Staff Accountant
Harris County Department of Education
Houston, TX 77022
$60,230 - $73,903 a year
Description
Primary Purpose:
- Maintain systems for processing and reporting grant records and fixed assets. Prepare all necessary reports accurately and on a timely basis.
Qualifications:
Education/Certification:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in accounting or business related field with at least 30 hours of accounting
- Must have taken a 3-hour course in governmental accounting as part of the Bachelor’s degree
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Knowledge of governmental accounting and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
- Ability to work with numbers in an accurate and efficient manner
- Ability to organize, prioritize and meet established deadlines
- Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) using proper English grammar
- Ability to maintain accurate and auditable records
- Ability to effectively utilize computers and operate office machines as required
- Ability to type and keyboard by touch
- Ability to proficiently use software such as Excel, Word and Power Point
- Ability to maintain accurate and auditable records
Experience:
- Four years governmental accounting experience
- TASBO Certification Preferred
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Special Grants and Fiduciary Funds
- Maintain complete and systematic records of financial transactions.
- Maintain HCDE’s general ledger for the Special Revenue and Fiduciary Funds and other funds assigned on a current basis, and prepare all required journal entries, budget transfers, and other adjustments according to monthly closing schedule provided by the supervisor related with the previous month for the funds assigned.
- Analyze the general ledger and interpret financial information to provide recommendations for improvement to the Chief Accounting Officer.
- Assist Division budget managers with accounting transactions, and review of reports.
- Prepare timely and accurately quarterly, semi-annual and annual grant reports and submit to Chief Accounting Officer for review.
- Prepare quarterly audit schedules with adequate supporting documentation by the 30th of the month following each fiscal year calendar for the funds assigned, as required.
- Review and check for budget availability and coding of payment vouchers, purchase requisitions, payroll requests, contract requests, and other inter-fund charges, and prepare payroll redistributions for Adult Education, in accordance with the Cost Allocation plan.
- Prepare budgets for the funds assigned in accordance with federal, state and local government standards (TEA and GAAP).
- Prepare financial and operational grant reports to the various agencies in accordance with the deadlines prescribed by these agencies.
- Prepare monthly financial, reimbursement and ad hoc reports, including drawdown reports as needed, for each individual grant, and submit to the Chief Accounting Officer for review and approval, no later than the 7th of each month.
- Ensure all grant expenditures are in compliance with grant requirements, OMB Circulars and applicable federal, state and local requirements.
- Update and maintain current the grant portal.
- Record details of financial transactions in appropriate journals and subsidiary ledgers.
- Review fund transactions monthly; develop corrections for the Supervisor’s signature.
- Prepare the Schedule of Expenditures for Federal Awards as needed along with projections for the final report at fiscal yearend.
- Prepare all required journal entries, budget transfers, and other adjustments by the 15th of the month for the previous month for the funds assigned.
- Prepare agenda items as required by Chief Accounting Officer.
- Prepare various audit schedules for the annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) as assigned.
- Prepare analysis and periodic management reports regarding grant status dealing with budget sustainability and grant compliance for all special revenue funds.
- Assist in the preparation of the monthly budget amendments (if needed for the assigned funds) and budget amendments report for board approval on a timely basis.
- Assist Adult Education Division with Cost Allocation Plan revision, on a yearly basis, and assure that plan is submitted to the Chief Accounting Officer for review no later than July 20th, for timely submission to HGAC.
Special Assignments
- Prepare bank reconciliations for several bank accounts including but not limited to general fund, payroll, accounts payable, investment pool accounts, PFC accounts, campus accounts and miscellaneous cash accounts.
- Prepare the Investment Report and assist with Highlights Presentation, Financial Information and Education Foundation highlights presentation
- Prepare the Annual Financial Management Report
- Assist in the preparation of Popular Annual Financial Report
- Assist in the coordination of Risk Assessment Program
- Assist in the coordination and update to the Fraud Prevention Model Program
- Coordinate the quarterly budget meetings.
- Assist with the Education Foundation entries, audits, and all the necessary documentation related with Grant awards, if necessary.
Department Standard Requirements
- Provide excellent customer services to all users regarding all business functions (accounting).
- Maintain updated Desk Procedures for all assigned duties.
- Attend all meetings as required.
- Serve on the Business Services Leadership Team.
- Demonstrate behavior that is professional, ethical and responsible.
- Participate in Business Services trainings as a presenter or team member.
- Keep informed and updated on federal, state and local policies and regulations concerning primary job functions.
- Work cooperatively with Senior Accountant and serve as backup as needed.
- Perform account analysis as needed.
- Maintain confidentiality of information
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Accounting Officer or the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services