CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
2A20
ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is administrative work managing the City's centralized accounting, verification, monitoring
and payroll operations in accordance with established guidelines for governmental accounting
and financial reporting. The employee in this class oversees the control of both subsidiary and
general ledger accounts and the provision of reports reflecting the financial positions of the
municipality. Work is performed under the general direction of a Deputy Finance Director.
ALLOCATING FACTORS:
(The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)
-
Only one position in the City's central finance agency will be allocated to this
class.
- The position must direct all functions of the Accounting Division.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
-
Anticipates operational and agency needs; sets priorities and deadlines; provides resources;
optimizes use of personnel; modernizes processes and otherwise increases efficiency; coordinates
work within and among Accounting Division subunits; assures conformity with professional and
institutional standards and guidelines for municipal accounting, auditing and reporting; deals with
officials to resolve accounting and reporting issues; reviews the propriety of major transactions;
plans and directs training for new employees.
- Directs overall operations of the general accounting staff which includes posting transactions to
appropriation and general ledgers, preparing periodic reports of the status of budget and revenue
accounts and preparing special statements to demonstrate the financial position of the municipal
government; insures that controls over disbursement of funds are maintained.
- Directs the financial editing staff verifying documentation of municipal accounting transactions
by collecting and matching purchase orders, contracts, encumbrances, payment vouchers,
payment vouchers and vendor's invoices; insures that transactions are processed in a timely
manner.
- Directs the initiation and implementation of new, updated or revised accounting procedures.
- Directs the operations of the central grant accounting unit; insures that City-wide grant related
financial activity is recorded and reported in accordance with federal and state legislation.
- Directs the monitoring of accounts for independent and delegate agencies; insures that such
agencies conform to or adopt municipal accounting standards.
- Directs the processing of City payrolls and supporting records; insures that Civil Service
regulations and labor contract changes are implemented; directs the processing of health and
welfare benefits.
- Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- the standards, guidelines and requirements for governmental accounting as set
forth in various Governmental Accounting Standards Board(GASB) statements.
- 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
preparation of payroll.
- the principles and techniques of accounting as they refer to municipal bond indebtedness
and bond sales.
ABILITY TO:
- direct the work of a large staff of managerial, professional, technical and clerical
personnel.
- administer a large centralized municipal accounting program.
- resolve technical accounting problems and issues encountered in municipal
accounting.
- enlist the cooperation of officials to implement policy and procedural changes.
- present ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, departmental
officials, and the public.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
( The following statement
represents the minimum acceptable training and experience standards which will be used to
accept or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be
reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 5\96.)
EDUCATION
- Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major
course work in accounting.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
- Eight years of accounting experience, five years of which have been in a supervisory capacity.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
- Two years of managerial accounting experience in the capacity of an across-the-board assistant
to the Director of the Accounting Division in the City's central finance agency.
Or any equivalent combination of experience determined to be acceptable to the Personnel
Department which has included the specific experience described above.
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: EP30
Class Established:
CSC - 5/1996 ; Ad Board - 5/1996
RJ/sb
END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 2A20