Assistant Controller

Snohomish County's Finance Department is looking for an experienced Assistant Controller to join their team! The Assistant Controller is primarily responsible for overseeing the financial operations within Snohomish County. This position will also be responsible for completing and submitting the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report as well as providing internal control consulting services to other departments.

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong working knowledge of accounting practices and principles as well as local, state, and federal laws

• Demonstrated experience with government accounting, auditing, and/or financial reporting

• Demonstrated experience leading a team of three or more employees

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Strong customer service skills

This position is open until filled with first consideration given to applications received by July 31, 2024

BASIC FUNCTION

Supervises the accounting and financial operations functions for Snohomish County and junior taxing districts. Performs and oversees professional-level accounting including supervision of complex financial reports, including the ACFR (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report). Act for and on behalf of the Controller, as assigned.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1.   Plans and coordinates the operations of the Accounting/General Ledger Division, with responsibility for preparation of financial statements for all county controlled funds; develops work plans, monitors actual progress and assesses employee performance against goals and objectives; coordinates activities with other county departments and divisions as required.

2.   Oversees the accounting and financial compliance activities of county departments; helps ensure that department financial strategies, policies and procedures are in compliance with legal and internal policy parameters; determines appropriate audit methods.

3.   Manages the completion of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable governmental standards. Coordinates professional staff assignments for applicable workpapers, schedules, and notes.

4.   Directs and supervises the staff responsible for the design, maintenance, and modification of the general ledger system and related sub-systems, and ACFR reporting system.

5.   Provides internal control consulting services to other divisions and departments. 

6.   Develops, researches, and establishes county-wide fiscal management policies and procedures relevant to assigned responsibilities.

7.   Supports the Controller/Comptroller with audit coordination including annual audit of the ACFR by the Washington State Auditor's Office. Recommends and implements corrective action plans.

8.   Advises and assists finance accounting staff and departments with debt management; including consulting, issuance, and compliance.

9.   Maintains awareness of new and emerging accounting/reporting standards; determines impacts of new/updated standards and develops findings, conclusions, and implementation recommendations. Creates, recommends, and provides training and related communications to departments regarding complex accounting/reporting standards that may impact them.

10. Advises and assists in monitoring funds and fiscal health; aids fund managers from a financial, accounting, and budgetary perspective to meet their operating objectives; includes making recommendations on rates, cash flow, investments and debt timing.

11. Prepares management information reports as requested by other county managers, state auditors, and council staff.

A Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance or other field directly related to professional accounting; AND, five (5) years of professional accounting experience which includes two (2) years of supervisory experience; OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.  Must pass job related tests.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Previous professional accounting experience for a governmental agency is preferred.  CPA, CPFO, CMA, CIA, CSA and/or Master's degree preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
• Washington State Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS)
• principles, theories and practices of governmental accounting
• principles and procedures of personnel management and effective supervision
• federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing public sector financial reporting
• COSO and other internal control compliance requirements
• principles and practices of budgeting and financial management as applied to public jurisdictions
• debt instruments, appropriate accounting treatment and compliance requirements
• cost accounting methods and techniques
• rate setting practices and procedures
• research methods and techniques
• workflow planning, development and monitoring of goals and work plans
• computer skills in automated accounting systems, spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and presentation graphics

Ability to:

• work independently with a minimum of supervision
• plan and manage complex projects; measure work accomplishments per stated objectives and timelines
• plan and organize work, meet deadlines, and manage several projects simultaneously
• evaluate and interpret complex financial data and relevant legal requirements, including ever-changing and increasingly complex reporting standards requirements
• analyze and effectively present asset, liability, revenue, expenditure, and fund balance data and take effective action to resolve problems
• develop program plans and evaluate work accomplishments
• maintain necessary records and prepare required reports
• exercise initiative and judgment and independently make decisions within scope of assigned authority
• assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of alternative courses of action
• organize facts and present findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a clear, concise and logical manner to a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• relate to, communicate effectively with, and gain the cooperation of people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds
• display strong customer service ethic with the ability to listen to client departments' staff and respond to their needs
• effectively schedule, organize, monitor and review the work of subordinate-level employees
• foster an environment that encourages excellence on the parts of peers, subordinate level employees and client departments' staff
• timely inform Controller of unresolved problems
• effectively lead project teams
• participate effectively as a team member
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with client departments' staff, project managers, managers, elected officials, associates, subordinates and the general public

SUPERVISION

This position reports directly to the Controller. All work is performed with a high degree of independence and is reviewed through meetings, periodic status reports and obtained results.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The majority of the work is performed in the usual office environment with field trips to work sites throughout Snohomish County. Some out-of-county travel may be required. The employee may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as necessary.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

EEO policy and ADA notice