Associate Accountant

Salary: $37.53 - $39.95 Hourly
Location : Blaine, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-03
Department: Finance
Division: Finance
Opening Date: 12/16/2025
Closing Date: 1/4/2026 4:30 PM Central

Description
The Associate Accountant is responsible for professional and technical work involving various accounting responsibilities, including receipting revenues, processing accounts receivable, completing bank reconciliations, entering journal entries, assisting with financial reporting operations, and ensuring compliance with governmental standards and internal policies.

Examples of Duties
These examples are intended only as illustrations of various types of work performed and are not necessarily all inclusive. The job description is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Clears transactions to reconcile the city's bank statement to financial system; resolves discrepancies and reconciles items in a timely manner.
• Records cash receipts and processes accounts receivable.
• Prepares various journal entries related to allocations, corrections, and other routine activities.
• Monitors daily bank cash transitions and records entries appropriately.
• Administers the city's purchasing card program; collects all receipts and records transactions.
• Assists in preparing routine audit and budget work papers and statistical exhibits.
• Maintains leases, contracts, and other documents according to record retention schedules.
• Processes purchase orders for the Finance Department.
• Reviews purchase orders for accuracy and posts to expenditure ledger.
• Assists with the City's insurance renewal process and maintains record of insured assets.
• Confirms transactions and records necessary activity in the city's financial software to reconcile bank statements.
• Monitors electronic payments from vendors and records appropriately within the city's accounting system.
• Collects documentation related to the city's purchasing card program and records transactions.
• Tracks leases and ensures proper collection of funds in accordance with disbursement schedules.
• Clears daily positive pay issues reported by bank and posts all cleared checks.
• Reconciles and posts interfaces from subsidiary applications (parks, permitting, etc.) into the city's ERP software.
• Assists with year-end and the audit, including the preparation of routine audit schedules as directed by the city's Finance Director.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge in the following procedures and processes:
  • Bookkeeping, accounting, data entry, mathematical, and customer service.
• Knowledge of office procedures and equipment
• Knowledge of computers and applicable software applications
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of governmental fund accounting
• Knowledge of internal control procedures
• Knowledge of electronic finance software
• Understanding of the major functions of an accounting office, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
• Ability to solve problems, be analytical and have creative thinking.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to accurately record documents, publications, and various records for official purposes.
• Use and care of personal computers.
• Ability to perform mathematical computations quickly and accurately.
• Ability to manage competing demands and meet productivity standards while managing frequent changes, delays, and unexpected events.
• Work effectively and respectfully with co-workers and outside entities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy requirements of the department and in all assignments as directed.
• Apply communication and people skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, co-workers, supervisors, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work directions.

Supplemental Information
Minimum Requirements

• Associate degree or two-year technical certificate beyond high school in Finance or Accounting or related field.
• Two years of experience in Finance or Accounting or related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of data entry experience in accounting, bookkeeping or related field.
• Two years of experience using spreadsheets, email, and word processing.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in the use of Office 365 including Teams and SharePoint.
• Experience working in New World or similar Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financial software.
• Governmental or non-profit accounting experience.
• Knowledge of governmental fund accounting.

Supervision of Others

• N/A

Physical Requirements

• Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required only occasionally.

The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
The City of Blaine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
We offer an excellent comprehensive benefit package for full time employees. Including paid vacation, sick leave, medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement benefits, educational assistance, employer paid employee assistance program, Flex Spending, Post Retirement Health Care, optional deferred compensation and short term disability.

CITY CONTRIBUTION
For 2026, the City contributes $1,590.00 per month for each full-time employee to apply towards the benefits offered through the cafeteria plan if electing medical coverage. For 2026, the City contributes $804.50 per month for each full-time employee if medical coverage is waived. The City's contribution is pro-rated for part-time employees.

MEDICAL INSURANCE
The City of Blaine offers a full cafeteria plan. All full-time probationary and regular City employees are eligible to participate. Single coverage is part of the core, but if the employee so elects, he/she may include his/her dependents on a family policy. Employees may choose from five options under HealthPartners. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following date of hire for both employee and employee+ policies. The following are the monthly premiums for each plan:

HealthPartners (1/1/2026)

Group #5602

Copay - Open Access Network

2500HSA, Aggregate - Open Access Network

3400HSA,

Open Access Network

3400HSA,

Rx - Open

Access Network

5000HSA,

Rx - Open

Access Network

Employee

$1,397.50

$1,072.50

$1,042.50

$1,070.50

$983.00

Employee + Spouse

$2,936.00

$2,252.50

$2,190.50

$2,249.00

$2,064.50

Employee + Child(ren)

$2,796.50

$2,145.50

$2,086.00

$2,142.00

$1,966.00

Family

$3,635.00

$2,788.50

$2,711.50

$2,784.50

$2,556.00
2500HSA, Aggregate - Perform Network

3400HSA,

Perform Network

3400HSA,

Rx - Perform Network

5000HSA,

Rx - Perform Network

Employee

N/A

$1,051.00

$1,021.50

$1,049.00

$963.50

Employee + Spouse

N/A

$2,207.50

$2,146.50

$2,204.00

$2,023.00

Employee + Child(ren)

N/A

$2102.50

$2,044.50

$2,099.00

$1,926.50

Family

N/A

$2,732.50

$2,657.50

$2,729.00

$2,505.00
2500HSA, Aggregate - Achieve Network

3400HSA,

Achieve Network

3400HSA,

Rx - Achieve Network

5000HSA,

Rx - Achieve Network

Employee

N/A

$1,008.00

$980.00

$1,006.50

$924.00

Employee + Spouse

N/A

$2,117.50

$2,059.00

$2,114.00

$1,940.50

Employee + Child(ren)

N/A

$2,017.00

$1,961.00

$2,013.50

$1,848.00

Family

N/A

$2,621.00

$2,549.00

$2,617.50

$2,402.50
2500HSA, Aggregate - Select Network

3400HSA,

Select Network

3400HSA,

Rx - Select Network

5000HSA,

Rx - Select Network

Employee

N/A

$911.50

$866.00

$910.00

$835.50

Employee + Spouse

N/A

$1,914.50

$1,862.00

$1,911.50

$1,755.00

Employee + Child(ren)

N/A

$1,823.50

$1,773.00

$1,820.50

$1,671.00

Family

N/A

$2,370.00

$2,305.00

$2,367.00

$2,172.50
DENTAL INSURANCESingle dental insurance is part of the core, but family dental insurance is available. All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible. This dental insurance becomes effective on the first of the month following date of hire. The monthly premiums for single and family coverage is:
PLAN

SINGLE

DEPENDENT/FAMILY
HealthPartners

$57.75

$113.07

LIFE INSURANCE
Basic life in the amount of $50,000 is part of the core. All full-time probationary and regular City employees are provided with a term life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy.
PLAN

RATE
Lincoln Financial

$8.50

ADDITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE
Available for family members of all full-time probationary and regular employees at low group rates from Lincoln Financial and/or PERA Life. Specific regulations apply.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
All active full-time employees who work 40 hours a week are eligible to participate in the long-term disability (LTD) plan.

RETIREMENT
Retirement benefits are those of a coordinated plan which combines the benefits of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) with regular Social Security benefits. The employee contributes 6.50% of total annual earnings to PERA. The city contributes 7.50% of the employee's annual earnings to PERA. The employee also contributes the mandatory social security contribution which is matched by the City.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
All regular full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement upon satisfactory completion of approved work-related educational courses offered by accredited institutions.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
All regular full-time employees may participate in an Employee Assistance Program through HealthPartners at the City's expense. In certain instances, this benefit extends to the employee's immediate family as well.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible to participate in a pre-tax savings program through payroll deduction.

HEALTH SAVING ACCOUNTS and/or FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
All full-time probationary and regular employees are eligible to participate in the City's pre-tax health savings account and/or flexible spending accounts for medical/dental/vision expenses and/or dependent care costs. Specific rules and regulations govern use and eligibility.

POST EMPLOYMENT HEALTH CARE SAVINGS PLAN (HCSP)
The city has implemented the Minnesota State Retirement System HCSP, which requires employees to save money on a pre-tax basis to pay medical expenses and/or health insurance premiums after termination of public service.

HOLIDAYS
The following eleven paid holidays will be observed by the city:
New Year's Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Presidents Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

Floating Holiday (used upon supervisory approval)

VACATION
Vacation leave is accrued by all regular full-time employees.

SICK LEAVE
Sick leave is accrued by all full-time employees at the rate of four hours per pay period with a maximum accumulation of 960 hours. A minimum of one hour must be used per occurrence.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
All probationary and regular employees are eligible for bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member. Employees may convert up to four days of sick leave per occurrence.
01

Do you have an associate degree or two-year technical certificate beyond high school in Finance or Accounting or related field?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have two years of experience in Finance or Accounting or related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have two years of data entry experience in accounting, bookkeeping or related field?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have two years of experience using spreadsheets, email, and word processing?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have experience in the use of Office 365 including Teams and SharePoint?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have experience working in New World or similar Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financial software?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have government or non-profit accounting experience?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have knowledge of governmental fund accounting?

• Yes
• No

10

Are you claiming Veteran's Preference?

• Yes, Non-Disabled Veteran
• Yes, Disabled Veteran
• No

11

How did you learn about this position?

• Website
• I am a Current Employee
• Referral

Required Question

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