Accountant III

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.

SUMMARY: The Accountant III is an intermediate-level professional accounting position reporting directly to the Director of Finance. Working under limited supervision, this role performs a broad range of routine and complex accounting functions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), departmental procedures, and Authority policies. Responsibilities include processing and analyzing financial transactions, preparing and posting adjusting journal entries, reconciling general ledger accounts, assisting with month-end and year-end close activities, and preparing financial reports and supporting schedules. This position exercises sound professional judgment, ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records, and supports the organization's financial reporting and compliance objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Reconcile monthly bank statements, including processing cleared checks and monthly stale check report.
• Reconcile daily cash receipts and deposits by matching bank transactions and credit card processing reports to internal accounting records.
• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded, classified, and supported. Monitor account balances and prepare monthly account reconciliations.
• Manage capital asset accounting, including recording acquisitions, adjustments, transfers, and disposals. Prepare and reconcile monthly depreciation and related asset schedules.
• Reconcile Construction-in-Progress (CIP) activity, including weekly and monthly project reconciliations, establishing new projects and budgets, processing project and budget transfers, and completing project closeouts.
• Administer and monitor the employee corporate credit card program, ensuring compliance with Authority policies, proper approvals, supporting documentation, and receipt retention requirements.
• Process miscellaneous accounts receivable transactions, including billing and collections for tower lease payments, water sampling services, construction reimbursements, military invoicing, and other miscellaneous revenue sources.
• Review accounts payable check runs to ensure completeness, accuracy, proper authorization, and appropriate account coding.
• Review monthly operating and capital expenditure results against approved budgets, analyze significant variances, identify trends and underlying causes, and prepare supporting explanations and recommendations for management as required.
• Participate in the monthly financial close process by preparing and recording journal entries, reconciling accounts, and ensuring financial transactions are recorded accurately and timely in accordance with established deadlines.
• Assist in documenting, updating, and monitoring accounting processes and standard operating procedures.
• Support external audits by preparing requested schedules, providing supporting documentation, and responding to auditor inquiries.
• Maintain accurate vendor records and supporting documentation in accordance with established internal controls.
• Prepare, analyze, and update monthly financial reports and schedules utilizing Microsoft Excel and other financial reporting tools.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy of accounting processes and procedures.
• Support special projects, financial analyses, and other accounting initiatives as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional accounting experience required[JD1] .
• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), financial reporting, account reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, with the ability to exercise sound professional judgment and professional skepticism.
• Proficiency with computerized accounting systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently with limited supervision.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid driver's license required.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation preferred but not required.

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.