Controller

Position: Controller

Salary: $85,000 - $90,000 DOE

Schedule: Full-time with Benefits

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Department:Accounting

Administrator: Trista Besich

Education/Experience/Training:

• Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting or closely related field required;
• Minimum of five (5) years' fiscal management experience;
• Minimum of three (3) years' supervisory experience, or a combination of experience and training that provides an equivalent scope of knowledge and skills;
• Or any equivalent combination of education and experience relevant to the position totaling eight (8) years with minimum of one (1) year supervisory experience;
• CPA Preferred.

Certifications:

• Valid Driver's License issued by the State of Montana;

Job Summary

The Controller for the Cascade County Accounting Department (Accounting) will establish and maintain proper accounting and fiscal services and controls in accordance with County policies, Montana State Statutes, grant requirements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); manages the Centralized Accounting Department personnel; works closely with County's Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) to develop, implement, manage and ensure compliance of County wide internal controls and financial management policies; responsible for advanced accounting tasks and oversight of the county's Chart of Accounts and General Ledger. The Controller will lead the yearend closing processes and works directly with external auditors, and grant auditors, including working with the CFO to complete the Single Audit and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). This position contributes to a work environment that encourages positive staff morale, motivation, commitment and team building with the CFO, Accounting staff, and other County offices, departments and staff. This position requires the ability to adhere to and maintain a high level of confidentiality involving a multitude or highly sensitive and personnel matters and topics. The Controller will perform other duties as assigned or required to support Accounting operational needs.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements and reports in accordance with both GAAP and GASB standards; Responsible for annual and monthly financial reconciliation processes;Responsible for maintenance of general ledgers, trial balances, subsidiary ledgers, financial statements, various financial reports and other related financial information;Maintains effective accounting systems including, but not limited to, general ledger management, security of financial records and funds, cash management, cost control, management of payables and receivables, compliance with local, state, and federal funding / audit requirements, and preparation of required financial, utilization and audit reports;Establishes and maintains professional and effective working relationships with the CFO, co-workers, other County offices/departments, employees and the general public;Maintains and adheres to applicable standards of confidentiality regarding highly sensitive and personnel matters and topics;Assists in the general management, administration and implementation of ongoing program activities pertaining to and related to program protocol and compliance issues and makes program policy development recommendations related to program protocol and compliance issues and provides direction, support, guidance and training to and for staff related to and in support of accounting and fiscal services and programs;Makes policy development recommendations related to protocol and compliance issues with regard to internal new employee orientation, support staff training, personnel management decisions, budget preparation, grant and contract tracking;Monitors and analyzes operating results by program or service area as assigned;Analyzes financial statement variance relative to internal benchmarks;Provides advice and assistance to County managers regarding internal policies and procedures; Assists with revenue and expenditure management and projections including detailed analysis of all County funds and accounts; Communicates with CFO on any anticipated revenue or expenditure variances; Ensures federal grant management and internal grant management policies are followed; Reports found irregularities and unresolved problems with departments and staff to the CFO; Contributes input regarding staffing decisions including hiring, personnel actions, training, performance evaluations; Supports accountants and accountant technicians in various County departments in all functions of centralized accounting operations; Advises accountants and accounting technicians on technical issues relating to accounting operations; Develops and implements ongoing training of accounting staff to ensure procedures and policies are followed consistently; Ensures the fixed asset system is up to date, all information from County departments is correctly entered, and backup is complete, records new assets, enters transfers and disposals, runs depreciation at year end, balances fixed assets to the G/L at year-end and provides outside auditors with reports and documentation, co-ordinates yearly fixed asset inventory and enters adjustments; Provides Board of County Commissioners weekly agenda reports on accounts payable and payroll; Responsible for payments or receivables on behalf of identified departments, task forces, grants or miscellaneous program and services and sends monthly financial reports to the agencies which may include Solid Waste, Indigent Services, Veteran's Burial Services, DUI Task Force, Public Auction, or other programs as identified; Assists accountants and departments with modification and appropriation request preparation as needed; Works closely with the County IT Department and New World to identify and resolve issues with financial software; Assists with training in financial software for new systems and/or new users; Creates new accounts for departments in compliance with BARS, policy, procedures, managers and CFO's directives;Performs a variety of other duties as assigned or required; which may include but are not limited to; directing or participating in special projects and events, conducting research, representing Cascade County at meetings and conferences, and attending continuing education and training events.

Knowledge and understanding of:

GAAP practices and standards; Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS); State of Montana's Budgetary Accounting and Reporting System (BARS); Governmental fiscal administrative processes such as budget development and disbursement, rate setting, accounting, grant administration and purchasing; County and departmental policies, procedures, standards and guidelines; County state and federal confidentiality, privacy and security laws, rules, policies, guidelines and practices; Supervisory techniques, principles and practices; Intermediate to advanced software knowledge in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Internet and Outlook; County safety rules, procedures and practices; English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; Applicable Montana Code Annotated, rules and regulations; In depth knowledge of computerized financial software, Word, Excel, Outlook; Basic office equipment.

Skills in:

Maintain a program of accounting and fiscal services and controls as defined by county policies; Analyze and interpret financial data and information and reach conclusions; Organize information clearly to meet management's need; Quickly master the County's accounting software; Use computer and data processing technology as applied to financial, accounting and auditing utilizations; Operate a personal computer using word processing, financial spreadsheets, specialized accounting and database applications appropriate to assigned duties; Engage in effective and professional interpersonal communication; Engage in efficient organization, time management, planning and accuracy; Engage in effective and professional customer service and public relations; Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Windows, and other routine operating systems.

Ability to:

Communicate in a professional and effective manner with others, both orally and in writing, in both technical and non-technical terms; Perform complex computations accurately and quickly; Maintain strict confidentiality; Handle stress and react well under pressure; Deal with frequent changes, delays, interruptions or unexpected events; Work with minimal supervision; Work as a member of a team; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers, representatives of other agencies or departments and the public. Prepare well-organized and accurate spreadsheets, reports and audited statements; Work independently and plan projects; Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

The successful applicant shall serve a 1-year probationary period and will have a criminal background check conducted. The results thereof may disqualify the applicant from consideration for employment with the County.

Notice to Applicants: Applicants who are claiming Veteran's or Handicap Preference must provide a DD-214 Discharge Document (Part 4) or DPHHS Handicap Certification and Employment Preference Form with their application for employment so Cascade County may apply the preference during the selection process.

Cascade County makes reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with the applicant's ability to compete in the recruitment and selection process or an employee's ability to perform the essential duties of the job. For Cascade County to consider such arrangements, the applicants must make known any needed accommodations.