Accounting Associate III

Job Description:

Accounting Associate III

Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four year college or university with major coursework in a field related to Finance, Accounting, or Economics plus two years of related experience.
• Any combination of related experience and/or education may be substituted.

Licenses or Certifications:

• None

Notes to Applicants

Position Overview:
This position will help review City-wide travel documents and assist with providing training and guidance for the City Departments’ travel liaisons. This includes assisting the manager conducting quarterly or biannual training for all new travel liaisons and for departments that need additional guidance. This role will assist with developing a written travel document review process and procedure. In addition, this position will assist with check review and cash receipts and other duties as assigned.

Who We Are:
Our department provides a variety of financial services and programs. The Financial Services Department ( FSD ) serves residents, vendors, and City departments.

Our mission is to serve as a trusted steward of public resources with integrity and accountability to ensure a fiscally sound city.

Our staff supports a wide variety of financial processes, including preparing the annual budget and annual fiscal report, procurement processes, franchise agreements, real estate transactions, and overseeing the City’s investment portfolio and debt management.

As an internal support function within the larger City organization, FSD is proud to serve and act as a leader in financial management to its partner departments.

Click here to read more about us online!

Why Join Us?

Meaningful Work
Contribute to projects that improve the lives of the people in our community.

Innovation and Collaboration
Collaborate with diverse and talented teams, leveraging technology, continuous improvement, and best practices to drive progress in a variety of financial programs.

Professional Growth and Development
Achieve your professional goals. FSD offers opportunities to advance in multiple career paths, as well as a wide variety of learning opportunities.

Work-Life Balance
Enjoy a balanced lifestyle in a city renowned for its quality of life, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences.

Hybrid Work Environment:

The City of Austin Flexible Work Arrangement Program is designed to empower employees and leaders to establish hybrid work arrangements that promote high levels of performance and engagement. Staff may be eligible to telework up to 60%/week. Work schedules are implemented to meet department requirements and are subject to change based on business needs.

Health and Wellness

The City of Austin is committed to providing cost-effective, sustainable benefits that assist employees in being physically and mentally well. For employees that are covered, this includes low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities and more.

Click here to review the City of Austin’s Employee Benefits Guide .

Click here to watch a short City of Austin Employment Video .

Application Details:

• A detailed, complete COA employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine your salary if you are selected for this position.
• Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications.
• A cover letter is required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.
• A résumé is also required, but will not substitute for a complete COA employment application.
• When completing the City of Austin employment application, the work experience listed must include a month, year, and a verifiable Supervisor or Human Resources phone number.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Each individual who submits an Application as provided in the Municipal Civil Service Rules and meets the Minimum Qualifications for a Competitive Position shall be considered a Candidate for that Position. Employees, in Good Standing, who are candidates within the Department or division that the Position resides in and who meet the Minimum and Preferred Qualifications (if any) of the Position will be included in the initial interview.

Additional Details:

• The Financial Services Department may close this job posting at any time after it has been advertised for seven (7) days, please apply as soon as possible if interested.
• This position may require a skills assessment.
• If you are identified as a top candidate, verification of your education, which may include High School graduation or GED equivalent, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees, will be required.
• This position will require a pre-employment Criminal Background Investigation ( CBI ).
• If you are selected as the top candidate for a position, we may contact your current and former employer, as well as the references listed in your application. Please be sure you have listed at least 3 previous supervisors in the application with correct contact information.
• If you are identified as a top military candidate or a veteran, you must provide a copy of your DD-214.

Travel:

If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy:

When the same or an additional vacancy occurs within a department in the same job title within 90 days after the start date of the top candidate, the hiring department may offer the additional position to another candidate from the same candidate pool.
Pay Range
$25.74 - $30.50

Hours
Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Telework opportunities may be available after an initial training period. Work schedules are implemented to meet the requirements of the department and are subject to change based on business needs.

Staff eligible to telework must be in the office for at least 40% of their scheduled work week.
Job Close Date 01/21/2025 Type of Posting External Department Financial Services Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location 124 W. 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Experience creating & reviewing financial documents for accuracy & completeness
• Ability to interpret & implement financial policies and procedures
• Demonstrated experience handling and responding to customer inquiries & services
• Experience using financial systems such as Advantage III
• Ability to travel to more than one work location
  
  

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


Prepares, reviews and approves accounting transactions for routine and non-routine accounts payable, cash receipts, billing or other accounting transactions by verifying documentation from multiple sources. Review and reconciles high volume and complicated transactions. Coordinates and prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information. Researches and analyzes basic and non-routine asset information for establishment of fixed assets. Performs non-routine and complex duties associated with the reconciliation, balancing or processing of vouchers, ledgers, journals, reports and statements. Prepares complex and non-routine financial analysis and trend analysis of data. Researches and resolves complex and difficult billing, invoicing, financial inquiries, accounting and budget information. Reconciles accounts, identifies and prepares corrections by collecting and analyzing account information and analyzing accounting options. Responds to inquiries requiring knowledge of accounting practices, policies, and procedures. Prepares complex, non-standard financial analysis, data analysis and trend analysis to produce financial and graphical reports. Prepares financial statements and/or special financial reports including balance sheets, income statements, and other reports. Investigates and reconciles accounting transactions, reconciles and resolves discrepancies. Provides root cause analysis of process problems. Maintains information and reviews financial transactions by creating and/or monitoring electronic files and/or accounting documents. Performs financial analysis of special projects and programs as requested. Prepares audit work papers for annual or special audit by accumulating data accurately for assigned area(s) in a timely and accurate manner. Assists in the development of guidelines, procedures and templates for financial review and reporting. Maintains accounting controls and financial security by following policies and procedures and internal controls.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( GAAP )
• Knowledge of financial reporting concepts and preferred business practices.
• Knowledge of data and trend analysis
• Skill in analyzing and interpreting financial records.
• Skill in processing large volumes of numerical data
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in operating a personal computer and related equipment.
• Skill in performing basic mathematical calculations.
• Skill in classifying fiscal data and compiling reports.
• Skill in data analysis and financial analysis using spreadsheets.
• Ability to make recommendations to solve complex problems.
• Ability to identify and select appropriate tools and techniques to identify problems and develop solutions.
• Ability to plan and organize tasks to complete projects.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize duties
• Ability to resolve problems or situations requiring the exercise of good judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for the Accounting Associate III position are graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university with major coursework in a field related to Finance, Accounting, or Economics plus two years of related experience. Any combination of related experience and/or education may be substituted. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?

• Yes
• No

* Please provide a brief description of how you meet the minimum qualifications listed for this position to include meeting the educational requirements, years of related experience and substitutions.
(Open Ended Question)
* Briefly describe your experience creating & reviewing financial documents for accuracy & completeness.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your ability to interpret & implement financial policies and procedures.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please briefly describe your experience handling and responding to customer inquiries and services.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience performing transactions in the City’s financial system, Advantage 3, or similar financial system. Please indicate in your response the specific position(s) on your application where you obtained this experience and how many years of experience you have.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Check

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Cover Letter Resume Optional Documents