Accountant I

Position Summary

The Town of Palm Beach is an internationally acclaimed destination known worldwide for its extraordinary beauty, small-town charm, and exceptional service standards. Our residents are some of the world's most influential people and they choose Palm Beach to call home because of the amazing quality of life. The Town is seeking a key position to perpetuate its values, of excellence and reliability in this one-of-a-kind setting.

Do you share these values Are you ready for the challenge Come be part of our team!

The Town of Palm Beach employees are driven by the vision to deliver the highest quality service by continuously improving and always striving to be the standard by which all others are measured. The employees of the Town commit to and are guided by the following values:

• Respect for everyone;
• Highest ethical standards;
• Cooperation and teamwork;
• Commitment to quality;
• Spirit of innovation;
• Open and timely communication; and
• Personal responsibility and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Processes vendor invoices, customer refunds, employee reimbursements, construction and contract payments, including verification for accuracy of transactions and compliance with Town policies and procedures, enters data in the Enterprise Resource System, and addresses vendor inquiries.
• Maintains good internal controls by ensuring all invoices are properly authorized for payment; promotes and explains payment via EFT to encourage automated payment rather than paper check.
• Checks/matches/researches data and verifies accuracy of accounting documents in order to process, record, balance, and/or reconcile transactions, data and/or input/output in accordance with established internal guidelines, procedures, and practices.
• Communicate with departments regarding the status of purchase orders and initiate change orders as needed.
• Assists with 1099 preparation and filing.
• Maintains parking ticket receivable records by entering all manually written tickets, updating billing records from rental car affidavits, printing and mailing monthly late payment notices.
• Enters pre-reviewed data in online accounting system(s) to process transactions relative to assigned accounting support function in a timely, comprehensive, and error-free manner; updates data by executing appropriate corrections, additions, and deletions; balances and/or reconciles transactions, accounts, and/or data entry in accordance with standard practice.
• Maintains positive internal/external customer relationships by providing prompt and appropriate responses to inquiries/issues/concerns; follows through with respect to commitments and corrections; provides customer with confirmation of actions taken; refers matters outside personal scope of authority to appropriate individual.
• Records all incoming cash receipts to the Point of Sale system using the appropriate transaction code.
• Prepares less complex bank and account reconciliations.
• Answer Town’s main switchboard and transfer calls to appropriate department/personnel based on the caller’s needs.
• Performs basic recurring clerical assignments in accordance with standard operating procedures and precedents.
• Document work processes and procedures for their areas.
• Prepares lien search responses.
• Assist residents with parking permit applications, fulfilling the order by ensuring that all required documentation is gathered and inspected for eligibility.
• Processes Town mail by applying proper postage to outgoing envelopes and packages, sorting incoming mail to appropriate departmental mailboxes
• Processes work in a manner that results in a complete and evident audit trail; prepares comprehensive and accurate documentation of transactions and adjustments.
• Maintains files in a timely and complete manner and ensures that all documentation is filed appropriately and is accessible as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's degree in business/accounting/finance required with at least three (3) years of related work experience required. Alternatively, a Bachelors degree in business/accounting/finance required with at least one (1) year of related experience required. Additional relevant experience accepted in lieu of degree/college coursework.
• Must be proficient in data entry within a relational database system, email, spreadsheet, and word processing applications.
• Microsoft Excel experience within a professional work and/or office environment strongly preferred.
• Previous bookkeeping and governmental accounting experience preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong work ethic and positive team attitude
• Ability to establish and follow detailed work procedures
• Ability to work independently and with a team in a fast-paced and high volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness
• Ability to post accounts and perform mathematical computations with speed and accuracy
• Knowledge of department-related terminology, policies, and procedures, and the ability to interpret them as they relate to the departmental functions.
• General knowledge of bookkeeping terminology, methods, and procedures.
• General knowledge of accounting principles
• Considerable knowledge of records management policies and procedures and the ability to maintain records in an accurate and easily retrievable manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, departmental officials, and the general public, both in person and over the phone
• Ability to operate personal computers, computer terminals, calculators, photocopier, facsimile machine, telephone, scanner, and other office equipment.
• Ability to learn and use computer software programs utilized in the department, including EDEN financial software programs, Microsoft Office.
• Ability to coordinate and work with other departments to ensure timely completion of interdepartmental projects.

This is a non-exempt position paid on an hourly basis which is eligible for overtime.

The Town of Palm Beach offers a compressive benefits package that includes health, prescription, dental and other supplementary benefits. Refer to the General Employees Benefits page and Retirement Guide for more information on these programs.