Lead Accountant, Financial Reporting and Project Accounting Position Available In Mecklenburg, North Carolina

Lead Accountant, Financial Reporting and Project Accounting 3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 700 East 4th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Date Opened:

Monday, May 05, 2025 12:00

AM Close Date:

Monday, May 26, 2025 12:00

AM Department:

Charlotte Area Transit System Department Accounting Salary:

$73,630.73 – $92,038.42 Commensurate with Experience SUMMARY Under general supervision, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, performs professional accounting duties in the development, oversight, analysis, and reporting as related to maintaining CATS Financial Reporting and Grant Accounting. Primary duties include developing and administering processes to ensure the integrity of CATS financial records, conducting research and complex financial analyses including CATS Cost Allocation Plan, and assisting with other financial reporting.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists Supervisor of Financial Reporting and other staff in the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and analysis under CATS established closing schedule and with input from Financial Reporting and Grant Accounting. Administers activities by providing day-to-day oversight to include timely and accurate monthly/or as required reports, specialized reports as instructed, and ad-hoc internal reports. Prepares the annual Cost Allocation Plan for submission to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with supporting documentation through data analysis and research. Assists in coordinating the system closeout and external reporting, i.e., Urban Operating Statement, CATS TRAX, American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG), Benchmarking Group of North American Light Rail Systems (GOAL). Serves as one of the point of contacts for NTD and coordinate NTD Kickoff meeting. Monitors, and coordinates, all National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting for the Division. Tracking and evaluating the financial performance of projects. Monitor lifecycle from project setup to closeout. Data processing, analysis and reporting for all transit modes and transit related data within the agency. Collects, maintains, and analyzes data to prepare information for various monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports, including all transit ridership, benchmarking data, and revenue information. Draft quarterly, annual, and final federal financial reports in accordance with grant requirements. Reconciles capital project control account by verifying budget, allocating, posting transactions, and resolving discrepancies. The back up for maintaining all capital assets including processing CIP, disposals and cost adjustment and maintaining the CIP schedule. Perform financial analyses to be used by CATS’ management to review revenue and expenditure trends and various project statuses. Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting financial impact of operational activities. Prepares quarterly/annually compensated absences report. Other administrative duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong critical thinking and strategic analytical skills. Federal, State, and regional transportation funding programs, regulations, and processes. Principles and practices relating to operating and capital budgets and methods of analysis. Federal and State laws, regulations and requirements pertaining to transportation grant programs and audits. Ability to select, coach, supervise, motivate, train, develop, and evaluate the performance of staff through demonstration of managerial and leadership competencies, including integrity, accountability, communication skills, and commitment to teamwork and excellence. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff, customers, and business partners. Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and government accounting and financial regulations. Ability to interpret, analyze, and creatively integrate complex federal and state requirements so that they add value to the grants process at the project and operational levels. Analytical review techniques over transactions, account balances, reconciliations, and reports. High level of sustained accuracy and compliance with written procedures and verbal instructions. Strong organizational skills to manage numerous routing activities with attention to details. Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools particularly Word and Excel. Ability to quickly master City ERP and CATS financial software and provide training support as necessary to project managers and other CATS staff. Ability to work flexible schedules and hours in completion of routine work and special assignments. Ability to triage competing priorities according to importance and urgency. Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions and produce high quality work independently. Ability to complete work assignments with minimum supervision. Ability to effectively communicate both, written and verbal. Experience with National Transit Database data desirable but not essential Must be able to demonstrate the ability to analyze complex financial issues and preparing effective recommendations and solutions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance or related field Three (3) years’ experience in financial reporting, accounting, analysis, and statistical reports; or a Master’s degree with one (1) year of related government grant experience. Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test, a background check and ability to obtain a City driving permit. Considerable knowledge of governmental accounting, Federal, State, and Local regulations is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in a similar position in the transit industry is preferred. High School Graduate or Equivalent and Seven Years of Experience or 2 Year College Degree and Five Years of Experience or Bachelor’s Level Degree and Three Years of Experience or Master’s Level Degree and One Year of Experience

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check. Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports. Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments. The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online. Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays. For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us . The City of Charlotte is committed to making the job application process accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modification will be provided. To make a request, please email HRADAAdministration@charlottenc.gov , call 704-962-6168, or visit us in person at 700 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202 .

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees. The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.