The salary for this position is: $7,056.00 - $8,589.00 monthly
NOTE: ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN TESTING FOR THIS POSITION. TESTING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THREE PHASES:
- WRITTEN EXAMINATION (FINANCIAL MATH AND PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTING)
- PRELIMINARY SCREENING EXAMINATION (BASIC PAYROLL CALCULATIONS USING EXCEL)
- ORAL BOARD (STRUCTURED PANEL INTERVIEW ON LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUPERVISION)
ALL CANDIDATES MUST PASS EACH PHASE OF TESTING IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
Reporting to the Bureau Chief of Financial Operations in the Sheriff's Office, this position will direct the day-to-day activities and assigned staff of the accounting and financial functions. Responsibilities include the management and oversight of accounting systems with multiple funds, complex payroll processing, assisting with policy planning, and grant/contract administration.
Staffing: Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of assigned staff. Interviews and recommends candidates to be hired, trains subordinates, evaluates performance, and recommends disciplinary action. Analyzes and resolves the most complex problems that arise and provides on-going technical expertise.
During times of absences or heavy workloads, incumbent will perform duties of staff.
Accounting & Finance: Oversees and directs accounting functions to include accounts payable/purchasing, voucher preparation, fixed asset accountability and cash receipting, accounts receivable system and reimbursements. Recommends and implements approved policies and procedures to assure effective functioning of the accounting activities of assigned area and assure compliance with accounting standards and requirements.
Assists with the development, presentation, implementation, and control of a balanced budget. Analyzes the operating status, budget requests, revenues, fund balances and expenditures for each program. Compiles annual operating budgets for various funds and monitors approved budgets throughout the year to prevent over-expenditures and processes necessary adjustments to reflect changes in operating or funding conditions.
Designs, develops, and prepares complex financial management reports for use in department decision making and policy setting as well as completing other internal and external reporting requirements. Involves independent project work, evaluation and development of useful data and information.
Conducts periodic internal audit of accounting programs, expenditures, and activities to assure compliance with local, state and federal requirements and with any applicable grant or contract requirements.
Payroll: Oversees and manages the preparation of the office's payroll functions. Audits and balances payroll entries to ensure accuracy of entries and ensures wages, incentive and special pay, and benefits disbursement are following applicable federal, state, and local law, and the collective bargaining agreement and personnel rules. Publishes payroll reports and forward to Civil Service Commission for certification.
Maintains and monitors employee leave accruals to ensure that appropriate levels are used in accordance with labor contracts and County personnel rules and Sheriff's Office policies.
Reviews personnel information of new hires for correct salary placement and benefit packages in accordance with labor contracts and personnel rules.
Grant Management: Administers the office's grant and contract management requirements to assure fiscal requirements are followed. Maintains grant receivables. Represents the office in dealing with State and Federal grant sources regarding accounting and fiscal information.
Inmate Accounting Support: Directs and supervises the collection and accounting of fees and prisoner funds throughout the Sheriff's Office. May audit daily entries made by Corrections Deputies for proper input of jurisdictional holds, housing and program information to ensure proper fees are charged according to established policy. May notify Corrections Deputies of errors and instructs changes. Coordinates with Corrections management to implement modifications to the system for correct capturing of billing information.
May review fee transactions and inmate classification information for inmates participating in Correctional Options Programs. Resolves program differences and confers with Financial Operations Assistants to ensure proper data is entered into the correctional options accounting data base. Reviews monthly fiscal reports and audit billings to ensure that accurate billings are produced in compliance with County and Sheriff's Office policies and court orders.
Other Assigned Duties: Represents the office on various other interdepartmental and intergovernmental committees and task forces.
When assigned, provides coverage of duties of the Bureau Chief of Financial Operations.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office environment. Lifting of records and reports may be required, usually not in excess of 50 lbs.
WHO WE ARE
Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage
WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:
- Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
- Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plansfor more information.
- Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
- Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.
Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.
QUALIFICATIONS:
All Candidates:
- Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
- Pursuant to RCW 41.14.100, must be a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and be able to speak, read, and write the English language.
- Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
- Valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.
- Acceptable scores on Civil Service examinations.
Promotion:
- Four years full-time experience as a Financial Operations Assistant in the Thurston County Sheriff's Office or meet all open competitive requirements.
Open Competitive:
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or similar field. Coursework must have included college-level commercial and/or governmental accounting courses. Additional related-experiences may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
- Must have a minimum of four years progressively responsible experience in accounting with at least two years in governmental accounting.
- Must have the ability to proficiently utilize a personal computer and appropriate software to successfully perform essential functions of the position.
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), State of Washington BARS (Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting systems), and Thurston County Financial Policies and Procedures.
- Financial terminology.
- County, state, and federal laws and regulations, contractual terms and conditions, and established personnel management policies and procedures.
- Modern office management methods and techniques.
- Contemporary word processing and accounting software.
- Contemporary finance and automated accounting systems.
- Contemporary office practices and procedures to include various file systems and records maintenance.
- Basic English composition, grammar, punctuation, spelling, subject/verb agreement and organization of content.
Skill in:
- Planning, organizing and establishing work priorities.
- Exercising independent judgment to meet deadlines.
- Supervising the work of others.
- Identifying complex accounting issues and developing solutions to resolve those issues.
- Organizing, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating financial data.
- Establishing and fostering a cooperative and effective working relationship with other employees, organizations, and the general public.
- Communicating effectively via telephone or in person and maintaining a courteous attitude under stressful situations with individuals who are in various stages of emotional anxiety.
- Organizing data into appropriate usable format and preparing correspondence and documents from oral and written instructions.
- Detecting errors in accounting computer software.
- Effectively communicating with other agencies, as well as employees of the Sheriff's Office.
- Counting and balancing large sums of money.
- Operating a calculator with speed and efficiency.
- Reading and comprehending legal and non-legal documents.
Ability to:
- Type 40 words per minute with 90% accuracy.
- Operate contemporary office equipment not limited to: fax and copy machines, calculator, and computer systems with state, county, and private software programs.
- Use the keypad on the computer 10-key keyboard with speed and accuracy.
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information received in conversation and from printed materials during the performance of duties.
- Must pass a background investigation which includes a personal history statement, background interview, and polygraph examination.
- Work independently with little supervision.
- Perform all of the essential job functions of the Financial Operations Assistant classification.
Experience:
- Prior experience working for a law enforcement agency.
OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:
Questions about this recruitment? Please contact: Heidi.Thomsen@co.thurston.wa.us
This position is:
- Represented by a union
- Eligible for benefits
- Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Items required for consideration:
- Application with complete work history and education.
- Letter of Interest clearly outlining how you meet the requirements of the position.
Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.
THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.
