Chief Accountant - Payroll Manager

Department of Finance & Budget

Full-Time, Exempt

Pay Grade 19

The Chief Accountant - Payroll Manager leads and performs difficult and complex professional municipal accounting and reporting work in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts (VA APA), and in compliance with federal and state laws, local codes, adopted policies, procedures, and best practices. Supervises either the Accounting Unit or Payroll Unit within the Office of the Controller, and maintains the related systems in support of and for the Schools and Local Government. Exercises considerable judgment relating to the respective areas of responsibility.  Essential functions include, and are not limited to the following:

• Analyzes, plans, designs, coordinates, and implements a system of accounts, operating policies, and procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and standards, and the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts (VA APA);
• Establishes, maintains, and oversees sound internal controls per fiscal policies, procedures, and best practices, ensuring fiscal records are accurately reconciled not less than monthly; works closely with internal/external auditors as required;
• Collaborates with and provides expert subject matter guidance, assistance, and training to all School and County Departments and Partner Agencies in matters pertaining to finance, accounting, payroll, and internal control;
• Leads, supervises, trains, and evaluates staff, including making selection recommendations, assigning and reviewing subordinates' work, and analyzing performance, counseling and maintaining personnel records and forms;
• Ensures that unit’s operational activities are performed with the highest quality possible by aligning needed resources;
• Develops business processes and role design documents, reviews impact assessment, identifies gaps and develops risk mitigation steps in a proactive manner;
• Cross trains with other Chief Accountants in order to serve as back-up, when necessary, and in order to provide an unbiased level of scrutiny over the mechanisms of internal control within the units of Accounting and Payroll;
• Participates in cross-functional teams, as assigned;
• Responsible for directing and/or assisting in the preparation of regular and special financial reports, including monthly and quarterly payroll or other financial reports, tax returns or other tax filings, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), including all year-end accruals and adjustments, the A-133 Single Audit Report, the APA Comparative Cost Report,
• In the Accounting Division, responsible for overseeing the County's accounts payable operations, including Comprehensive Payables and Purchase Card accounting, administration, reconciliation, and reporting;
• In the Payroll Division, responsible for overseeing the County's payroll operations, including related tax reporting and payments; employee retirement and benefits coordination and payments; employee lien and garnishment coordination, reporting, and payments;
• Active participation and leadership in required financial system upgrades, modifications, and implementations;
• Performs other duties and services as assigned.

Qualifications: Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or related field and a minimum of five years direct work experience in progressively responsible public sector finance and/or accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience required. Prefer extensive experience preparing GAAP financial statements and a comprehensive knowledge of GASB standards/governmental accounting. For Payroll Manager, prefer extensive experience in managing a complex payroll operation.  A master's degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, Public Administration, or in a related field and/or CPA experience is desirable.

Comprehensive knowledge of principles of municipal accounting systems of accounts and encumbrances; thorough knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures in debt and cash management programs; thorough knowledge of the procedures for financial control and accounting under the requirements of the Auditor of Public Accounts; knowledge of the general procedures within a municipal payroll system; ability to analyze and solve complex accounting problems or pay calculations; ability to follow and implement the accepted principles of the municipal accounting profession; ability to lead and/or work as part of a professional team and to interact with other County employees when dealing with technical matters; ability to understand and apply pay practices in a complex organization, ability to lead staff and provide managerial oversight; ability to take direction and to offer technical advice in the field of financial management and accounting and/or tax expertise in connection with pay practices; ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, ability to plan, organize, review, correct, and authorize the work of subordinates.

Physical Conditions & Nature of Work Contacts:  Conducts work in a sitting position; however, job requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping and light lifting. Requires frequent operation of a variety of office machines. Regular and frequent contacts made with all organization levels (internally and externally) for the purpose of achieving organization goals and missions, requiring interpretation of policy and possibly committing the organization to a future course of action. Communication may: (a) not be cooperative, but requires tact and discretion; (b) may cover confidential, sensitive, or controversial material; and (c) reflect a need to motivate, persuade, or influence individuals or groups.

Application Deadline:  Until Filled