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City Accountant
Career Insights for Accountant (General)
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What they do
An Accountant organizes and maintains financial records and prepares financial statements for companies and organizations. Works as a public accountant (prepares financial documents where public disclosure is required by law, such as business balance sheets and tax returns), management accountant (prepares financial information for internal use by a company) or government accountant (maintains records for government agencies).
$84,001 / year median in Massachusetts
-8% projected decline
Job Description
Full Job Description Title:
City Accountant Supervisor:
Director of Municipal Finance Classification:
Exempt Summary:
This position is the City's senior accounting and auditing professional. Responsible for the overall integrity of the city's financial system, this position works with all Departments throughout Beverly to ensure proper accounting procedures are in place, This position manages the Accounting Office which oversees payroll and vendor distributions, system controls, risk assessment and other accounting related operations.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Include the following; other duties may be assigned- Supervise the Accounting office staff
- Responsible as the keeper of all financial information, including: Preparation and maintenance of all financial and accounting records in accordance with Mass General Laws; Compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations involving appropriations and expenditures; Preparation of all financial reports Maintaining permanent records
- Provides control and compliance with standards established by the Division of Local Services, Director of Accounts and legal requirements as prescribed by MGL.
- Review and address departmental budgets to actual differences and resolve discrepancies with journal entries and budget transfers as necessary. Provides control and compliance with standards established by the Director of Accounts and legal requirements as prescribed by MGL. Review and approve various reimbursement submission requests
- Ensure the reconciliation of accounts receivable subsidiary ledgers in the Collector's Office to the general ledger in accounting. This includes Real Estate, Personal Property, Motor Vehicle Excise, Boat Excise, and Water and Sewer funds for all years.
- Ensure the reconciling of cash accounts in the subsidiary ledger (Quicken) and the accounting general ledger. This reconciliation will take place monthly and a quarterly report will be filed with the Department of Revenue.
- Audit the cash procedures in the City's operating departments and the Collector's Office at least quarterly.
- Review and audit balances for various accounts that may negatively affect the City's financial free cash position, including grants, special revenue funds and capital projects.
- Responsible for GASB 34-Fixed Assets including infrastructure. This will include the recording and maintenance of a fixed asset software system and reporting of it to be posted to the City's general ledger system.
- Review and audit bank statements in the Treasurer's Office to ensure that accounting practices are followed according to Massachusetts General Law. Each bank account should be audited at least annually by the accounting office.
- Review various year-end reporting for the outside auditors. This includes outstanding purchase order encumbrances, uncompensated absences, reconciliation of abatements, deferred revenue reconciliation and all withholding accounts.
- Review and approve all payroll and accounts payable warrants prior to issue.
- Support the School Department in the preparation of the School End of Year reports needed for submission. This includes schedules 1 & 19.
- Evaluate, create and implement a variety of internal controls and procedures to support accurate and efficient operations as well as safeguard against risk of errors or fraud.
- In coordination with the City Finance Director and the Assessing Department, prepare information for the submittal of the annual Tax Rate Recap report to Department of Revenue.
- Ensure the preparation of IRS forms W-2, 1099M, 1099R and 1099-NEC. This includes various file submissions of files with the assistance of the MIS department.
- Establish and maintain system controls in MUNIS
- Provide financial assistance and guidance to all departments, committees and boards as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong technical accounting skills and knowledge
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting is strongly preferred, an equivalent combination of higher education and experience in a senior accounting position will be considered.
- Strong Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word ability, and experience in the use of general accounting software including payroll, accounts payable, and general ledger.
- A minimum of three years progressively responsible accounting management experience.
- Demonstrated skills in communications with personnel at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to work independently and exercise good judgement.
- Ability to keep current with changing laws, exchange of ideas, system processes and upgrades
- Ability to interpret personnel policies and procedures and union contracts.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility, and high energy level.
- Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.