About the Department

The City of Annapolis is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Accounting Associate II to join the Department of Finance. This position performs paraprofessional level financial accounting duties that require the application of standard accounting theories, principles, and techniques in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Work involves responsible paraprofessional accounting and financial record keeping duties requiring knowledge of the practices and methods of accounting and familiarity with the operations and procedures of accounting systems.

This position differs from the Accounting Associate I classification in that assigned duties are more complex and represent a higher level of responsibility and independent judgment in the performance of work assignments. The work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher-level staff member but permits moderate autonomy in carrying out day-to-day activities.

Position Duties

Transaction Processing & Account Entry

Transaction Verification: Prepares and reviews payments, cash receipts, billing, or other accounting transactions by verifying documentation and accurately completing transactions.
Ledger Entries: Prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
Credit Logistics: Processes and monitors credit card activity and ensures that transactions and supplemental documentation strictly follow established policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Reconciliation & Financial Analysis

Account Correction: Reconciles accounts, identifies variances, and prepares formal corrections by collecting and analyzing account information and analyzing accounting options.
Discrepancy Resolution: Researches and reconciles accounting transactions and fixes numerical discrepancies.
Non-Routine Balancing: Performs non-routine duties associated with the reconciliation, balancing, or processing of vouchers, ledgers, journals, reports, and statements.
Complex Inquiry Inquiries: Researches and resolves complex and difficult billing, invoicing, financial inquiries, accounting, and budget information.

Reporting, Auditing & Controls

Statement Preparation: Prepares standard and non-standard financial reports, financial analysis, data analysis, and graphical data.
Financial Reporting: Prepares financial statements and/or special financial reports including balance sheets, income statements, and other reports.
Audit Documentation: Prepares audit work papers for annual or special audits by accumulating data accurately for assigned area(s) in a timely and accurate manner.
File Stewardship: Maintains information and reviews financial transactions by creating and/or monitoring electronic files and/or accounting documents.
Process Development: Assists in the collaborative development of guidelines, procedures, and templates for financial review and reporting.
Security Standards: Actively maintains accounting controls and financial security by following policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Accounting Principles: Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and standardized financial practices.
Regulatory Frameworks: Knowledge of federal, state, and local applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
Function Practices: Knowledge of the policies, practices, procedures, and terminology of the assigned finance function.
Customer Service & Operations: Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of customer service, modern financial record keeping, bookkeeping, and standard office practices and procedures.
Office Software: Knowledge of the capabilities, operating characteristics, and functions of a variety of office automation software, including database, spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation applications.
Mathematical Reasoning: Skill in problem-solving, decision-making, mathematics, and arithmetic computations related to maintaining, compiling, and reviewing statistical or financial records.
Hardware & Software: Skill in the technical use of computer hardware and software, including the Microsoft Office Suite or similar programs.
Records Management: Ability to prepare, maintain, and reconcile various complex financial, accounting, payroll, statistical auditing, and numerical records.
Data Interpretation: Ability to analyze, calculate, consolidate, reconcile, and interpret accounting data and successfully identify errors.
Administrative Execution: Ability to prioritize work effectively to meet strict deadlines and maintain production schedules.
Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Professional Relationships: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and those contacted in the course of work.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
Experience: Three (3) years of related professional accounting experience.
Equivalency: Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered by the City.

Other Qualifications

Physical/Mental Demands:

Exertion Level: The work is primarily sedentary, requiring the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.
Physical Abilities: Essential physical abilities include manual dexterity for repetitive motions and reaching.
Sensory Acuity: Requires the visual and auditory acuity needed to perceive information and safely operate standard office equipment.
Cognitive Demand: Requires high mental acuity to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

Work Environment:

Setting: Work is performed in a safe and secure office environment.

Benefits

Summary of Benefits for Civil Service

Work Hours: Minimum 35 hour work week, depending upon department operations.

Holidays: 12 paid holidays per calendar year.

Personal Leave: 3 personal days per calendar year (cannot be carried over).

Sick Leave: 15 days sick leave per calendar year, with unlimited accumulation.

Final sick leave balance is eligible for additional service credit towards retirement once eligibility requirements

have been met.

Annual Leave: Annual leave accumulates per calendar year as noted below (may carry over to the next calendar year 5 days of annual leave per year of service up to a maximum of 30 days).

