DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  Work involves independent responsibility for the maintenance of a comprehensive system of school district or municipal accounts, by applying principles of accounting. Responsibilities include a variety of general ledger functions, as well as reconciliations, funds accounting, preparation of financial statements, and other related work. Work is performed under supervision of a higher level fiscal administrator. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)

• Maintains and oversees maintenance of all general ledger accounting operations and functions;
• Performs or oversees record-keeping and required fiscal reporting for agency, district, local, state and federal agencies;
• Provides advice and assistance with regard to required reporting obligations, including interpretation of guidelines, instructions, schedules, and other criteria;
• Prepares and oversees preparation of a variety of fiscal reports, including financial statements, budget projections, reports to governmental agencies etc.;
• Prepares bank reconciliations and balances for a variety of accounts/funds such as general, payroll, capital projects, trust and agency, special aid, etc.;
• Maintains and oversees accounting methods and procedures;
• Uses finance software for accounting purposes;
• Checks, classifies and codes financial transactions for computer input;
• Analyzes records of past and present operations, trends and costs, estimated revenues, and appropriations;
• Assists in the preparation of schedules and annual financial statements required in the annual year end closing process;
• May serve as School Tax Collector in a school district;
• May be responsible for maintaining records, billing processes, reconciliations and reports to governmental agencies with regard to non-resident tuitions;
• May serve as School Tax Collector in a school district;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

When assigned to serve as School Tax Collector:

• Prepares school tax warrants, bills, Board of Education reports, state and county reports;
• Collects school taxes, in person and through bank lockbox service;
• Uses specialized software associated with tax collection including daily importing and balancing of electronic bank records;
• Works directly with software consultants, assessors, County Finance Department and New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services;
• Responds to all tax-related inquiries and correspondence from residents, attorneys, title companies, and banks during tax season as well as throughout the year;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Good knowledge of accounting principles, practices and techniques, particularly as they relate to governmental accounting; good knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment; ability to maintain and audit comprehensive accounting records including general journals and ledgers; ability to prepare closing entries and financial statements and reports; ability to use and learn software used for financial and tax accounting; ability to understand and interpret difficult written and tabular materials; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees, program officials and others; tact and courtesy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Either

1. Bachelor's degree in accounting; or
2. Bachelor’s degree in a field related to accounting such as finance, business administration or similar field and either two (2) years of general accounting experience or one (1) year of municipal accounting experience which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or preparation of financial statements; or
3. Associate’s degree or completion of sixty (60) college credits in Accounting and either four (4) years of general accounting experience or two (2) years of municipal accounting experience which must have included maintenance of general journals and ledgers and/or the preparation of financial statements; or
4. An equivalent combination of training and experience as described in (a), (b), and (c) above.

SUBSTITUTION NOTE: Certification as a Public Accountant by the State of New York may be substituted for two (2) years of general accounting experience.

NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

2/83; 9/97; 11/00; 5/09; 11/13

Competitive Class