Accountant

SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION

Reports to: Director of Business Services
Position Duty Days: 12 month position, Exempt
Compensation: Education Minnesota Association of Brainerd Professionals Master Agreement, dependent on qualifications

SECTION II: JOB GOAL / SUMMARY

To administer the school district’s accounting  activities, ensuring the accuracy of financial records and the timely processing, submission, and payment of expenses in accordance with school district policies and practices as well as applicable laws and regulations. 

SECTION III: QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying.  Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:         

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related field, with course work in business, math, accounting, bookkeeping and recordkeeping.

  • Successful bookkeeping or accounting experience, generally a minimum of five years.

  • Accounting certification or license.

• Ability to work independently with little work direction, to understand expectations, judge time needed to complete work assignments and organize his/her own work.

• Organizational and time management skills in order to meet deadlines.

• Ability to problem-solve job-related issues.

• Ability to learn, apply and explain district fiscal-related policies, procedures, rules and regulations to staff.

• Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping principles.

• Attention to detail and need for accuracy.

• Working knowledge of spreadsheets, word processing and database software, 10-key operation. Ability to work with multiple software applications.  Skyward Finance and Excel experience preferred.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding school district financial and other information.

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

• In addition to consistent, regular attendance, the requirements listed above are representative of the characteristics necessary to perform this job successfully.

SECTION IV: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reconcile bank statements to the general ledger cash accounts monthly.

• Monitor the cash assets and cash flow of the school district for payroll and accounts payable. Ensure bank balances are adequate to meet the school district’s daily financial obligations and process wire transfers as needed.

• Manage audit processes, including but not limited to the preparation of year-end reconciliation and schedules and providing all supporting documentation and/or information throughout completion of the audit.

• Maintain Excel of district staff with salary and benefits used for budgeting and negotiations.

• Maintain employee security groups and chart of accounts in Skyward Finance.

• Review payroll account codes and process account adjustments if needed.

• Record school district deposits and prepare sales tax submission and remit payment.

• Process and prepare journal entries, monthly bank fees and transactions as needed.

• Provide required reporting to outside agencies, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) submissions.

• Maintains bond information and records and scheduling of bond payments.

• Maintain NSF folder and facilitate collections.

• Monitor certain federal programs and complete draw requests.

• Process and transmit 1099 forms per IRS regulations.

• Acts as primary contact for school district personnel responsible for student activities accounting for questions, procedure clarifications, and assistance. Monitors student activity reports to assure compliance with Minnesota Department of Education’s student activity manual.

• Develops reporting procedures and internal controls for timely and accurate completion of reporting and record-keeping requirements.

• Review, interpret and apply governmental accounting standards, including Generally Accepted Accounting principles (GAAP) and the Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting System (UFARS) with respect to the district’s financial activities, assuring adherence to all state, federal and school district guidelines, rules or laws.

• Recommends policies, procedures and/or actions for the purpose of improving efficiency and providing direction for meeting the school district’s accounting objectives.

• Answer inquiries on coding and account balances for individual departments, prepare current balance reports as specifically requested.

• Trains and informs other staff regarding procedure requirements for the purpose of facilitating financial compliance within established practices and policies.

• Maintains accounting records for accurate and up-to-date filing and recordkeeping with district retention policies.

• Participates in meetings, in-service training, workshops, etc. for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information.

• Act as a backup for other positions in the department as needed.

• Perform any other duties as assigned.
   

SECTION V: PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and WORK ENVIRONMENTS:

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, frequently requires walking and sitting and occasionally requires standing, using hands and fingers to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic). Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer. 

Brainerd Public Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Brainerd Public Schools will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily.