OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING AGENDA 204 South 7th Street October 18, 2016 TIME: 6:45 PM TOPICS FOR REVIEW & DISCUSSION 1. CALL TO ORDER 1. Patricia Jones, Larry Gray, Dozier Smith T, David Canon, Eddie Smith 2. PRESENTATIONS 3. RESOLUTIONS a. Create New Position, Senior Accountant. 4. ORDINANCES 5. GENERAL UPDATES Mayor Fuller Joey Motley a. General Updates 6. REVIEW/DISCUSS CURRENT COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA City Council a. Remarks by Mayor b. General business c. Bids d. Resolutions e. Ordinances f. Board Appointments 7. GENERAL / DISCUSSION City Council a. New-Old business b. Board appointments c. Other city business 8. END OF WORK SESSION President Smith Generated 10/14/2016 3:27 PM
3.a RESOLUTION NO. (ID # 1943) Create New Position, Senior Accountant. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING NEW POSITION OF SENIOR ACCOUNTANT IN THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, the Mayor has submitted his recommendation to the City Council to authorize the new position of Senior Accountant in the Accounting Department and to amend the organizational chart of the Accounting Department of the City of Opelika. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Opelika, Alabama, as follows: 1. That the new position of Senior Accountant in the Accounting Department is hereby approved and authorized by the City Council. The compensation pay range for said position shall be equal to pay grade 21 as established in the City s pay plan. 2. The position of Senior Accountant is a full time, exempt position. 3. That the job description of Senior Accountant, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference, is hereby approved by the City Council. 4. That the Controller is hereby authorized and directed to modify the organizational chart of the Accounting Department to implement the changes in personnel as contemplated by this Resolution. 5. That the Controller is authorized to make the appropriate budget adjustments to implement this Resolution. Packet Pg. 2
3.a Council. 6. That this Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and adoption by the City ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the day of, 2016. PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: CITY CLERK Packet Pg. 3
EXHIBIT A CITY OF OPELIKA POSITION DESCRIPTION TITLE: SENIOR ACCOUNTANT GENERAL DESCRIPTION The essential function of the position within the organization is to assist the Controller in managing the City s Opelika Power Services accounting system in accordance with established procedures. The position is responsible for accounting software for OPS under Uniform System of Accounts for Utilities and GAAP, maintaining a list of fixed assets and depreciation schedules for public utilities, maintaining debt service records, assisting with daily accounting functions, and performing duties of accounting personnel in their absence. The position works under general supervision of the Controller, works independently developing work methods and sequences. PRIMARY DUTIES: This list represents the essential tasks performed by this position. Employees may be assigned additional duties by management as required. Leads efforts in establishing an accounting software system for OPS under Uniform System of Accounts for Utilities, GAAP application and accounting standards, publication of Comprehensive Financial Reports and audit contract and administration. Assists Controller and other accounting staff in compliance with established procedures for OPS in areas to include accounts payable, accounts receivable, capital assets, debt management, general ledger, inventory, payroll and work orders; evaluates processes, identifies deficiencies, and implements necessary changes; ensure the entity follows all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Reviews financial and operational systems for efficiencies and risks; monitors internal controls to safeguard entity assets; develops and oversees the implementation and maintenance of various financial and accounting software programs utilized by the entity. Performs monthly bank statement reconciliations for public utilities. Includes recording monthly interest revenue as well as preparing journal entries to record transactions. Provides training on use of the City s Utility financial software program as well as answer questions and help solving problems that arise. Gathers and maintains information/data to support periodic and special reports documenting activities for area of responsibility under direction of Controller. Provides assistance to the Controller and OPS Director and other management team members in the administration of the entity s accounting services. Performs duties of other accounting department personnel as required. Participates in and contributes to the annual audit of financial statements. Packet Pg. 4
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Participates in and contributes to several annual compliance reviews of financial statements, rates, and policies. Assists in preparation of the monthly and annual financial report and variance explanations. Develops cooperative professional relationships; represents the utility at various regional accounting meetings as well as AMEA and APPA finance meetings; stay abreast of new pronouncements, laws, trends, and innovations in finance, accounting, and cash management. Attends or conducts staff and other professional meetings to exchange information; attends in-service training and technical or professional classes, seminars, or conferences to improve technical or professional skills. Performs other related duties as required. DATA RESPONSIBILITY: Data refers to information, knowledge, and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation, interpretation, visualization, and mental creation. Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols, ideas, concepts, and oral verbalizations. Directs others in major events and reports on activities and results. PEOPLE RESPONSIBILITY: People refers to individuals who have contact with or are influenced by the position. Instructs or trains others through explanation, demonstration, and supervised practice, or by making recommendations on the basis of technical disciplines. INVOLVEMENT WITH THINGS: Things refers to inanimate objects such as substances, materials, machines, tools, equipment, work aids, or products. A thing is tangible and has shape, form, and other physical characteristics. Handles or uses machines, tools, equipment or work aids involving some latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items such as computers, peripherals, or software programs such as word processing, spreadsheets or custom applications. ASSETS RESPONSIBILITY: Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization. Requires responsibility and opportunity for achieving major economies and/or preventing major losses through assisting with management of a moderate sized department, authorizing expenditures of large amounts of money, supervising the purchasing of high value materials, supplies and equipment, or providing routine legal counsel. MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS: Mathematics deals with quantities, magnitudes, and forms and their relationships and attributes by the use of numbers and symbols. Uses practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions, measurements, or logarithms; may use algebraic solutions of equations and equalities, deductive geometry, and/or descriptive statistics. COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: Communications involves the ability to read, write, and speak. Reads scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and legal documents; writes complex articles and reports; may make presentations to professional groups. Created October 2016 Packet Pg. 5
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT COMPLEXITY OF WORK: Complexity of work addresses the analysis, initiative, ingenuity, creativity, and concentration required by the position and the presence of any unusual pressures. Performs work involving the application of logical principles and thinking to solve practical problems within or applying to a unit or division of the organization; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressure. JUDGMENT REQUIREMENTS: Judgement requirements refers to the frequency and complexity of judgments and decisions given the stability of the work environment, the nature and type of guidance, and the breadth of impact of the judgments and decisions. Requires decision-making as a major part of the job, affecting a major segment of the organization and the general public; works in a dynamic environment assisting with the responsibility for developing policies and practices. IMPACT OF ERRORS: Impact of decisions refers to consequences such as damage to property, loss of data or property, exposure of the organization to legal liability, or injury or death for individuals. Makes decisions with moderately serious impact - affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Must establish a relationship with a 3rd party service provider to implement the business computer system for finance and customer management. Skill at the intermediate to advanced level in the use of current accounting and word processing programs, including Excel, Word, Adobe Acrobat, e-mail programs, online banking, internet reporting and uploading, and other operating systems used in the City. Skill in analyzing problems from the perspective of the accounting profession; identifying alternative solutions; projecting consequences of proposed actions; and implementing recommendations. Maintain effective relationships with customers and regulatory agencies; meeting the public in situations requiring diplomacy and tact; and dealing constructively with conflict and recommending effective resolutions. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing; and effectively communicate with individuals from various socioeconomic, ethnic, and culturally diverse backgrounds. Exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive issues; and preparing, presenting, and maintaining complete, accurate, and concise reports, memorandums, and letters. Ability to have regular and predictable attendance at work. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Education requirements refers to job specific training and education required for entry into the position. Requires Bachelor s degree in Accounting or related field as determined by the hiring authority. Created October 2016 Packet Pg. 6
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED: Licenses, certifications, and registrations refers to professional, state, or federal licenses, certifications, or registrations required to enter the position. Requires none. CPA desired. EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Experience refers to the amount of work experience that is required for entry into the position that would result in reasonable expectation that the person can perform the tasks required by the position. Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional accounting experience. Desirable: Experience in professional accounting work with utilities and municipal government. Desirable: Experience in accounting software conversion. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Physical demands refers to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement. Requires sedentary work involving standing or walking for brief periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular basis, and some dexterity in operating machines, tools, or office equipment. SAFETY OF OTHERS: Safety of others refers to the responsibility for the safety of others, either inherent in the job or to assure the safety of the general public. Requires no responsibility for the safety and health of others. UNAVOIDABLE HAZARDS: Unavoidable hazards refers to unusual conditions in the work environment that may cause illness or injury. The position is exposed to no unusual environmental hazards. SENSORY (ADA) REQUIREMENTS: Sensory requirements refers to hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell necessary to perform the tasks required by the position efficiently. The position requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing, and speaking. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE The City of Opelika is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide adequate accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management. Created October 2016 Packet Pg. 7