Posted: 5/24/2021
Salary: $33.00 to $40.00/hr
Location: Oak Grove, OR

• The primary responsibility of this position is to perform challenging, professional accounting assignments. Under the direct supervision of the Finance Director, the Sr. Accountant Lead performs complex accounting tasks to support the District’s strategic and financial goals and adherence to financial policies. Duties include budgeting support, financial audit schedules, reconciliation, compliance, financial planning and analysis, forecasting, and modeling, performance monitoring and reporting for all funds. Assists and acts in a confidential capacity to management personnel who formulate, determine, and effectuate management policies for collective bargaining.

About Oak Lodge Water Services District:
Oak Lodge Water Services provides clean water and wastewater services to residents of the unincorporated communities of Oak Grove and Jennings Lodge. The District’s key values are:

• Our customers
• Respecting the opinions and voices of coworkers, customers, the public, and the Board
• Maintaining a positive and professional environment that expects honesty, integrity, quality customer service, and social responsibility.
• Positive relationships, and always reaching for the best within ourselves.
• Recruiting and maintaining highly motivated people to provide quality service to our customers.

By practicing these values, we create an open forum to achieve excellence in communication and work processes which provide our customers with efficient wastewater, surface water and clean water services that protect public health and water quality. At Oak Lodge Water Services District, we strive to create a culture of teamwork and excellence in Public Service.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Functions as a lead to the Finance Department team by providing advice and guidance to the Jr. Accounting Specialist and the Administrative Specialists. Functions as a trainer and content expert. Helps in the development and implementation of finance policies, standard operating procedures, and best practices. The Sr. Accounting Lead works with little supervision, exercising independent judgment on a recurring basis, and resolves high level customer issues concerning bills, payments, and accounts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Assists Finance Director with all aspects of finance accounting: journal entry preparation, general ledger review, budgeting, and best practices for internal controls.
• Prepares extensive reports, exhibits, and other supporting documents as requested by the Finance Director, in compliance with appropriate laws and regulations.
• Reports on fixed assets, inventory, cash & cash equivalents, and other sub-ledgers accounts.
• Acts as Project Lead for the District’s annual audit by providing information and documentation to external auditors; prepares audit work papers; assigns deadlines to District staff; prepares year-end and closing journal entries; drafts financial statements, including GAAP adjustments; and gathers historical and statistical data.
• Assists in the preparation the draft budget document under the direction of the Finance Director; then implements and monitors the budget.
• Assist in setting annual rates and fees including utility service rates and other fees.
• Participates in managing financial policies and standard operating procedures to include review current, create new, implement. and track the financial policies.
• Maintains banking activity, monitors cash flow and account balances, and recommends transfer activity.
• Manage debt service schedule and provide accounting support for financing activities.
• Maintains financial files and associated accounting records.
• Files financial reports with the state and regulatory agencies.
• Builds models for financial, economic, and other data, and performs complex financial analysis.
• Maintains integrity of accounting data, chart of accounts, utility customers and consumption data.
• Oversees purchase order maintenance, contract spending, and procurement.

LEAD AND SECONDARY DUTIES:

• Assist frontline staff with difficult customer issues while providing excellent customer service.
• With input from frontline staff make sound judgement calls and decisions concerning customer accounts, bills, and payment plans.
• Provide and ensure accurate information concerning all rates, fees, and charges and how they are applied internally and externally.
• Evaluate expenditure reduction alternatives, economic trends, budget variances, and other items as required through research and analysis.
• Collaborate with Finance team members and other departments to understand sources and purposes of transactions, assist with monthly utility billing through review and resolution of errors and exceptions, find and implement efficiencies and simplifications that enhance transparency, timeliness, and accuracy.
• Assists with records management activities.
• Backup for accounting and finance staff.
• Review daily accounting batches for completeness, accuracy, and proper authorization.
• Backup for payroll processing and reporting.

RECRUITING REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge of:

• Oregon budget law.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
• Economic and forecasting methods and procedures.
• Financial policies, strategic and long-range financial planning.
• Financial management and public financing techniques.
• Personal computers and related software applications.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Conduct complex financial and policy analyses and research.
• Interpret, design, implement and maintain complex forecast and financial models based on fund/department/program information.
• Perform financial projections, validate assumptions, and support findings.
• Maintain complex specialized records and prepare narrative and related reports.
• Manage multiple priorities; initiate, plan, organize and complete projects.
• Understand and utilize complex enterprise resource systems.
• Minimum intermediate working knowledge of Microsoft Excel software.
• Convey complex information in an easy-to-understand manner both internally and externally.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to revolve difficult conversations with customer for successful outcomes.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing to a diverse audience.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all contacts.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Train staff on and help implement new procedures, policies, best practices, and financial controls.
• Foster a positive team environment.
• Implement the principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing, contracting, and maintenance of public records.
• Comply with safety requirements of the position and actively promote safe work practices.
• Communicate effectively with coworkers, management, elected officials, and the public while displaying awareness of controversial and/or sensitive issues.

Experience and Training:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Business Administration or related field and five years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Special Qualifications Desired: (Licensure or Certification) Valid drivers’ license

How To Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/olwsd/