Accountant I (OCFO - ODFS)

Full Job Description

OFFICE OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Be a Part of the City You Love!
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Office of Departmental Financial Services division is accepting applications for an Accountant I position.

Position Summary

The Accountant class performs professional accounting work requiring application of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards. Accountants in this class complete or oversee a variety of professional assignments involving the design, maintenance, and implementation of accounting systems, the systematic classification and assessment of accounting data, and the preparation of related managerial and financial reports.

Accountants in this class are responsible for accounting tasks involved in preparing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting accounting data; operating, maintaining, and modifying accounting systems; using accounting information to recommend solutions to management problems and structuring of organization programs; managing, operating, and analyzing cost accounting systems in relation to business activities, and designing, implementing, and assessing internal control processes and systems.

Requirements

1. Performs complex accounting functions consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations.
2. Researches, analyzes, and implements accounting rules and regulations as stipulated by Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) or other regulatory agencies
3. Conducts searches and complex examinations of budget and financial records to provide factual data on the amount and type of funds available for submission to others within the employing entity who will use the data to prepare budget estimates and reprogramming actions
4. Prepares, examines, or analyzes accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards
5. Independently conducts the complete range of tax examinations and related investigations of a broad range of business taxpayers such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, fiduciaries, and sizable corporations
6. Maintains ledger and computer systems required to conduct payroll and financial reporting
7. Assists in the preparation of the Consolidated Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
8. Provides experience in using the specific procedures of automated systems to find, review, or change accounting data in transaction files, ledgers, accounts, summary reports, and financial statements
9. Designs new and changing system and program environments due to new laws, regulations, and standards
10. Resolves issues where governing laws and regulations are highly interpretive and/or precedents are non-existent, obscure or conflicting
11. Develops new systems for tax examination, tax management control, and tax documentation systems
12. Develops and applies unique or extensive probing and analysis techniques and methods
13. Identifies accounting problems such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls, inaccurate records and reports, improper methods for document control, and lack of documentary evidence to support performance of regulatory reconciliations
14. Posts journal entries, reconciles dates, and manages inter-agency billings and transfers required to support financial reporting
15. Checks data and compares reports or transactions to source documents, or authorizations against transactions to ensure their acceptability for further processing
16. Drafts simple instructions to describe internal accounting procedures for a procedures manual
17. Assists in executing portions of an audit plan that tracks process flow, verifies reported data, or assures that functional operating instructions generate desired results
18. Reports to management regarding the finances of establishment
19. Performs grant management, monitoring and administrative duties and activities (e.g. financial, set-up, post-award, closeout, etc.) to ensure timely expenditures and reimbursement, and regulatory and audit compliance
20. Compiles centrally requested cost reports and reports of variance from standards. Develops reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets
21. Serves as an expert or authority in some aspect of accounting or in the application of accounting to some mission-related program(s)
22. Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education

For all Accountants, it is a requirement to have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with major course of work in accounting, finance, business administration, statistics, or a closely related field.

Such education must include at least twenty-four (24) semester (36 terms) credits of coursework in accounting and statistics (21 hours in accounting and 3 hours in statistics).

Applicants with a Master in Accounting and other appropriate and related courses of study meet the minimum experience required for Accountant II.

Experience

For entry into the Accountant position, no work experience is required; however, the minimum education requirements must be met.

One year of professional experience performing or auditing the systematic classification and evaluation of accounting data and the preparation of related financial and managerial reports is preferred but not required.

Accountants must demonstrate proficiency with integrated word processing and spreadsheet functions.

Preferred Experience

• Previous Accounting experience
• Intermediate Excel skills

Equivalency

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

• Possession of a CPA may be substituted for one year of Accountant II experience.
• Possession of a Certified Management Accountant certification (CMA) may be substituted for six months of Accountant II experience.
• Possession of a CPA and/or CMA certification is preferred.

Additional Information

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience, & Personal Qualifications (TEP): 30%
• Total of Computerized Assessment, Interview, and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points

LRD: 01/30/2026

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of an Accountant increases with the level of responsibility and experience.

At the entry-level, knowledge requirements might include basic professional knowledge of:

• Concepts, principles, and practices of accounting, auditing or examinations
• Standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, generally-accepted accounting procedures (GAAP), accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations
• Grant policies, procedures, and reporting requirements
• Grants Management accounting including Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and other requirements
• Cost accounting and cost funding procedures
• Procurement policies and practices of the City of Detroit
• Techniques commonly used in locating errors in accounting records
• Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmental financial management
• Enterprise resource planning systems for finance, budget, general ledger, human resources, and other management systems and software programs

Skill in:

• Use of personal computers
• Use of Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and other office suite software packages
• Use of Excel (e.g. Formulas, Pivot Tables, Vlookup, Hlookup, other functions, charts, tables) and other financial management software packages functionality
• Use of large, complex, multi-departmental financial systems and demonstrate the knowledge required to interpret resulting financial and accounting reports, summaries, and budgets
  Analytical and problem solving
• Interpersonal skills to interact effectively with personal contacts in a business-like, customer service oriented manner, and maintain favorable public relations
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
  Using mathematics to solve problems
• Presenting concise financial information to a variety of audiences

Ability to:

• Analyze and interpret fiscal, accounting, and other data and reports
• Advise City Agencies and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) staff on appropriate accounting polices, procedures, and requirements
• Maintain general and subsidiary ledgers and journals and to prepare, analyze, and maintain regular financial statements and reports
• Collect, organize, and interpret accounting data, tax rules, and regulations; synthesize data and work cross functionally to create and establish accounting guidelines, policies, and memos
• Prepare accurate and reliable financial reports
• Present accounting data orally, in writing, or in PowerPoint in a clear and understandable manner to both technical and non-technical users
• Analyze and recommend improvements in accounting systems
• Formulate solutions to difficult and complex accounting and related financial problems
• Utilize independent judgment
• Understand cost-benefit and business case analyses to provide insight and recommendations regarding best accounting methodology and suggestions to improve outcome
• Learn and use contemporary financial management software and other related software for program and financial management systems
• Interact effectively with senior leadership, subordinates, department personnel, and others with tact and diplomacy
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• Make mathematical computations
• Work as part of a team

Physical Demands

• The employee generally remains in a stationary position for an extended period of time operating standard office equipment which may include computers, telephones, photocopiers, and fax machines.
• The employee is expected to move about to accomplish tasks such as opening file cabinets and moving files.
• Must be able to lift, push, pull, and carry up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment.
• Some work requires travel to meetings, conferences, and other work sites with exposure to seasonal weather conditions.