Principal Accountant
- Summary
Join us in the Finance and Business Operations Division! We currently have up to three openings for career accounting professionals in governmental accounting and reporting in our Financial Accounting Unit. In this position, you will serve in a primary role in the development, compilation and issuance of the County's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
Our ideal candidate will have a superior level of accounting and financial system expertise at the same time being nimble, curious, and proactive. To be effective, you must be able to analyze, understand and transform the financial data behind King County's complex business processes and systems into valuable information for financial reporting and use by departmental staff and other interested parties. For the most competitive candidates, knowing how a number was calculated is never enough, they also strive to understand why the number calculated is the correct number. You also value teamwork and collaboration in the workplace and excel at customer service.
FBOD's mission is to provide timely, efficient and accurate accounting, procurement, treasury, payroll, benefits and small business services. We are actively seeking employees whose behavior is in alignment with our division's core values of Respect, Teamwork, Results and Innovation.
Scope of Job Duties: To be considered for this opportunity, you must at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, skill and ability to:- Prepare financial statements, notes, and other disclosures consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for US governments (GAAP) for governmental, proprietary and fiduciary funds.
- Review the work of others for conformance with GAAP, having the ability to identify errors, misstatements and inconsistent classification of balances across multiple funds and fund types.
- Develop portions of the County's financial statements, notes, and schedules in accordance tiwh GAAP, requiring an expert level of accounting skill and subject to audit. Participate in CAFR development by reviewing sections outside of the position's assigned funds or fund types.
- Prepare reports and analysis, work papers and responses to inquiries (written and oral) from auditors and agency finance staff.
- Research and interpret authoritative accounting guidance; communicate requirements and recommend changes to County policies and procedures as needed to assure compliance.
- Prepare, review and approve accounting activity including chart-of account changes, journal entries, and accounting software configurations and setups.
- Use LEAN tools and techniques, develop and complete process improvement projects.
We are looking for candidates who:- Have a strong foundation in accounting and financial reporting, as a practitioner or auditor;
- Are knowledgeable in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for US Governments;
- Have experience preparing and reviewing financial statements;
- Are technically savvy using automated financial management systems and financial reporting software;
- Have excellent attention to detail and critical thinking skills to support financial analysis and reporting of complex accounting information;
- Possess teamwork, collaboration and communication skills that enable successful work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences at all levels of the organization;
- Have the ability to work independently or collaboratively in teams with equal success;
- Have excellent organizational and time management skills; allowing you to handle multiple tasks, changing priorities and competing deadlines; are able to prioritize workload, work under pressure with tight deadlines and produce high quality work products;
- Enjoys providing outstanding service.
We would love it if you have:- Master's Degree in Accounting or related field, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure, or relevant certification (Certified Management Accountant, Certified Public Finance Officer, etc);
- Governmental Accounting experience;
- Exceptional data analysis skills, whether using Microsoft tools (Excel, Access, or Power BI), scripting languages like Structured Query Language (SQL), or other tools;
- Working knowledge of LEAN concepts and techniques
Other Position Information:
This position is not overtime-eligible. Our employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour workweek; Monday through Friday typically 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Vacation is restricted and Saturday work is required during financial statement preparation season, generally mid-February to mid-May annually. This position is represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 117, Professional and Technical Employees.
Are you ready to APPLY?
This opportunity is open to all qualified candidates. A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a cover letter and resume. Please apply online at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.
The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews and a multiple choice accounting skills assessment.
If you have any questions or concerns while applying, please contact:
Jen Montoya, HR Analyst
jen.montoya@kingcounty.gov
206-477-5997
Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.
If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or the department's Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.