Accountant I (Surface Water Management)

Full Job Description

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM), a Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking a highly capable Accountant I to join our team and assure smooth, timely and efficient financial operation for the division.

The Accountant I responsibilities include financial administration and reporting, processing grant billings, accounts payable, accounts receivable, end of year financial reconciliation, and assisting in budget planning and oversight.

You can make a difference to the residents of Snohomish County! If you are highly motivated and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, join our team!

This position reports to the Fiscal and Admin Supervisor.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively and possess:

• Familiarity with accounting principles and practices

• The ability to review and research expenditures and revenues for accuracy and compliance with agreements and guidelines
• The ability to perform highly accurate electronic data entry, as well as detailed tracking and reporting from digital systems and databases

• The ability to prioritize tasks and meet prescribed processing deadlines
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Fast learner, positive attitude, and reliable

• The ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with project managers, department or other County staff, external agencies, and County residents

These functions are essential to advance our mission:

• Coordinate all SWM division purchases including record keeping of invoices
• Assist staff with travel and business expense authorizations
• Support project managers to set up fiscal accounts and ongoing reporting
• Provide access and assistance with County credit cards
• Pay bills and processes journal vouchers
• Maintains inventory of small & attractive assets
• Manages cash collections
• Set up access for new electronic payees to SWM Statewide Vendor and bank account
• Approve accounts receivable and cash collections
• Perform year-end reporting and reconciliation
• Work with and respond to State Auditors as needed for fiscal audits
• Support fiscal technology transitions

DCNR partners with Snohomish County communities to steward resources and manage infrastructure for the purpose of protection, enhancement, use, and enjoyment of our land, air, and water now and into the future.

Our ideal candidate will have qualities in alignment with the County’s values: providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

About Surface Water ManagementSWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County.

These services are funded by service charges paid by property owners in the unincorporated county.

SWM is the largest division in Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an annual budget of $54.6 million.

SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations.

SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems.

We focus on four core areas of service:

• Drainage and road flooding
• Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
• Salmon and marine habitat; and
• River flooding

You can find us responding to water-quality problems and complaints, monitoring river levels during flood season, maintaining drainage systems, managing habitat improvement projects and more.

For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info. Our 2024 Highlights report is available here.

About the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management, the Division of Parks & Recreation, the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture and aims to achieve high-priority environmental sustainability goals.

Some of the greatest assets we have in Snohomish County are our unparalleled beauty and abundant natural resources.

From the Puget Sound and five watersheds, to forestland, lakes, farms, ranches and parks, our quality of life, economic prosperity and future sustainability are dependent on protecting and improving our environmental resources.

Visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources web page to learn more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info.

About Snohomish CountySnohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains.

The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

When joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported.

We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents.

We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens.

We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose

Benefits
Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth. We demonstrate this by offering a generous compensation package to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package. Our benefits include:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plan with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes eleven (11) paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Other benefits include wellness, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, long term disability, and more.
• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Career development training.

Teleworking OptionsThe work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work with at least two days of in-office work per week.

For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email: Vicki Remtulla.

Requirements

1. Maintains general and subsidiary automated and manual ledgers; monitors and verifies the preparation and classification of accounting entries such as journal vouchers, invoices and account receivable billings; may sign payment vouchers; reconciles records; researches, finds and corrects errors.
2. Prepares financial statements and reports; compiles financial data; develops reports formats; prepares statements and reports such as income statements and balance sheets.
3. Makes studies of day-to-day accounting problems and recommends solutions; assists user departments by answering accounting related questions.
4. Develops working forms and tasks within general departmental policies and procedures.
5. Brings exceptions to accounting principles and standards to the attention of the appropriate level of management.

1. Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

Additional Information

• principles, theories and practices of governmental accounting
• current accounting developments and trends
• budgetary principles, practices and procedures
• internal and operational control concepts, techniques and relationships

• identify procedural problems and develop solutions
• read, interpret and apply relevant federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and the general public
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• maintain necessary records and prepare required reports
• work with minimum supervision
• use personal computers and standard office equipment
• learn Washington laws governing local government financial practices and procedures
• learn Governmental Accounting Standards Board, accounting practices and procedures
• learn the requirement of the Washington State Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System Act