Accountant

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

05/02/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 21

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Accountants are responsible for a range of tasks associated with managing financial records. These tasks can include maintaining accounts payable and receivable, banking activities, general ledger upkeep, as well as grant and budget account management, all while ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines. Their role may also involve processing payments, generating transaction reports, managing inventory, and aiding in the contract review process. Typically, this work is conducted in an office environment without the direct supervision of staff.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Agencies provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more.

Applications for this position will be considered for the following Merit System employing agencies. The pay range for this job varies depending upon the Merit System employing agency.

Bessemer $21.87 - $33.92 USD Hourly
Birmingham $22.55 - $34.99 USD Hourly
Center Point $21.50 - $33.35 USD Hourly
Health Department $25.05 - $38.86 USD Hourly
Homewood $25.19 - $39.08 USD Hourly
Hueytown $23.44 - $36.36 USD Hourly
Irondale $26.31 - $40.82 USD Hourly
Jefferson County $24.57 - $38.12 USD Hourly
Vestavia Hills $25.95 - $40.25 USD Hourly

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

To be considered for employment in this position, a candidate must possess at least one of the following options:
Option A:

• At least an Associate's Degree in Accounting.

Option B:

• At least 12 semester hours in Accounting, including at least one intermediate-level accounting class (i.e., 300 level or above).

• Experience using Excel (e.g., formatting spreadsheets using formulas and logic).

​JOB DUTIES: 

Typical job duties include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Processes AP and/or requests for payments.

• Processes AR for vendors and other departments.

• Maintains banking records to ensure online information is accurate.

• Prepares, monitors, and administers departmental or organizational budget by reviewing spending trends, expenditure reports, analyzing financial data, and ensuring expenditures are within annual budgetary limits.

• Performs the financial closing process at the end of an accounting period (i.e., monthly, quarterly, yearly).

• Maintains the GL by preparing and posting journal entries and reconciling the general ledger to other financial records.

• Oversees grant funds, including maintaining communication with subcontractors, maintaining grant financial records, and producing grant reports.

• Procures and/or manages inventory (i.e., supplies and equipment) to ensure the products and services are available to meet the operational needs of each department.

• Generates invoices and/or processes payments.

• Facilitates the new contract approval process and enters contract parameters into accounting software once approved.

• Processes payroll by maintaining a database of employees and/or retirees, reconciling payroll information, processing payments to vendors or government entities, and maintaining and filing applicable taxes.

• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.

• Maintains and creates reports of confidential governmental financial records, ensuring compliance to federal, state, and local guidelines and laws (e.g., Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is conducted almost exclusively indoors in an office setting. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  Each Merit System member city/agency operate its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.

ACCOMMODATION:

NOTE:

This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System. More detail regarding this job is available by clicking Apply.

DISCLAIMER:

This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.