Senior Financial Analyst

The City of Kent Finance Department is looking for two Senior Financial Analysts, one to join the Payroll team and the other to join the Financial Planning team. One position will be responsible for assisting with semimonthly payroll processing, responding to a variety of inquiries and payroll processing matters, preparing and submitting state and federal tax reports, and providing support to others in the use of the payroll system and processing. The other position will be responsible for assisting with all aspects of the operating and capital budgets – development, requests, reductions, allocations, positions, forecasting, monitoring, trend analysis and reporting. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a closely related field and three (3) years of experience in municipal or government accounting or financial analysis are ideal qualifications.

There are two (2) full-time positions available, represented by the AFSCME union.

Under the direction of the Division Manager or Supervisor, perform a full range of technical and analytical duties, while providing related customer service to internal and external customers.

Work is characterized by senior professional financial, technical, and analytical accounting duties and responsibilities requiring a significant level of accuracy.  Duties could include, but are not limited to, analysis and research, assisting with month-end and year-end closing processes, forecasting, trend analysis, maintaining and enhancing various information technology systems, preparing complex reports and processing of payroll operations. The incumbent is also responsible for use of complex spreadsheets and other financial models to validate and track work performed. Work is often subject to tight deadlines requiring the incumbent to work well under pressure.

Work is performed under limited supervision. Supervisor sets the overall objectives and resources available. Incumbent and supervisor work together to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be completed. Incumbent plans and carries out the assignment, resolves most conflicts that arise, coordinates work with others, and interprets policies on own initiative in terms of established objectives. Incumbent keeps supervisor informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, or far-reaching implications. Work is reviewed in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, and/or effectiveness of results.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

If assigned to Financial Planning:

• Foster strong working relationships with City personnel to facilitate effective communication, assistance and recommendations regarding all aspects of the operating and capital budgets – development, requests, reductions, positions, reallocation, monitoring, year-end and project closing.
• Assist with the preparation of monthly, quarterly and year-end reports, supplemental budget adjustments, the biennial budget and mid-biennium adjustments. Prepare a variety of other statistical reports regarding costs, labor, revenue, expenditures, capital and projections; assist with special projects such as developing performance measures and/or analyzing project costs.
• Develop and maintain spreadsheet models for multi-year forecasts of revenues and expenditures taking into account historical trends, maintenance and operation costs, projected debt service, capital costs, City policies, labor agreements, and state and federal laws. Provide narratives of major components, changes, assumptions and trends.
• Create, update and enhance a variety of complex costing models for salaries and benefits and cost allocation plans, such as city-wide general government services, engineering, overhead, and internal services allocations.

If assigned to Payroll:

• Accurate processing of semimonthly payroll. Analyzing, troubleshooting and assisting others to research and resolve issues related to pay and deductions. Accurately and effectively communicating payroll related information.
• Effectively responding to staff and other agencies on a variety of inquiries and payroll processing matters. Provide support to others in the use of the payroll system and processing. This may involve training, preparation, and research on payroll-related taxes and transactions.
• Review, research and calculate adjustments and retro-payroll payments in coordination with department personnel.
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual state and federal tax reports, including employer’s quarterly federal tax return (Form 941), annual return of withheld federal income tax (Form 945), wage and tax statement (Form W-2), and unemployment. Audit and reconcile payroll transactions for tax and benefit purposes.
• Research, audit and resolve retirement benefit issues for State Retirement programs such as eligibility, rehire, current benefit questions, excess benefit calculations, dual membership, and restoration.
• Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and city.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUCCESSFUL INCUMBENTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL:

HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Government Accounting Standard Board Statement (GASB), Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS), and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)
• Municipal financial analysis and research methods and techniques
• Municipal government policies, procedures, organization, operations, objectives, and structure; and applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances
• State, local sales, and use tax rules, rates and regulations related to accounting in government operations
• Research, budgeting, and forecasting methods and techniques
• City, state, and federal wage, salary, and benefit requirements

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:

• Education:    Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or closely related fields; and
• Experience:  Three (3) years of professional experience in municipal or government accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, payroll or related experience.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Incumbent must demonstrate exceptional knowledge and skill in utilizing computer applications such as Excel spreadsheets. The ability to handle large amounts of data and correlate such data as necessary to audit, track and solve discrepancies is required.
• Must successfully pass a position specific background inquiry.