Lead Accountant #2404-221200-02

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

Under general supervision, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the Lead Accountant performs professional accounting duties in the development, oversight, analysis, and reporting as related to maintaining CATS Financial Reporting and Grant Accounting.  Primary duties include developing and administering processes to ensure the integrity of CATS financial records, conducting research and complex financial analyses including CATS Cost Allocation Plan, and assisting with other financial reporting.

• Assists Supervisor of Financial Reporting and other staff in the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and analysis under CATS established closing schedule and with input from Financial Reporting and Grant Accounting.
• Administers activities by providing day-to-day oversight to include timely and accurate monthly/or as required reports, specialized reports as instructed, and ad-hoc internal reports.
• Prepares the annual Cost Allocation Plan for submission to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with supporting documentation through data analysis and research.
• Assists in coordinating the system closeout and external reporting, i.e., Urban Operating Statement, CATS TRAX, American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG), Benchmarking Group of North American Light Rail Systems (GOAL).
• Serves as one of the point of contacts for NTD and coordinate NTD Kickoff meeting.
• Monitors, and coordinates, all National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting for the Division.
• Tracking and evaluating the financial performance of projects.
• Monitor lifecycle from project setup to closeout.
• Data processing, analysis and reporting for all transit modes and transit related data within the agency.
• Collects, maintains, and analyzes data to prepare information for various monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports, including all transit ridership, benchmarking data, and revenue information.
• Draft quarterly, annual, and final federal financial reports in accordance with grant requirements.
• Reconciles capital project control account by verifying budget, allocating, posting transactions, and resolving discrepancies.
• Serves as the back up for maintaining all fixed assets schedules.
• Perform financial analyses to be used by CATS’ management to review revenue and expenditure trends and various project statuses.  Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting financial impact of operational activities.
• Prepares quarterly/annually compensated absences report.  
• Other administrative duties as assigned.
• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP.

• Strong critical thinking and strategic analytical skills.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and regional transportation funding programs, regulations, and processes.
• Knowledge of principles and practices relating to operating and capital budgets and methods of analysis.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations and requirements pertaining to transportation grant programs and audits.
• Ability to select, coach, supervise, motivate, train, develop, and evaluate the performance of staff through demonstration of managerial and leadership competencies, including integrity, accountability, communication skills, and commitment to teamwork and excellence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff, customers, and business partners.
• Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and government accounting and financial regulations.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and creatively integrate complex federal and state requirements so that they add value to the grants process at the project and operational levels.
• Knowledge of analytical review techniques over transactions, account balances, reconciliations, and reports.
• High level of sustained accuracy and compliance with written procedures and verbal instructions.
• Strong organizational skills to manage numerous routing activities with attention to details.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools particularly Word and Excel.
• Ability to quickly master City ERP and CATS financial software and provide training support as necessary to project managers and other CATS staff.
• Ability to work flexible schedules and hours in completion of routine work and special assignments.
• Ability to triage competing priorities according to importance and urgency.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions and produce high quality work independently.
• Ability to complete work assignments with minimum supervision.
• Ability to effectively communicate both, written and verbal.
• Experience with National Transit Database data desirable but not essential
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to analyze complex financial issues and preparing effective recommendations and solutions. 

• Experience in a similar position in the transit industry is preferred. 
• Considerable knowledge of governmental accounting, federal, state, and local regulations

Bachelor's level degree in accounting, business administration, finance or related field and three years relevant experience.

Or

Master’s level degree and one year relevant experience.

Ability to obtain a City of Charlotte driving permit

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.