Accountant III (For COA Employees Only)

Job Description:

Accountant III (For COA Employees Only)

Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to accounting, twenty-four (24) college semester hours in accounting plus three (3) years of accounting experience.
• Four (4) completed years towards a five-year accounting degree, plus three (3) years of accounting experience.
• A Master’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration may substitute for one (1) year of accounting experience.
• A CPA may substitute for the required four-year degree

Licenses and Certifications Required:
None.
Notes to Applicants
Position Overview:
The Accountant III will prepare and review financial transactions to ensure transactions are processed by city policy, applicable laws and regulations, and sound business practices. They will also lead general ledger accounts reconciliation and complex bank reconciliation and resolve account discrepancies independently.

This position will assist in the City’s unclaimed property process, communicate with the City’s departments, State, and Vendors, understand the State Statute on the topic, and ensure the City complies with the State regulation. Additionally, the individual in this role will assist the department and other customers by providing procedural/financial and other information and guidance with automated or manual systems.

Who We Are:
Our department provides a variety of financial services and programs. The Financial Services Department ( FSD ) serves residents, vendors, and City departments.

Our mission is to serve as a trusted steward of public resources with integrity and accountability to ensure a fiscally sound city.

Our staff supports a wide variety of financial processes, including preparing the annual budget and annual fiscal report, procurement processes, franchise agreements, real estate transactions, and overseeing the City’s investment portfolio and debt management.

As an internal support function within the larger City organization, FSD is proud to serve and act as a leader in financial management to its partner departments.

Click here to read more about us online!

Why Join Us?

Meaningful Work
Contribute to projects that improve the lives of the people in our community.

Innovation and Collaboration
Collaborate with diverse and talented teams, leveraging technology, continuous improvement, and best practices to drive progress in a variety of financial programs.

Professional Growth and Development
Achieve your professional goals. FSD offers opportunities to advance in multiple career paths, as well as a wide variety of learning opportunities.

Work-Life Balance
Enjoy a balanced lifestyle in a city renowned for its quality of life, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences.

Hybrid Work Environment:

The City of Austin Flexible Work Arrangement Program is designed to empower employees and leaders to establish hybrid work arrangements that promote high levels of performance and engagement. Staff may be eligible to telework up to 60%/week. Work schedules are implemented to meet department requirements and are subject to change based on business needs.

Health and Wellness

The City of Austin is committed to providing cost-effective, sustainable benefits that assist employees in being physically and mentally well. For employees that are covered, this includes low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities and more.

Click here to review the City of Austin’s Employee Benefits Guide .

Click here to watch a short City of Austin Employment Video .

Application Details:

• A detailed, complete COA employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine your salary if you are selected for this position.

• Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.

• For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications.

• A cover letter is required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.

• A résumé is also required, but will not substitute for a complete COA employment application.

• When completing the City of Austin employment application, the work experience listed must include a month, year, and a verifiable Supervisor or Human Resources phone number.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Each individual who submits an Application as provided in the Municipal Civil Service Rules and meets the Minimum Qualifications for a Competitive Position shall be considered a Candidate for that Position. Employees, in Good Standing, who are candidates within the Department or division that the Position resides in and who meet the Minimum and Preferred Qualifications (if any) of the Position will be included in the initial interview.

Additional Details:

• The Financial Services Department may close this job posting at any time after it has been advertised for seven (7) days, please apply as soon as possible if interested.

• This position may require a skills assessment.

• If you are identified as a top candidate, verification of your education, which may include High School graduation or GED equivalent, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees, will be required.

• This position will require a pre-employment Criminal Background Investigation ( CBI ).

• If you are selected as the top candidate for a position, we may contact your current and former employer, as well as the references listed in your application. Please be sure you have listed at least 3 previous supervisors in the application with correct contact information.

• If you are identified as a top military candidate or a veteran, you must provide a copy of your DD-214.

Travel:

If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy:

When the same or an additional vacancy occurs within a department in the same job title within 90 days after the start date of the top candidate, the hiring department may offer the additional position to another candidate from the same candidate pool.
Pay Range
$33.49 - $42.71

Hours
Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Telework opportunities may be available after an initial training period. Work schedules are implemented to meet the requirements of the department and are subject to change based on business needs. Staff eligible to telework must be in the office for at least 40% of their scheduled work week.
Job Close Date 04/11/2025 Type of Posting Reserved for City Employees Department Financial Services Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location 124 W 8th St Austin TX 78701 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Experience and knowledge of tax and fee collection, revenue recognition, and reconciliation.
• Knowledge of hotel occupancy tax, vehicle rental taxes and other taxes.
• Experience with Advantage or other large automated financial systems.
• Advanced Excel skills (familiar with pivot tables, Vlookups, filtering, other complex functions, etc.) Microsoft Access skills preferred.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Maintains accounting ledgers by posting/reviewing and/or approving the posting of general ledger account transactions; ensuring transactions are processed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( GAAP ), City policy, applicable laws and regulations, and sound business practices. Provides coordination and oversees the collections of revenue and/or processing of customer payments; analysis, and clearing of delinquent accounts; notifying customers of insufficient payments; calculating/assessing delinquent fines/fees, etc. Prepares complex financial statements for external reporting or financial reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing general ledger account information and trends; applying advanced skills and knowledge of accounting and reporting requirements of GAAP . Prepares audit work papers for annual or special audit by preparing, reviewing, and/or overseeing the preparation of complex supporting work papers for assigned area(s) or funds; providing explanations of City policy and procedures and responding to auditor questions and requests for information in a timely and accurate manner. Researches current and new accounting standards and related reporting/ information requirements to ensure accurate and timely implementation; organizes/summarizes research results for presentation of recommendations to management. Leads reconciliation of general ledger and/or bank accounts and resolves account discrepancies by reconciling and/or reviewing the reconciliation of statements and transactions and investigating supporting documentation; provides guidance by facilitating discrepancy resolutions for other internal/external accounting staff members. Provides guidance and direction through review of asset, liability, inventory, and/or capital account general ledger entries as prepared by internal/external department staff. Assists departments and other internal or external customers by providing procedural/financial and/or other information and guidance with automated or manual systems. Maintains financial security by following established internal accounting controls.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• Provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of internal control systems.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ), practices, and concepts.
• Advanced knowledge of financial reporting concepts and preferred business practices.
• Knowledge of manual and automated financial systems.
• Advanced knowledge of financial reporting in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, GAAP .
• Skill in classifying fiscal data and compiling fund level statements and reports.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communications.
• Skill in analyzing and interpreting financial records.
• Skill in utilizing personal computer.
• Skill in designing and maintaining complex spreadsheets and data bases utilizing word processing software.
• Ability to prepare accurate and complex financial reports and statements.
• Ability to analyze, recommend, and implement internal control systems
• Ability to resolve problems or situations requiring the exercise of good judgement.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for this position require: Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to accounting, twenty-four (24) college semester hours in accounting plus three (3) years of accounting experience. Four (4) completed years towards a five-year accounting degree, plus three (3) years of accounting experience. A Master's degree in Accounting or Business Administration may substitute for one (1) year of accounting experience. A CPA may substitute for the required four-year degree. Do you meet the qualifications for this position.

• Yes
• No

* Are you a current City of Austin employee?

• Yes
• No

* Briefly describe your experience and knowledge of tax and fee collection, revenue recognition, and reconciliation.
(Open Ended Question)
* Briefly describe your knowledge of hotel occupancy tax, vehicle rental taxes and other taxes.
(Open Ended Question)
* Briefly describe your experience with Advantage or other large automated financial systems.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Access.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Check.

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Cover Letter Resume Optional Documents