  Years of Service     Days of Annual Leave
1 through 2 15 days
2 through 9 18 days
10 through 19 20 days

Longevity Leave: Longevity leave is in addition to the annual leave noted above. It cannot be paid out or carried over and must be used before your next anniversary:

Years of Service Days
20 through 24 1 day
25 through 29 2 days
30 or more 3 days

Health Insurance Plans (75% City Paid and 25% Employee Paid, unless otherwise noted):

Medical and Prescription Drug (HDHP, EPO, Core, Plus)
Dental (Core and Plus)
Vision (Core and Plus)
Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
Health Savings Account (HSA) [HDHP only]
Short-Term Disability (100% City paid)
Long-Term Disability (100% Employee paid)
Core Life and AD&D Insurance for Employee (100% City paid)
Optional Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse and Dependents (100% Employee paid)
Legal Benefit (100% Employee paid)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – up to 3 confidential visits with a counselor for the employee, spouse, and their dependents
VEBA/RMSA: A Retiree Medical Savings Account (RMSA) is an individual investment account held in Trust to help employees save for Retiree Health Care costs (can be used after retirement or separation of employment with the City).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – up to 3 confidential visits with a counselor for the employee, spouse, and their dependents

Retirement Plans: 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans with MissionSquare, Nationwide Retirement Solutions or Voya Financial

Maryland State Retirement System (Civil Service):

7% employee contribution
Full vesting rights after 10 years of service credit
Full Service Retirement – Rule of 90 (sum of Age and Eligibility Service must equal 90 or Age 65 with 10 Years Eligibility Service

Employee Rewards & Recognition program

Eligible to join the State Employees Credit Union (SECU)

Please Note: This document is intended to be a brief summary only. Please refer to the individual plan documents, Collective Bargaining Agreements, and the Rules and Regulations of the Personnel System for additional details specific to your benefits.

REVISED 2023-08-24

Supplemental Questions

Which of the following options best describes your formal education and related experience?

I possess an Associate's degree (or higher) in Accounting, Finance, or a related field AND at least three (3) years of related experience.
I possess an equivalent combination of education and experience.
I do not meet the minimum qualifications.

Which of the following statements best describes your professional knowledge and application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?

I possess comprehensive knowledge of GAAP and routinely apply standard accounting theories and principles to complex municipal or corporate ledgers.
I understand GAAP and can comfortably prepare standard asset, liability, and capital account entries with moderate autonomy.
I am familiar with GAAP terminology but have limited experience applying these principles to financial record keeping
I do not have a working knowledge of GAAP.

What is your proficiency level in reconciling complex ledger accounts, fixing numerical discrepancies, and identifying financial errors?

I am highly skilled at identifying accounting errors, analyzing accounting choices, and implementing corrections across complex financial systems.
I can independently reconcile standard vouchers, ledgers, and accounts and resolve common transaction discrepancies.
I can assist with basic financial reconciliations but require direct supervisor oversight to handle complex variances.
I do not have professional account reconciliation experience.

Rate your technical experience using office automation software (such as Microsoft Excel) to compile financial records and prepare graphical data or spreadsheets.

I am highly skilled in using advanced spreadsheet functions (e.g., formulas, data analysis tools, pivot tables) to build financial templates and reports.
I can accurately input data, format financial statements, and generate standard graphical representations.
I use spreadsheets for basic data entry and recordkeeping but do not build complex data models.
I do not have experience using office automation software for financial reporting.

Which statement best represents your experience preparing audit work papers or assembling data for internal/external fiscal audits?

I have direct experience independently compiling and verifying accurate audit data for assigned financial areas under strict deadlines.
I have assisted in gathering financial documents for an audit but have not prepared formal audit work papers.
I have no experience with the audit preparation process.

Describe a time when you were reconciling an account or ledger and discovered a significant discrepancy or numerical error. What steps did you take to research, trace, and resolve the issue, and how did you ensure the correction complied with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?

This position requires monitoring transaction activity (such as credit cards) to ensure absolute compliance with organizational policies and internal controls. Provide an example of a time when you identified a submission or transaction that lacked proper documentation or violated a policy. How did you handle the situation and resolve it professionally?

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: City of Annapolis (MD)
Address: 145 Gorman St # 2R

Annapolis, Maryland, 21401
Phone: (410) 263-7998
Website: www.annapolis.gov

Accounting Associate II (N8)