial transactions. This position requires strong leadership skills to motivate and energize a large and diverse accounting staff to timely, accurately, and efficiently deliver accounting services. The incumbent has considerable latitude for independent judgment and action within established guidelines.

Essential Functions

• In accordance with US GAAP, oversees and ensures the proper accounting and financial reporting of financial transactions on a periodic, monthly, quarterly, annual, ad-hoc and multi-year basis. Consistently develops practices and procedures to ensure that accounting activities are in compliance with the overall financial objectives set forth for the Authority, and that financial reporting of actual activities can be measured against approved financial plans, budgets, or other source documents.
• Manages the timely development and preparation of financial statements and complex schedules; monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations; journal entries; and account classifications based on a thorough understanding of financial systems, accounting policies and US GAAP.
• Stays abreast of, interprets, and ensures the correct application of complex accounting standards to financial transactions and statements related to the incumbent's assigned process area (e.g., Accounts Payable, Payroll, Financial Reporting, Accounts Receivable, Financial Analysis, Asset Management, or Grants).
• Reviews, analyzes and develops recommendations to support actions, policies, and management decisions pertaining to complex accounting and auditing issues. Develops alternative methods to operational strategies that benefit the Authority; implements remediation activities to address audit findings; and formulates communications, procedures and guidelines.
• Establishes and ensures appropriate internal controls are in place and being followed to prevent or detect financial misstatements or fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Recommends, plans, and implements modifications to improve financial processes and systems. Participates in the requirements gathering, development and testing of new systems or functionality.
• Recommends and reviews established goals for the Office of Accounting as well as provides input on goals and objectives.
• Manages and supervises subordinate staff to include recommending applicant selection for hiring, undertaking necessary disciplinary actions, resolving grievances and difficult personnel and task-related problems, retention programs, approving leave requests, assigning duties, directing the accurate and timely completion of work, ensuring appropriate training and preparedness in achieving branch goals.
• Establishes specific and measurable work plans for subordinates against, which they will be measured, and conducts performance evaluations based on these work plans.
• Keeps abreast of applicable accounting related policies, procedures, and standards, as applicable for the branch (e.g., Governmental Accounting Standards Board pronouncements, grantor requirements, payroll laws, and tax policies) and implements appropriate training/procedures to ensure staff compliance.
• Timely and thoroughly reviews work for accuracy and completeness, trains, and provides instruction and guidance to lower level staff.
• Directs, reviews, and approves the work of consultants.
• Prepares and reports on complex financial information for internal and external use and all levels of management.
• Uses knowledge of accounting operations and policies, benchmarks against industry practices, and uses business judgement to identify formulate, evaluate, recommend, and implement improvement strategies.
• Presents recommendations in appropriate executive level communications to gain approval for improvement strategies.
• Develops and implements knowledge sharing and succession plans and ensures that desk manuals and other documentation exist and remain accurate and current to ensure continuity of operations for all critical process areas.
• Automates manual processes for critical process areas.
• Minimizes paper processing and develops procedures to ensure electronic data is maintained and centrally stored in accordance with record retention policies.
• Develops and reports on quantitative and qualitative performance metrics for all critical process areas to measure the effectiveness and accuracy of transactions processed.

The essential duties listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Other Functions

• Works with various departments to review manpower availability and selects an appropriate number of work orders for scheduling.
• Assist in conducting physical inventory of any new or rehabilitated equipment, recording inventory data into the asset management system (i.e. Maximo), and coordinating equipment numbers and serial numbers. Performs inventory induction process, which may involve accessing equipment on or underneath railcars.
• Optimizes maintenance scheduling analysis by assisting in the gathering of interdepartmental data by running SQL queries and developing reports for maintenance and operation offices.
• Prepares scheduled maintenance projections for budget planning purposes.
• Assists Maintenance Planners with procurement of needed parts for kitted jobs, and ensure all non-stock parts are ordered with sufficient lead time to ensure timely delivery at staging for various scheduled work.
• Visit the field to assure that all job plan steps are being complied with.
• Serves as backup and support for other Maintenance Planning and Scheduling personnel when they are absent due to vacation, sickness, or special projects.
• Collaborates with WMATA's internal departments including Quality, Engineering, and all respective maintenance departments.
• Trains other staff members in work methods and procedures.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.