CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
2A14
ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
GENERAL
DEFINITION
This is managerial level accounting work directing the city's centralized accounting,
verification, grants accounting, contract auditing and payroll operations through subordinate
supervisors. The employee functions as across the board assistant to the Accounting Director and
is responsible for directing day to day operations of the Accounting Division. The employee directs
the control of subsidiary and general ledger accounts, the processing of the City payroll, and the
preparation of reports reflecting the financial position of the City. An important aspect of the work
is insuring that accounting activities comply with accepted accounting standards. The employee is
supervised by the Accounting Director.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following criteria must be met in order for a position to be
allocated to this class.)
- The position must function as an across-the-board assistant to the Accounting Director
and supervise subordinate accounting managers in the City's central Accounting
Division.
- Only one position will be allocated to this class.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK
(ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
- Directs, through subordinate supervisors, the activities of general accounting staff engaged
in posting transactions to appropriation journals and general ledgers, preparing periodic reports of
the status of budget and revenue accounts or preparing special statements to demonstrate the financial
position of the municipal government; ensures that controls over disbursement are maintained.
- Directs, through subordinate supervisors, the accounting verification staff engaged in
verifying documentation of municipal accounting transactions by collecting and matching purchase
orders, contracts, encumbrances, payment vouchers and vendor's invoices; ensures that transactions
are processed in a timely manner.
- Directs, through a subordinate supervisor, the auditing of contracts for grants from the
housing office and the federal housing agency; ensures that grant recipients conform to municipal
accounting standards and federal guidelines.
- Directs, through subordinate supervisors, the processing of city payrolls and supporting
records; ensures that Civil Service Regulations and labor contract changes are implemented; directs
the processing of health and welfare benefits deductions and payments.
- Directs, through subordinate supervisors, the activities of a grants accounting staff engaged
in the analyzing and monitoring of departmental grants accounting operations and in performing
grants accounting; reviews and approves financial reports on grants and ensures that reports comply
with accounting standards; ensures that grant recipients conform to municipal accounting standards
and funding agency reporting requirements.
- Anticipates operational and agency needs; sets priorities and deadlines; provides resources;
optimizes use of personnel; modernizes processes and conformity with professional and institutional
standards and guidelines for municipal accounting, auditing and reporting; participates in policy
development and its procedural implementation; deals with officials to resolve accounting and
reporting issues; reviews the propriety of major transactions.
- Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS
AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- the standards, guidelines and requirements for governmental accounting as promulgated by
the governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards board.
- the principles, standards and practices of the accounting profession.
- managerial theory and practice.
- the uses and applications of computer systems to accounting, fiscal reporting and the
preparation of the City's payroll.
- the principles and practices of supervision.
- the principles, practices and techniques of contract auditing.
- the principles of public finance.
ABILITY TO:
- direct the work of a large staff of professional, technical and clerical personnel.
- administer a large centralized municipal accounting program.
- resolve technical accounting problems and issues as encountered in municipal accounting.
- enlist the cooperation of officials to implement policy and procedural changes.
- present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
- exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting policies and procedures
consistent with overall policy and objectives.
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, departmental officials,
and the public.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING
AND EXPERIENCE
(The following statement represents
the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for
tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and
experience requirements as approved on 11/97.)
EDUCATION
- Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major
course work in accounting.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
- Six years of accounting experience, two years of which have been in a supervisory capacity.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
- Three years of managerial level accounting experience in the City's central Accounting
Division.
Or any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by
the Personnel department which has included the specific experience and the bachelor's degree as
indicated.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required
of a position in this class.
PAY RANGE: EP28
Class Established: 10/1952
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC - 11/1996 ; Ad Board - 3/1997
RJ/rj/deb
END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 2A14