AP Principal Accountant

Position Description

About Parks and Recreation:

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is providing welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate, and build community and promote responsible stewardship of the land. We promote healthy people, a healthy environment, and strong communities. Delivering excellent customer service to each visitor and participant is a core value.

Our commitment: SPR commits to Our City Values, Workplace Expectations , and Racial Equity and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable by striving to eliminate barriers to access and provide employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

About Finance & Administrative Services Division:

The Finance & Admin Services Division is part of the Policy & Finance Branch of SPR, and provides financial, contract, fleet, and business service center oversight and support for the entire Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. It also manages Athletic and Event Scheduling.
About the Accounts Payable (A/P) Principal Accountant position:

The department's endorsed 2023 annual operating budget is over $160 million and capital budget is over $80 million. This budget is appropriated in multiple funds, including restricted funds and will be expended in hundreds of operating and capital projects. The department has over 900 regular positions and approximately 800 temporary employees during peak season.

There are two main recruiting goals for this position: Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is looking for a professional who ensures Accounts Payable accounting transactions consistent with GAAP, GASB and City Policies. The department is also looking for someone with strong leadership skills in working with seven Accounts Payable team members and in a supervisor role to improve business processes efficiently and effectively.

This lead person is responsible for managing the Accounts Payable operations and overseeing city credit cards, employee travel and training. They will supervise a team of seven staff, ensuring the high volume of transactions is processed timely, accurately and in compliance with internal controls and policies.

The position reports to the Accounting Manager (Manager 3) and works directly with internal customers at all levels and with outside vendors.
Job Responsibilities

• Supervises a team of 7 Accounting Professionals in Accounts Payable team responsible for between $90M-$120M in annual expenditure payments, and $1.5 million in annual credit card spending.
• People management including hiring, coaching, and delivering individual employee development plans.
• Monitors financial controls around the accounts payable function including proper signature authorization, related account reconciliations, verification of the accuracy of materials received, and other processes. Review and post accounts payable vouchers to ensure appropriateness of purchases and timeliness of payments.
• Creates, manages, and implements SPR's departmental purchasing and accounts payable procedures, including more complex payments for our capital development program.
• Supervises credit card program including authorization of new card issuance and ongoing oversight of existing cards.
• Manages processing of purchase requisitions, purchase orders, consultant contracts, construction contracts, employee travel, invoices, encumbrances, retainage, wire transfer payments, taxes, and others.
• Monitors the accounts payable month-end and year-end process to ensure all vendor payments are processed in the correct accounting period and meet the City's closing deadlines.
• Represents the department as the subject matter expert on purchasing and accounts payable
• Prepares ad hoc payable reports and document accounts payable processes.
• Responds to frequent information requests from vendors, internal customers, auditors, and other requestors.
• Plans and supervises research of accounting standards and financial impact of operational changes for department or City implementation; develops, recommends, and implements accounting standards, policies, and procedures in response to new programs and government regulations.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field (requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter credit units in accounting with no substitution allowed*) and/or professional certification as a CPA, plus four years professional experience in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, or related work with one year experience equivalent to a Senior Accountant (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

*Please be sure upload a copy of your university transcript(s) and/or your current CPA License in order for us to verify your credentials prior to interviewing. Candidates who fail to meet the credit hour requirement or fail to submit the necessary materials will not be considered further for this position.

Most Successful Candidates will Demonstrate:

Experience working in accounts payable.

• Experience reconciling accounts.

• Proficient in MS Excel, MS Word, and financial management system.

• Extensive knowledge of Enterprise financial system, particularly in Accounts Payable.

• In-depth understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) GASB related to accounts payable.

• Ability to under pressure, multi-task, change priorities and meet rapidly changing deadlines in a fast-paced technical environment.

• Experience in a management, supervisory, or leadership capacity.

• Experience working with a team of staff with a diverse background.

• Customer service experience.

Additional Information

To be considered for this position, p lease completely fill out the application form, supplemental questions and also upload a recent PDF copy of your resume along with a cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in this position.

SPR's Core Competencies are:

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.

Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.

Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.

Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.

Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.

The full salary range for this position is $45.68 - $53.20 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
"Most" Employees Plans - Human Resources | seattle.gov

Closing Date/Time: 11/28/2023 4:00 PM Pacific