ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST III

DEFINITION

This is senior-level professional, highly specialized accounting work responsible for the interpretation of financial data, and development, maintenance, review, and analysis of accounting systems. An employee in this class performs the most complex financial projects and/or supervises staff in the preparation of both periodic and special financial reports.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Analyzes the effect of legislative proposals on an agency's financial condition.

Prepares annual budget proposals, administers a complex cost allocation plan, develops and monitors new or revised accounting systems, forms, procedures, and manuals.

Prepares and modifies fiscal data for computer systems and related work activities.

Supervises or directs the work of professional staff and receives general supervision from a senior or executive administrator.

Reviews, approves, oversees, and directs the preparation of agency, state, or federal financial statements as required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and statutes, and ensures the financial statements reflect relevance, reliability, comparability, and clarity.

Reviews and analyzes complex financial reports designed to assist users in the evaluation of budget integrity, operating performance, stewardship, and adequacy of systems and controls; ensures adequate disclosure in financial statements.

Ensures the appropriate adjustments and/or closings and transactions between funds are in accordance with GAAP to accurately report the financial position of the agency or state.

Reviews and recommends agency, state, or federal policies and procedures for grant applications and awards; oversees accounting and reporting functions for a granting agency.

Investigates necessary procedures to assure auditors that financial statements are accurately presented, develops responses to internal, state, and federal audits, and monitors corrective action plans.

Advises management on necessary internal control measures to ensure that the organization operates efficiently and effectively, develops reliable financial data, and complies with applicable laws and regulations .

Establishes policies and procedures to safeguard against waste, loss, and misuse; maintains financial integrity for the recording of transactions and results.

Demonstrates how performance measurement can be integrated into accounting processes.

Analyzes and approves reports and data gathered to assist users in assessing the service delivery costs and accomplishments of a governmental entity.

Reviews and approves the assessment of financial conditions and results of operations.

Analyzes, interprets, reviews, and prepares reports comparing actual financial results with the legally adopted budget.

Coordinates, analyzes, and interprets financing activities; bond sales, accounting, projections, cash flow, and/or repayment.

Analyzes and interprets financial forecasting; estimates future outcomes.

Interprets and assesses financial conditions using governmental fund financial ratios, including revenue measures, expenditure measures, liquidity, debt, and unfunded liabilities.

Reviews the development of rates, analyzes variances, identifies and applies overhead, and/or computes cost per unit.

Develops requirements for automated data systems development and documentation; approves the development, testing, and implementation of accounting systems ; reviews and approves the solutions to problems with internal systems.

Supervises a staff of accountants; directs and oversees accounting functions for a state agency.

Reviews and approves fiscal note responses.

Stays abreast of a complex and evolving body of knowledge.

Illustrates the effects of financial transactions on the financial position of a fund.

Makes substantive recommendations on agency policies, systems, procedures and federal and state legislation; reviews and approves recommendations for appropriate implementation plans for new/revised state legislation and policy.

Assists in determining compliance with finance-related laws, rules, and regulations.

Develops and interprets accounting information designed to specifically meet the various needs of management.

Recommends/establishes financial objectives and ensures that the objectives are carried out.

Explains accounting events in conformance with GAAP.

Reviews and provides comments concerning the impact of proposed GASB statements.

Assists and advises on what cost components to include or exclude, develops necessary cost allocation methodologies.

Interprets and advises management on expenditures, revenues, and fund balance trends.

Provides management advisory services relating to lease versus buy options, financing options, and/or cost/benefit analysis.

Encourages integrity in the work of others; assists in fulfilling government's duty to be publicly accountable to society.

Develops, implements, maintains, and documents management policies and procedures.

Conducts meetings to present issues and ensure effective communication of financial issues.

Explains importance and impact of specific accounting issues to officials.

Reviews and critiques work products.

Prepares and presents analyses, reports, and justifications to users and management.

Develops, implements, maintains, and documents accounting procedures to meet changing requirements.

Exercises considerable independence and initiative in the performance of assignments within established policies and procedures; receives general supervision from an administrative supervisor.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and methods, and the ability to apply and adapt established methods to varied accounting problems.

Comprehensive knowledge of theoretical and applied governmental accounting.

Comprehensive knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing the expenditure and reporting of state and federal funds.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and application of data processing systems in accounting and fiscal operations.

Comprehensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS).

Comprehensive knowledge of the basic principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to research accounting issues and apply pronouncements of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Accounting Principles Board (APB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and other applicable standard setting bodies to accounting transactions.

Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and detailed financial records and reports.

Ability to identify and recommend improvement in financial processes.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification & Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

Three or more years of experience as an Accounting Specialist II with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

Six or more years of professional experience in governmental or public accounting, of which one or more years must have included responsibility for the supervision of professional accountants and technical staff; and,

Possession of a current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certificate.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university which included:

24 or more earned credit hours of Accounting courses, including at least one course in Auditing; and,

18 or more earned credit hours of additional coursework in Accounting or other areas of Business Administration such as Business Law, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, Information Technology, and Business Communications; and,

Seven or more years of professional experience in governmental or public accounting, of which one or more years must have included responsibility for the supervision of professional accountants and technical staff.

(A Master's degree from an accredited college or university which included 9 or more earned graduate credit hours in Accounting may substitute for one year of the required general experience.)

(Revised 6/1/08)