Chief Accountant

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

This is advanced professional accounting and administrative work in planning, organizing, and directing the operations for central fiscal control. Work involves supervising and participating in all general accounting activities of a department. Work includes the exercise of considerable judgment in planning, installing, revising, and maintaining accounting procedures and in preparing statements and reports. Supervision is exercised directly or through subordinate supervisors over all employees of the unit. Work assignments are received in the general form indicating desired results, and questions relating to major objectives and priority of work are discussed with the department head. Work is subject to verification by periodic audits and various internal automatic checks.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans, organizes, directs, and participates in the work of a group of subordinate professional, sub-professional, and clerical employees engaged in maintaining general ledger and budgetary control accounts for a department.

• Supervises and personally prepares regular and special fiscal and statistical statements and reports.

• Directs the pre- and post-audit of purchase requisitions, receipts, and invoices for correctness, legality, and proper account classification.

• Directs the preparation and maintenance of payroll records, reconciles banking transactions, and exercises control procedures over cash.

• Studies, devises, and installs revisions of systems and forms to facilitate the production of information and control receipts and expenditures.

• Confers with administrative personnel regarding interpreting accounting policies, procedures, and practices.

• Performs research projects requiring a high degree of analytical ability, familiarity with City policy and procedures, and considerable knowledge of computer applications.

• Works closely with multiple levels of the organization, including management teams, to produce the required financial deliverables and implement improvements to facilitate efficient and effective operations.

• Supervises the monitoring, administering, and preparing grant programs and reporting requirements.

• Plans, organizes, supervises and participates in the City's Annual Audit and the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

• May be required to work overtime or alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.

• Position is Mission Critical.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE) AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university in Accounting,

• Four (4) years experience in accounting and fiscal operations.

• Two (2) years of general supervisory experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid driver's license.

• Must maintain a valid telephone number.

• CPA preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting principles, procedures, and processes governing the receipt, custody, and expenditure of the monies of the City.

• Strong functional experience in analyzing, developing, and administrating various financial applications in Client/Server environments, including Oracle and Hyperion.

• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of City fiscal administration.

• Ability to analyze and solve a wide variety of accounting and fiscal problems.

• Ability to plan, organize, and supervise the work of a group of professional, sub-professional, and clerical personnel in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, other employees, City officials, and the general public.

• Ability to express ideas clearly, orally, and in writing.

• Thorough knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Standards and Statements and the ability to interpret and implement GASB Statements.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time, exerting up to ten (10) pounds of force regularly, and routine keyboard operations.

• The job risks exposure to bright/dim light, dusts, and pollen.

• The job requires normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.

All City of Lakeland positions are subject to testing (e.g. written, oral, performance, computerized, interview, and/or any combination). Candidates selected for testing will be notified via email or telephone. Please check your e-mail and telephone messages regularly, including "junk" folders. Test times and locations to be announced.

THE CITY OF LAKELAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS EMPLOYER AND A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

City of Lakeland

2024 Summary Sheet

Annual Leave

Annual leave is accumulated bi-weekly and based upon years of service as follows:

Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.*

Sick Leave

Sick rate is accrued biweekly based upon years of service and standard hour classification. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.

• NOTE: REGULAR employees with a working day other than eight (8) hours, please contact your supervisor regarding these policies.

Sick Leave Pool

Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted. Regular full-time employees contribute eight (8) hours and Regular part-time employees contribute four (4) hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least forty (40) hours of sick time (twenty (20) hours for Regular part-time employees). Participation in this program is voluntary.

For more information contact Amanda Kaiser at 834-8768

Family & Medical Leave

Federal legislation guarantees up to twelve (12) weeks per year off work under certain circumstances outlined in the policy manual. The employees must have been employed by the City for at least twelve (12) months and have at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period before the requested leave. The City will continue its group life and health insurance for an employee on leave at the same level and under the same conditions that existed while the employee was working.

For more information contact Dawn Justice at 834-6038.

Pension Plan

Provision for retirement income requiring mandatory participation for full-time regular employees.

Defined Benefit Plan:

Plan C Employee 3.12%

Employer 15.64%

OR

Defined Contribution Plan:

Executives, New Hires aged 52 and older, and Fire/Police Recruits

Employee 8.5% or 11% per election upon hire

Employer 15.39%

Deferred Compensation 457 Plan:

A voluntary plan that is invested in mutual funds. The Employees' Pension Board performs the due diligence on the mutual funds. Employees may reallocate their account at any time.

Maximum contribution for 2024 is $23,000; employees aged 50 or older can also add a "catch-up" amount of $7,500. Additionally, a match of up to 5% of salary is offered by the City in Plan C.

Holidays

Twelve (12) holidays, includes one (1) personal floating holiday to be used at any time after three (3) months of employment and prior to the end of the calendar year.

Funeral Leave

Up to three (3) days off with pay due to death of an immediate family member (as defined in the policy manual). Up to four (4) hours off with pay may be obtained through supervisor approval to attend local funeral services of persons other than immediate family.

Jury/Witness Duty

Employees required to serve on jury duty will be relieved of responsibility for their regular work shift or portion thereof and receive full pay while serving. All fees received for such service may be retained by the employee. Employees subpoenaed to any civil or criminal court proceeding, which employee is not personally or monetarily interested, shall be paid as if engaged in regular work activities.

Military Leave

Allows for up to 240 hours in any one calendar year for annual military training without loss of pay or benefits for any employee in some type of reserve status for the United States Armed Forces. (see policy manual for additional information).

Maternity Leave

Refer to Family & Medical Leave for those employees who qualify. Others may take up to three (3) months leave of absence available upon approval of the Department Head. Employees may opt to utilize any combination of paid (sick or annual leave) or unpaid leave.

Leave of Absence Without Pay

Written requests are subject to approval by Department Head and City Manager or designee for less than ninety (90) days. Requests for more than ninety (90) days also require Civil Service Board approval for employees in a Civil Service classification.

Longevity Pay

Tuition Reimbursement

Program provides employees up to $2,500 per fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) for reimbursement of tuition of approved college, university, vocational, or correspondence classes upon completion with a grade of "C" or better in credit courses only. Full reimbursement is given for courses and fees, upon approval. The program does not include reimbursement for cost of books, supplies or other related expenses.

For more information, contact Sue Cook at 834-6844.

Suggestion Awards

A program designed to provide a consistent and organized method for employees to submit and be rewarded for constructive ideas for improvement. Maximum award is $1000.

For additional information, contact Kathy McNelis at 834-6348.

Direct Deposit of Paycheck (refer to handout in new employee folder)

An account must be established with the institution of your choice prior to signing up for direct deposit.

Uniforms/Equipment

Uniforms issued at no cost to employees for those job classifications which require them. Equipment is issued to employees at either no cost or discounted cost depending upon job classification.

Parking

Free while at work.

Break Periods

Employees may be permitted two (2), fifteen (15) minute breaks during the workday. The time shall be at the discretion of the supervisor.

For Information on Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance please contact Benefits at 834-6797.

For Information on Retirement Benefits, contact the Retirement Services Department at 834-8765 or 834-8797.

For Information on Firefighter and Police Officer Retirement Benefits, contact Foster & Foster at 239-333-4872.