Accounting Manager

The
Accounting Manager
leads the operation of the General Accounting Division and oversees the City of Milwaukee's accounting system, debt management, accounts payable process management, and financial reporting preparation.

Essential Functions

Accounting Management

• Manage the timeliness and accuracy of the City's financial transactions and maintain a uniform accounting system.
• Review, advise, and instruct staff on the recording and reporting of accounting transactions, city financial policies, and procedures.
• Prepare specialized reports on account transactions.
• Analyze and reconcile general ledger balances.
• Review, monitor, record, reconcile, and maintain budgetary controls. Work with staff to resolve accounting issues, ensuring a balanced budget by fund and that controls within the accounting system are functioning effectively; resolve overdraft conditions.
• Monitor the City's accounting transactions within the PeopleSoft accounting system of capital assets, accounts receivable, billing, accounts payable, inventory, and purchasing; Monitor the posting of transactions to the general ledger and the interfaces that post to the general ledger, including the biweekly payroll expenditures.
• Analyze financial transaction-related resolutions, ordinances, and contracts to ensure accurate recording of transactions in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles and City policies.
• Assist in the testing of the Financial Management Information System to ensure accuracy in the recording and reporting of financial transactions.
• Review Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements and analyze their effect on the recording of City financial transactions, preparing communications, procedures, and process changes for departments as needed.

Debt Management

• Create and maintain databases associated with the City's debt issues and purposes.
• Establish and modify accounts, funding sources, funding allocations, appropriations, projects, and segments associated with the funding by authorized borrowing and the subsequent issuance of debt instruments.
• Reconcile project funding sources and appropriations.
• Prepare and distribute Tax Incremental Districts (TID) status reports on the debt issued and related appropriations, expenditures, and remaining balances for each TID district.
• Instruct staff on the allocation of bond proceeds to specific projects.
• Analyze new types of debt issues and determine appropriate accounting treatments.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Preparation

• Plan, organize, assign, and coordinate staff on the preparation of fund statements and notes, reviewing statements for completeness and accuracy.
• Work with and provide information to the independent auditors, such as account analysis, reconciliations, and transaction documentation; attend weekly status meetings to resolve issues.
• Prepare the letter of transmittal for the Comptroller's signature and the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of the Annual Report for the Deputy Comptroller's review.
• Supervise the final printing and publication of the report.

Accounts Payable Process Management

• Advise and instruct City staff on voucher preparation, processing procedures, account distributions, corrections processes, and resolving accounting and timing issues.
• Review and edit accounts payable-related training materials, procedures, and processes.
• Review and edit accounts payable forms such as travel advances and expense statements.
• Assist other City departments in drafting resolutions, ordinances, and contracts related to payment processes.
• Monitor the staff workflow to ensure vouchers are reviewed and processed promptly.
• Monitor the 1099 generation process and assist in resolving issues.
• Review issues in production environment testing and work with staff and the Information and Technology Management Division (ITMD) to resolve and correct system issues.
• Monitor the daily reconciliation process and assist in resolving issues.
• Monitor the records retention processes workflow on accounts payable-related documentation.

Accounting Division Management

• Plan, prioritize, and delegate staff work; Determine work schedules and assignments.
• Provide training and instructions to staff and conduct performance evaluations.
• Prepare hiring forms and communication, hold interviews, perform background checks, and draft interviewee communications.
• Review communications to be submitted to the Comptroller for signature.
• Manage the execution of the Comptroller's Office initiatives.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university.
2. Five years of professional (post-degree) experience in the field of accounting or finance, including one year of accounting or finance supervisory experience.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may also be considered; however, there is no substitution for a Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university.

NOTICE:
Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates' education as part of the background screening process before extending any job offers.

Desirable Qualifications

• Two years of accounting management experience.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

Technical:

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, government accounting, and reporting standards including grant accounting and governmental, proprietary and fiduciary fund accounting principles.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws relative to governmental accounting procedures and requirements.
• Knowledge of state and local laws or ordinances governing custody and disbursement of funds.
• Ability to learn the City's governmental budgeting, fund accounting, capital, and contribution guidelines.
• Ability to learn the City's budget processes and procedures.
• Ability to learn the City's governmental accounting systems, financial system, modules, ledgers, and related interface.
• Knowledge of internal controls and separation of duties to control risk.
• Ability to maintain records in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex rules and regulations.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite software to analyze and present data and create correspondence.
• Ability to use, manage, and query data within spreadsheet software programs such as Microsoft Excel.

Communication and Interpersonal

• Verbal communication skills to express oneself clearly in interactions with others and positively represent the department in multiple forums.
• Written communication skills to produce clear and concise reports, data analysis, letters, and memos.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with fellow staff, management, contractors, consultants, elected officials, other City staff, community partners, and outside agencies.
• Ability to work cooperatively and fairly with people whose backgrounds may differ from ones' own.

Leadership

• Knowledge of management principles and practices.
• Ability to effectively lead and supervise staff members engaged in accounting activities, including assigning and reviewing work; setting goals, policies, expectations, tasks, and deadlines; monitoring employee performance; coaching, training, and team building; and addressing employee issues.
• Ability to foster an environment of inclusion wherein all employees are treated respectfully, are valued for their strengths, and feel that they can safely express themselves.
• Ability to support employee career development.
• Ability to encourage positive cross-departmental operations.
• Ability to create and develop a diverse work team in which all members can reach their potential.

Judgment and Professionalism

• Adherence to the standard of behavior for professional accountants outlined in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants: integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality, and professional behavior.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to accurately report financial data.
• Decision-making skills and sound judgment.
• Ability to be highly organized, detail-oriented, and accurate while adhering to deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure while handling multiple priorities.
• Ability to be diplomatic, tactful, and courteous, even during adverse situations.
• Ability to serve as an effective steward of City resources.

Current Salary

The current salary range (Pay Range 1JX) is
$104,997-$119,521
annually, and the current resident incentive salary range for City of Milwaukee residents is
$108,147-$123,106
annually.
Appointment will be made in accordance with the provisions of the salary ordinance.

Benefits:

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program which includes the following:

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Onsite Clinic Services
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit