Accountant II

JOB SUMMARY:

Make an impact:

The City of Salem Finance Department is seeking a dynamic Accountant II with advanced accounting experience. The Finance Department is responsible for providing accurate and timely financial services and support (i.e. accounts payable/receivable, project accounting, treasury, investment, debt, special project, general ledger, and financial reporting) for the City, as well as the Urban Renewal Agency. The Accountant II will be a key contributor in the General Ledger and Reporting Section of the Finance Department and will be highly influential in the overall success of the Department.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to work in a collaborative environment and provide City departments with business process improvements while maintaining proper accounting controls. We are looking for someone who brings a fresh perspective on accounting practices and business management, is a team player, and loves continuous improvement. If you are passionate about providing excellent customer service, experienced with advanced professional accounting work encompassing a wide variety of financial reporting, and have a proven history of carrying out your responsibilities with professionalism and integrity, then we may have a position for you!

Learn and grow:

The Finance Department values employees and their professional development. The department offers opportunities to attend finance conferences, as well as supporting ongoing education and certifications.

What you will do:

This position operates as a lead within the General Ledger and Reporting Section of the Finance Department and provides customer service and support to City Departments and staff on a daily basis. The position reports to the Accounting Supervisor and will be responsible for recurring responsibilities such as monthly journal entries, reconciliations, annual financial statement schedules, as well as larger projects and ad-hoc requests. Supervision of employees is not a responsibility of the Accountant II.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Prepare recurring and ad-hoc journal entries.
• Perform complex accounting reconciliations.
• Prepare financial statements and note disclosures for the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Urban Renewal Agency annual report, and other external reports.
• Support the annual financial statement audits, including responding to audit questions and providing detailed financial support deliverables, as requested by the City’s auditors.
• Prepare and deliver account analysis to departments outside of Finance.
• Perform analytical accounting reviews.
• Research and resolve accounting errors and/or discrepancies.
• Support implementation of new and/or revised accounting standards (e.g. from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board) or other relevant financial regulations.
• Perform limited scope internal audits, such as departmental petty cash audits.
• Update, revise, and maintain policy and procedure documentation.
• Support City-wide initiatives, including process improvement projects requiring cross-departmental collaboration.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.

Position schedule is typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Our team follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office 555 Liberty St Se, Salem, OR 97301, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks and manager approval. This is subject to change based on business needs.

The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• May be required to have an Oregon Driver’s license and be able to meet the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, or business administration; AND
• Four (4) years of experience involving professional accounting in private or governmental accounting: OR
• Any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.

Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Qualifications (Not required to apply):

• Certified Public Accountant.
• Certified Public Finance Officer.

What you will bring along:

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and the fundamental theories in accounting and finance.
• Knowledge of automated financial information systems and sub-systems, maintain policies and operating procedures and interrelationships of such systems.
• Experience with complex reconciliations.
• Ability to analyze, research, organize, and compile data into meaningful reports.
• Ability to perform complex accounting work accurately and rapidly.
• Work independently and accomplish assigned responsibilities, as well as the ability to assist in day-to-day training and prioritizing subordinates work as well as prioritizing own work.
• Demonstrate self-motivation and leadership, work with considerable initiative and independent judgment.
• Read, interpret, and apply relevant federal, state and local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Resolves procedural and operational problems by analyzing the problem and taking appropriate action.

About us:

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon, located in the heart Willamette Valley, and is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:

Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development Department. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The city has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Accountant II, or view by clicking here.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.