Sr. Accountant

Position Description About Harris County Housing & Community Development: Harris County Housing & Community Development provides life-enhancing projects and programs to residents of Harris County. Our services include spurring community investment through the provision of homebuying programs, partnering with community members and housing developers to build diverse housing options that uplift communities and offer other assistance that support community building. The position requires the performance of a wide variety of daily accounting duties and analyses associated with subrecipient contracts/agreements. Accountant Overview The senior accountant is responsible for the accounting related to multiple component units of Harris County (i.e., Local Governmental Corporations (LGCs) and 501c3, non-profits). The position is responsible for ongoing daily accounting, treasury management, reviewing financial data, budgeting, financial reporting and making forecasting observations and communicating the fiscal matters to the treasurer, entity boards, and program directors. The senior accountant must also work routinely with external and internal auditors in the production of Annual Financial Statement audits, single audit as well as special grant reports. The position oversees the production of construction progress reports, budget vs actual reports, and other special project reports. The senior accountant is responsible for performing complex accounting for tax increment funds, leases, land acquisitions, real estate development projects, conduit bond programs and grant contracts. Duties & Responsibilities: Works closely with LGC board chair, the treasurer, senior accounting manager, program division heads, and staff in providing complex financial accounting, budgeting, treasury management activities, and financial reporting for each board meeting. Responsible for the production of financial agenda items for each board meeting which includes: monthly financial reports, quarterly investment reports, the annual investment policy, monthly treasurer's reports, special project reports, budget versus actuals reports, and annual budgets. Oversees the financial accounting aspects of debt, conduit debt, lease transactions, community land trust accounting, construction projects, real estate development projects and capital projects and grant accounting to ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local funding requirements and organizational policies. Assists in the development of accurate and realistic budgets for each entity and works closely with program managers to provide financial insights and support decision-making related to revenue and expenditure patterns and cycles. Must work routinely with, and supply information to, internal and external auditors during the annual audit of each entity's financial statements, or with federal or state grant monitors conducting site visits for ensuring compliance with grant terms and conditions. Assists the senior accounting manager by overseeing, preparing, and processing inter-fund and intergovernmental receivables, payables, and other accounting entries, incoming and outgoing wires, ACH transactions, warrants, and draws while maintaining a working relationship with the entity's banking institutions and affiliates in the management of cash and debt service requirements. Monitors grant and operations budgets throughout the project life cycle, identifying and addressing any variances or discrepancies. Conducts financial analysis related to all financial entities and provides insight to senior management and contributes to strategic financial planning. Directs, prepares, and recommends accounting transactions and performs a variety of accounting, reporting, project, and compliance monitoring activities. Works within Intuit Enterprises Suite, DoorLoop leasing software, and PeopleSoft while establishing and maintaining various in-house workbook files and logs supplemental to the department's accounting systems. Establishes and maintains various in-house spreadsheets and logs supplemental to the department's accounting systems. Participates in departmental special projects. Other duties as assigned. This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate. Requirements Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a closely related field such as Finance or Business Administration from an accredited college or university Experience Five (5) years of professional accounting experience Two (2) years' experience in full cycle financial reporting and reconciliation Licensure Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Strong analytical skills with an ability to focus on the details, strong organizational and time management skills, good communication skills, and the ability to write clearly Advanced skills in Excel workbooks and worksheets and complex financial/accounting related software, e.g., Quickbooks, PeopleSoft Strong knowledge and proficiency in accounting principles related to payables, receivables, revenues, governmental, grants, and fund accounting Strong knowledge and ability to research and understand GASB Statements Ability to work efficiently under pressure and establish, maintain, and demonstrate to others the use of accounting tools Ability to access, interpret, consolidate and prepare budgets, financial reports, and other financial information Ability to interpret federal, state and local regulations and compliance literature pertaining to a variety of programs and maintain compliance NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications. Preferences Preferred Experience Knowledge of accounting utilized within governmental, non-profit, or public agencies, or with sophisticated accounting software within medium to large-sized entities General Information Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work: Full-Time | Grant-funded Monday - Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Work Environment The job is performed in a professional office environment. No special safety precautions are required. Physical Demands The work is primarily sedentary with occasional required travel to training events or meetings. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met. Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department. HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan. The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions: Health & Wellness Benefits Medical Coverage Dental Coverage Vision Coverage Wellness Plan Life Insurance Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Healthcare Flexible Spending Account Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Paid Time Off (PTO) Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service) Eleven (11) County-observed holidays One (1) floating holiday per year Paid Parental Leave* Sick Leave Retirement Savings Benefit 457 Deferred Compensation Plan The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions: Professional learning & development opportunities Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan) Flexible work schedule* METRO RideSponsor Program* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas. In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed. For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website: www.benefitsathctx.com 01 Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application. High School or GED diploma Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree or higher None of the above 02 If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major? Accounting Finance Business Administration Other Related Field Unrelated Field N/A; No Degree 03 Which of the following best describes your verifiable professional accounting experience? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Less than five (5) years Five (5) years or more but less than six (6) years Six (6) years or more but less than seven (7) years Seven (7) years or more I do not have this experience 04 Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in professional accounting. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience. Example: "January 2020 - December 2023" If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided. 05 Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in full cycle financial reporting and reconciliation? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Less than two (2) years Two (2) years or more but less than three (3) years Three (3) years or more but less than four (4) years Four (4) or more years I do not have this experience 06 Please provide details about your verifiable experience in full cycle financial reporting and reconciliation. * Do not use "See Resume", as we do not use resumes to assess qualifications.* (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided. 07 Do you have knowledge of accounting utilized within governmental, non-profit, or public agencies, or with sophisticated accounting software within medium to large-sized entities? Yes No 08 Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check. Advanced Intermediate Basic Entry Level Not proficient 09 This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Driver's License? Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date No, I'm not interested Required Question Employer Harris County Address 1111 Fannin St Ste. 600 Houston, Texas, 77002 Phone 713-274-5445 Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx