ACCOUNTANT III
(Competitive)
02320
The work involves responsibility for performing professional accounting tasks in the development, examination, review, analysis or supervision of financial and accounting records. The nature of the work requires that incumbents possess knowledge of and apply agency guidelines and procedures or a body of laws and regulations in performing the duties of the class. Within policy and program limitations, an employee in this class may devise new or revise existing accounting systems by applying established and accepted accounting methods and procedures. General supervision is received from a fiscal or program officer who monitors work by review of reports and through conference and who provides verbal and written guidance to the programs on a continuing basis. Supervision is exercised over the work of a small number of accountants and/or clerical support personnel engaged in accounting work. Does related work as required.
Supervises, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of a small number of accountants and/or support clerical personnel in an accounting operation or segment thereof.
Independently performs the more complex accounting duties of the operation which is characterized by the size and needs of the agency being served; the numbers and kinds of program areas serviced; the laws and regulations controlling the program; and the existence of a highly refined accounting system involving a number of different subsidiary journals and ledgers.
Supervises and participates in the maintenance of a manual or automated ledger operation including books of account or general ledgers, classification and recording of transactions and supervises and participates in the control and preparation of accounting statements and reports.
Verifies, codes, and classifies financial transactions following established and accepted accounting methods and procedures.
Applies established and accepted accounting methods and procedures in the preparation of supporting accounting statements.
Designs and assists in the design of special accounting schedules, forms, or reports or recommends changes in existing forms, schedules, and reports.
May implement or assist in the implementation of new or revised manual or automated systems and train subordinates in application of systems.
May supervise the record keeping and required fiscal reporting for federally funded or agency programs by interpreting guidelines, monitoring schedules and reports, and providing advice and guidelines.
Acts as liaison with agency staff and with non-agency staff regarding program operations, project status, giving advice, or answering questions.
May perform or assist in budget preparation, cash flow projections, and cash needs determination.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Thorough knowledge of principles, theories, techniques, and procedures of modern accounting.
Thorough knowledge of basic trends and current developments in the field of accounting.
Ability to apply established and accepted accounting principles and techniques.
Ability to compose accurate accounting reports and statements and ability to present same.
Ability to select and apply the accounting principles, technique, or procedure best suited to a particular assignment.
Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts and ability to draw conclusions.
Ability to analyze and evaluate accounting problems and to devise solutions.
Ability to understand the language, file configuration and principles incumbent in an electronic data processing system.
Ability to supervise staff in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
Ability to train professional and/or clerical staff involved in operating the accounting system.
Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
Promotion:
Two (2) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Accountant II or Auditor II.
Open-Competitive:
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a baccalaureate degree in accounting or a baccalaureate degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours, or its equivalent, in accounting plus four (4) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in professional accounting or financial auditing, or a closely related field, which must have involved as the major job function the application of accounting principles to the installation and operational maintenance of a general or specialized accounting system, the design or modification of an accounting system, final authority and responsibility for a system or major portion thereof, and the exercise of supervision over accounting activities; or,
Eight (8) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in accounting, financial auditing or full
charge bookkeeping which is defined as experience which must have involved the accumulation of financial and statistical data into general and subsidiary ledgers and journals and the compilation of this material into useful reports and studies of which four (4) of the eight (8) years must have been work experience in professional accounting or financial auditing, or a closely related field, which must have involved as the major job function the application of accounting principles to the installation and operational maintenance of a general or specialized accounting system, the design or modification of an accounting system, final authority and responsibility for a system or major portion thereof, and the exercise of supervision over accounting activities; or,
An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).
NOTE: Successful completion of graduate semester hours in accounting or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for work experience as follows: Thirty (30) graduate semester hours is equivalent to one (1) year of work experience; sixty (60) graduate semester hours is equivalent to two (2) years of work experience. Degrees in Finance, Banking, Economics and related fields will not be considered as qualifying.
5/99 Revised