Accounting Specialist III - Chatham County Public Schools : Job Details

Position Type: Classified - Finance/Accounting Specialist Date Posted: 11/8/2024 Location: Administrative Office Date Available: 11/12/2024 NATURE OF WORK The position of Accounting Specialist was established for the purposes of providing support to department activities with specific responsibility for ensuring that overall fiscal policies, practices and/or regulations meet compliance requirements; assisting the Chief Finance Officer, school principals and treasurers; completing audits and reviews of district processes, procedures and methodologies; developing and monitoring internal controls; conducting audits of internal funds; evaluating the degree of internal control exercised by appropriate administrators and employees and providing updated procedures and work aids for district staff. MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Business, experience in A/R, A/P, payroll functions, excellent written and oral communication skills required. PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs semi-annual internal individual school audits.

Assists in maintaining Chatham County Schools Purchasing Card Program, including monthly audits of purchasing card transactions.

Assists Chief Finance Officer, in routinely performing audits in child nutrition, high school athletics, payroll and general expense.

Researches discrepancies of financial information and/or documentation for the purpose of reaching resolution, ensuring accuracy of data and complying with established procedures.

Facilitates new treasurer training

Reviews district internal processes and control (e.g. travel reimbursement related issues, local and state accounting manuals for the purpose of ensuring financial information is processed properly, reported and safeguarded

Acts independently to assist school treasurers with questions or issues relating to local bank reconciliations and school accounting software

Processes school based transactions, and prepares check payments to vendors

Reviews bank reconciliations and general ledger reports for individual schools on a monthly basis

Prepares summarized individual school monthly financial reports

Provides ongoing training to school bookkeepers.

Responds independently to inquiries from school personnel regarding school fund accounting transactions.

Maintains individual school treasurer's manual

Maintains vendor information in School Funds accounting software

Assists with daily deposits

Assists with online school payments

Assists with the School Board's annual financial audit

Oversight for all school PTA's, PTO's and athletic booster clubs

Compliance oversight for all Federal programs and grants

Works as the quasi school treasurer at any of the schools when a school treasurer is absent for an extended period of time.

Performs other related work as required by the Chief Finance Officer.

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIESPhysical Requirements: Must be able to use a variety of automated office equipment such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, etc. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work. Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors. Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, etc., using prescribed format. Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English. Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; to multiply and divide; and to utilize decimals and percentages. Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment. Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of office machines, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress. Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of computer related operations associated with the student information management system and the electronic gradebook programs used by the district.

Working knowledge of computer terminology, computer operations and peripheral equipment.

General knowledge of common software packages such word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.

Considerable knowledge of the student information maintained at a school site.

General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.

Ability to transcribe information and to prepare standardized forms, letters and reports from that information.

Ability to operate a computer and common office machines.

Ability to troubleshoot common hardware and software problems.

Ability to perform routine maintenance on computer equipment.

Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and to develop standard reports from those records.

Ability to respond to questions based on considerable knowledge of the school.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to type accurately at a moderate rate of speed.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Full-time for twelve months DISCLAIMER The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.