Fiscal Officer at City of Syracuse in Syracuse, NY

Job Description

The work involves responsibility for the fiscal operations of a department, including the planning, coordination and direction of the department's fiscal affairs. Supervision is received from an administrative superior, who allows the incumbent considerable leeway for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in areas of concern and responsibility. Supervision is exercised over subordinate staff. Instructions on implementations of new policies and discussion of work problems are provided through regular conferences and discussions with the department head. Incumbents may be required to successfully pass a background check. Does related work as required.

Typical Work Activities

• Supervises, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of support clerical and/or account clerical personnel in an accounting operation or segment thereof.
• Independently performs the more complex accounting duties of the operation, which are characterized by: the needs of the agency being served, the numbers and kinds of program areas serviced, the laws and regulations controlling the program and the existence of a highly refined accounting system involving a number of different subsidiary journals and ledgers.
• Supervises and participates in the maintenance of a manual or automated ledger operation including books of account or general ledgers, classification and recording of transactions and supervises and participates in the control and preparation of accounting statements and reports.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of fiscal records of the receipt and expenditures of funds.
• Verifies, codes and classifies financial transactions following established and accepted accounting methods and procedures.
• Applies established and accepted accounting methods and procedures in the preparation of supporting accounting statements.
• Designs and assists in the design of special accounting schedules, forms, or reports, or recommends changes in existing forms, schedules and reports.
• Consults with the department head on fiscal and budgetary matters pertaining to the department.
• Reviews departmental staff and program budget requests and develops them for submission to an administrative superior and/or State or Federal agencies.
• Requests allocations of funds.
• Acts as a liaison with both agency and non-agency staff giving advice, answering questions, and providing information with regard to program operations, project status, and fiscal, budgetary and purchasing matters.
• Reviews proposed contracts and applications for special research grants for fiscal implementation and effect on departmental fiscal programs.
• Prepares and issues the annual fiscal reports and other special reports of the department.
• May implement or assist in the implementation of new or revised manual or automated systems and train subordinates in application of systems.
• May supervise the recordkeeping and required fiscal reporting for State and/or Federally funded or agency programs by interpreting guidelines, monitoring schedules and reports, and providing advice and guidelines.
• May perform or assist in cash flow projections and cash needs determination.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of accounting and auditing theories, principles, techniques and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of, and the ability to select and apply the best accounting techniques, principles or procedures necessary to effectively perform the functions of the position.
• Thorough knowledge of basic trends and current developments in the field of accounting.
• Thorough knowledge of modern principles and practices of business management and administration, including debt and investment management.
• Ability to gather, assemble and analyze facts and draw conclusions.
• Ability to compose accurate accounting reports and statements, and ability to present same.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of staff in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate reports of staff workers and make sound decisions based on such reports.
• Ability to train professional and/or clerical staff involved in operating the accounting system.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Minimum Qualifications

Promotion:

One (1) year of permanent competitive class status in the title of Systems Accounting Manager, Auditor (Payroll) or Auditor III; or, two (2) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Accountant II, Auditor II, or Accounting Supervisor Grade B; or, four (4) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Accountant I, Auditor I, or Systems Accountant.

Open Competitive:

A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a baccalaureate degree in accounting or a baccalaureate degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours, or its equivalent, in accounting plus four (4) years of work experience, or its parttime equivalent, in professional accounting or financial auditing, or a closely related field, which must have involved as the major job function the application of accounting principles to the installation and operational maintenance of a general or specialized accounting system, the design or modification of an accounting system, final authority and responsibility for a system or major portion thereof, and the exercise of supervision over accounting activities; or,

B. Eight (8) years of work experience, or its part-time equivalent in accounting, financial auditing or full charge bookkeeping which is defined as experience which must have involved the accumulation of financial and statistical data into general and subsidiary ledgers and journals and the compilation of this material into financial reports and studies of which four (4) of the eight (8) years must have been work experience in professional accounting, or financial auditing, or a closely related field, which must have involved as the major job function the application of accounting principles to the installation and operational maintenance of a general or specialized accounting system, the design or modification of an accounting system, final authority and responsibility for a system or major portion thereof, and the exercise of supervision over accounting activities.

NOTE: Successful completion of graduate semester hours in accounting or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for work experience as follows: Thirty (30) graduate semester hours is equivalent to one (1) year of work experience; Sixty (60) graduate semester hours is equivalent to two (2) years of work experience. Degrees in Finance, Banking, Economics and related fields will not be considered as qualifying.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan