Accountant V – SR-26 Full Time

Plans, supervises, and coordinates the maintenance of all control accounting records for all funds of the County of Hawai’i; analyzes the effectiveness of the accounting system and procedures, and recommends revisions as necessary; prepares and supervises the preparation of financial statements and statistical and operating reports; and performs other related duties as required.

There is one (1) immediate temporary vacancy not-to-exceed 12/02/24 (noon) with the Department of Finance – Accounts Division in Hilo.

(Appointment may be made at any rate within the salary range advertised above at which appropriate qualified applicants can be recruited. Starting salary will be based on the qualifications of the person selected.)

The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life of the list. Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment.

• Plans, supervises, and coordinates the establishment and maintenance of overall accounting records on a county-wide basis.
• Supervises the maintenance and reconciliation of general, control, and subsidiary ledgers for the general, special, and other funds of the County reflecting the budgeting and proprietary status of the county government. 
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of journals, journal vouchers, financial statements, and statistical and operating reports.
• Analyzes expenditure schedules and prepares and supervises the preparation of quarterly schedules of allotments.
• Lapses unencumbered balances in accounts.
• Examines contracts for fiscal propriety and compliance with standard contract guidelines; processes and supervises the processing of formal County contracts and certifies as to availability of funds.
• Supervises and monitors the accounting of state and federal grants funds; assists operating departments with account record keeping and reconciling of grants funds.
• Sets up new funds or fund types established by Council including the accounting procedures and fiscal reporting requirements; recommends and assists the closure of existing funds when their primary purposes have been achieved.
• Assigns and reviews the work of subordinates; provides assistance and training; recommends personnel actions including hiring, promotions, disciplinary actions, and termination.
• Advises and instructs departmental personnel on accounting procedures; assists in resolving complex fiscal, budgetary, and accounting problems.
• Evaluates and reviews the County’s central accounting system and operations to ensure efficiency; recommends and coordinates revisions and improvements thereto.
• Keeps abreast of governmental accounting standards; analyzes and interprets directives and new laws and the effect on the County’s system and accounting operations; recommends changes to comply with new requirements.
• Participates in the financial audits with external auditors; provides information as requested.
• Develops, conducts, and coordinates training orientation, workshops, and updates specific to County’s fiscal operations for fiscal employees.
• May operate a vehicle to perform work-related duties.

Training and Experience:

Combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to:  

• graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree, with
• twelve (12) semester credit hours in accounting and/or auditing courses (scan and attach your official college transcript to your application), and
• five (5) years of professional level accounting or auditing work experience involving the maintenance or examination of accounting records and the preparation, analysis, and/or interpretation of financial statements and reports, of which,
• three (3) years shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

Substitutions of Experience for Education:

The following types of experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis provided that such experience shall have included the preparation and/or analysis of financial statements and reports:

• maintaining and/or reconciling general journals and general ledger accounts;
• preparing balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and related accounting and financial reports;
• examining accounts to identify significant changes and transactions that caused changes;
• preparing worksheets or reports of examinations conducted, discrepancies noted, and corrective entries made to adjust accounts;
• preparing budget estimates for operational requirements and needs.

Non-qualifying work experience such as in the following positions will not be accepted for professional accounting or auditing experience:

• bookkeeper or minor accounting or clerical positions;
• accounting or bookkeeping machine operators;
• office manager or owner of a business who supervise accountants, auditors or bookkeepers, but do not participate in the accounting or auditing work with responsibility for its technical adequacy; or
• positions concerned with tax matters not requiring the application of general accounting and auditing principles.

Supervisory experience shall have included professional accounting or auditing experience, which included:

• coordinating and assigning work;
• evaluating performance;
• providing technical assistance in difficult and problem cases; and
• training of subordinate professional personnel.

Examination:   All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points.  An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant’s training, education and experience as presented in the application.

Please read the minimum qualification requirements carefully.  Be certain to list all pertinent training and experience, as this may be important in determining your examination score.  It is essential that the applicant describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.   

Attach all required documentation (e.g. official transcript, professional license(s)/certification(s), DD-214, etc.) at the time of submitting your application. 

Note:   In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawai’i County may be required at the discretion of the hiring department/agency.  If in-person interviews and/or further testing are required, applicants who are referred to the hiring department/agency must be available to participate in person and at their own expense at that phase of the selection process.

Knowledge of:  Theories, principles, and practices of governmental accounting; preparation and analysis of financial statements; budget administration and expenditure control; laws and regulations relating to governmental finance and accounting; accounting systems and financial structure of the County; functions, organization, and procedures of County departments and agencies; report writing; and, principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to:  Plan, assign, and supervise the work of a large accounting staff; prepare and supervise the preparation of comprehensive reports and analyses of financial activities; exercise independent judgment and make sound decisions; analyze data, detect errors, and correct inconsistencies in complex accounting records; operate a personal computer and use various computer software programs to maintain records and prepare reports, spreadsheets, charts, etc.; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and, communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Physical Requirements:  Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Effort Grouping:  Light 

Please scan and attach these supporting documents to your on-line application, if required:

• an official college transcript,
• a valid driver’s license,
• a temporary assignment verification, 
• professional licenses, and/or
• certificates,

Veterans applying for veteran’s preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS:
Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you.  We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email box or NEOGOV account INBOX in a timely manner.  Checking your NEOGOV account INBOX daily is recommended and is the most secure method to check on notices sent to you.  This is a new feature created by our vendor, NEOGOV.
 
Please add [email protected] to your contact list.  Open your NEOGOV account using your user name and password.  In the upper right hand corner of the account is your name, and under your name, click on INBOX to view all notices sent you.   The notices will appear here in the INBOX even in the event you don’t receive it on your cell phone, computer, or other electronic device.  This is the best way to check and view all notices sent to you.

You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully submitting your application.  Failure to receive this confirmation email, indicates that your application was not submitted.