Job Title:             Accounting Specialist

Reports to:           Dir. Of Finance

Primary Purpose:

            To perform daily fiscal operations of the school district.  Process District payroll accurately and timely on a bi-weekly basis.  Balance and process all payroll taxes and deductions.   Establish and maintain a high standard of professionalism in the operation of the Business Office. Administer employee insurance and non-insurance benefit programs and provide assistance in recruiting, training and labor relations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• Knowledge of governmental fund accounting
• Demonstrated competence in the use of computers including school accounting ad reporting, word processing and spreadsheet packages
• Minimum of two years’ experience in general budgetary, bookkeeping, and accounting operations a plus, but not required.

Essential Functions:

• Enter cash receipts into budgetary accounting system as necessary
• Prepare journal entries as needed for approval by Dir. of Finance .
• Assist in preparation of various financial spreadsheets and schedules as requested by the Dir. of Finance
• Assist in compiling and providing information necessary for the Annual Audit
• Assist in developing the General Fund Budget and the Annual Financial Report
• Maintain and update all budgetary accounting codes as needed Review the accounts receivables and tuition billing/payments
• Establish/maintain employee records; ensures that employee changes are entered correctly and made on a timely basis; reviews changes for proper authorization and adherence to policy
• Perform all activities necessary to compute and process the biweekly payroll including, but not limited to, collection of input, analysis and preparation of input, data entry, balancing and the production of payroll checks, direct deposit files and reports
• Research, identify and resolve discrepancies or inconsistencies of source documents related to payroll and benefit accounts and determine and correct out-of-balance conditions
• Perform all activities necessary to closeout a payroll including, but not limited to, preparation of tax deposits, initiation and verification of fund transfers, verification of account distribution and printing of reports
• Establish, implement and account for all payroll voluntary and in-voluntary deductions (such as garnishments and levies) and maintain current deduction information according to various deduction documentation and union contracts
• Provide reconciliation of general ledger accounts when needed
• Verify attendance, hours worked, pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records
• Prepare/balance bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports pertaining to PSERS retirement and payroll
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
• File local, state and federal payroll tax returns
• Compile and submit payroll deduction-related payments for federal taxes, state taxes, dues payments, credit union, insurance, etc.
• Perform all activities necessary to closeout a calendar year and a fiscal year including, but not limited to, preparation of all applicable reports for the generation of W-2’s and payroll accruals
• Process termination payments
• Submit all required year-end local, state and federal payroll reports
• Process all unemployment compensation claims and verify all unemployment compensation invoices/payments

Process all employee authorized requests pertaining to mortgage and credit applications

• Keep informed about changes in tax and labor laws that apply to the payroll process
• Provide information to employees and supervisors on payroll matters and tax issues
• Provide employees with information regarding benefits for events such as retirement, resignation or termination of employment
• Verify salary amounts and accounts for preparation of annual district budget
• Create/update forms as needed with approval of Director of Operations and Financial Services
• Calculate and process the taxable income for Group-Term Life insurance in excess of $50,000 using the IRS premium table and deducts applicable social security and medicare taxes
• Issue and record adjustments to pay related to previous errors or retroactive increases
• Administer and maintain the district’s Section 125 plan in coordination with the Director of Operations and Financial Services
• Perform annual benefits enrollment (open enrollment)
• Input benefit data and prepare reports
• Reconcile benefit invoices and resolve billing issues with carriers
• Investigate and resolve benefits problems
• Calculate active employee, retiree contributions for insurance premiums and notify employee of his/her costs. Notify payroll clerk and Cafeteria Plan administrator of changes of employee contributions.
• Update PSERS with retiree's current eligibility for premium assistance
• Initiate COBRA notifications, obtain required paperwork and monitor eligibility
• Update benefit booklets, forms and summary plan description
• Prepare benefit data for negotiations
• Research and assist in the development of new benefits plans
• Process and monitor workers compensations claims and appeals

Provide assistance in completing workers compensation forms and reports

• Represent the district at workers compensation hearings
• Monitor and investigate workers compensation employee status
• Secure independent workers compensation medical evaluations, affidavits, etc.
• Review and adjust attendance monthly
• Monitor paid and unpaid leaves and notify payroll of unpaid leaves and unpaid days to overused days
• Monitor and adjust sick bank credits/debits
• Generate, correct and confirm attendance statements
• Prepare periodic reports and audits
• Monitor extended sick leave and return to work program
• Develop and implement FMLA benefit tracking/notification system
• Complete and forward New Hire Reporting form each pay period to PA Department of Welfare
• Maintain employee web portal
• Reconcile employee compensatory time, to include but not limited to verifying earned compensatory time, tracking employee use of compensatory time and tracking employee balances.
• Assume any other responsibilities as assigned by the Dir. of Finance and/or Supervisor of Accounting

Performs other duties as assigned.

Performs in accordance with school policy, administrative regulations, state and federal laws.

Temperament:

• Composure under stress
• Ability to work as a team member and independently
• Flexibility
• Multitasking
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills.

Specific Skills:

• Advanced Computer Skills
• Operate office equipment
• Planning/organization skills

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Follow written and verbal directions
• Work with minimal supervision
• Exercise good judgment in prioritizing tasks
• Communicate effectively at all organizational level
• Perform duties according to District policies and state and federal regulations

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions of the applicable policies of the Ringgold School District.

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  The employee in this position will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the required duties.