ACCOUNTANT

ACCOUNTANT

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POSITION SUMMARY

Under general supervision, performs daily work assignments for the Accounting Division of the Finance Department in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, City of Alamogordo Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority.

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, or a related field;
• Two (2) years of accounting experience; and
• Valid New Mexico driver's license or the ability to obtain within sixty (60) days of employment and a driving record acceptable to City of Alamogordo insurance requirements; or
• A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied that provides the required knowledge, abilities and skills.

Desired:

• Experience in governmental accounting.

An automatic promotional opportunity is available for the Accountant position for those who meet the qualifications of a Senior Accountant as outlined in the position description.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Duties

• The Accountant position will be assigned primary areas of responsibility to include any of the following: General Ledger, Cash Management, Fixed Assets, Payroll, and Budget; changes to the primary areas of responsibility assigned will be at the discretion of the Accounting Manager and/or Finance Director;
• Keep up to date on and apply a working knowledge of applicable laws and regulations;
• Verify documents for completeness and compliance with government and private agencies;
• Contributes to a high-quality work culture through participation in training and mentoring to develop skills, including safety-related training and skills;
• Interacts professionally and provides excellent customer service to all levels of City staff and citizens to ensure high operational and service standards; and
• Provide excellent customer service to ensure conformance with other department staff of the same commitment in order to ensure high operational and service standards are met and maintained for the Citizens of Alamogordo.

General Ledger

• Perform a variety of complex accounting and statistical analyses in the maintenance and management of financial and accounting records for City departments, programs, and funds;
• Perform accounting activities in compliance with applicable standards and specifications; post data to general ledgers, registers, journals, and logs; prepare journal entries, including debt payments;
• Analyze and review the activity of funds in the general ledger; revise any incorrect transactions or activities; update the general ledger system with new account activity and information; perform general ledger reconciliation and monthly and year-end closing process; AP accruals, bonds, and loan accruals, payroll accrual, gross receipts tax, and franchise accruals;
• Prepares and compiles various statistical, financial reports and supporting statistical schedules for City Departments, state, federal, and other agencies relating to City funds; prepares analytical reports as required;
• Maintains spreadsheets to record receipts for franchise fees, lodgers tax, and various other taxes and appropriately reports journal entries;
• Processes City travel documents to include reviewing authorizations and reconciliations;
• Prepares postage consumption/allocation entry;
• Reconcile City bank and investment accounts, verify deposits and payments, and prepare journal entries;
• Maintain and perform routine maintenance for Chart of Accounts; and
• Analyze and reconcile asset and liability accounts; prepare journal entries to make necessary corrections; process monthly transfers and charge departments for services rendered.

Cash Management

• Reviews weekly Accounts Payable disbursements before distribution for validity, accuracy, completeness, and adequate documentation;
• Verifies vendor addresses to invoice information;
• Communicate discrepancies identified and corrective action required to Accounts Payable staff and Accounting Manager;
• Processes and distributes A/P checks and check requests; prepares logs and sends emails on checks to be picked up by COA staff, including travel advances or special instructions;
• Custodial responsibilities for maintaining documentation for petty cash and start-up cash for all City of Alamogordo locations; assigns appropriate custodians; reconciles and audits all City petty cash and start-up cash on a regular schedule, performs occasional random audits; distributes petty cash for travel and other expenditures;
• Prepares monthly credit card, courts, and recreation cash sheets;
• Maintains security of petty cash and various credit cards in accounting safe;
• Makes daily deposits to banking institutions as assigned;
• Reconciles Governmental Gross Receipts Tax (GGRT) and Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) payable accounts monthly and prepares financial analysis and miscellaneous reports on the GRT;
• Initiates wire transfers for Combined Reporting System (CRS); bond and loan payments; and other taxes; updates bond and debt payment schedules and reconciles to the general ledger;
• Coordinate annually with each department to identify any accounts receivables that meet the criteria for uncollectible; review for completeness, and seek appropriate authorization for write-off;
• Assists in the preparation of monthly bank reconciliations;
• Monitors Accounts Payable (AP) outstanding checks list for potential unclaimed property; processes monthly and year-end reconciliation of unclaimed property and prepares payment to the State of New Mexico; researches accounts and prepares annual write-off listings; monitors returned correspondence weekly to reduce unclaimed property cases;
• Maintains monthly spreadsheets to record cash receipts, credit card charges, and fees;
• Processes voided checks, stop payments, and related reports;
• Responsible for verification of check status (cleared thru bank vs. outstanding);
• Compiles monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for distribution to various agencies (i.e. Landfill, Department of Finance, Promotions, Highway Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, etc.);
• Sets up and maintains electronic fund transfer (EFT) data (vendor direct deposit bank information) on all participating vendors;
• Prepare the Miscellaneous Accounts Receivable (MAR) billings for various City departments based on the submission of background documentation; work with departments to administer the collections of receivables and processes on all MAR billings;
• Assists with the filing of proper documentation with collection agencies and the Legal Department;
• Responsible for creating and monitoring aging reports and suspending services associated with delinquent MAR billing, including all communication with departments generating MAR;
• Plans and conducts internal audits on City operations and activities; conducts financial, administrative, operational, and compliance audits to determine the accuracy of financial transactions; compliance with the City of Alamogordo policies and ordinances; state and federal laws and regulations; contractual requirements; presence of internal controls; and efficiency of operations;
• Prepares audit working papers and draft audit reports in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), utilizing narratives, flowcharts, manual and/or computer-generated spreadsheets, and reports as needed;
• Analyzes data obtained to identify deficiencies in controls or compliance, duplication of effort, extravagance, or fraud; provides constructive, economical, and practical recommendations for findings included in audit reports; and recommends improvements in operations and controls as a means to meet objectives in a more efficient and effective manner;
• Audits the records of entities outside the governmental agency to determine compliance with City ordinances;
• Performs follow-up audits as directed by management to ascertain the implementation of recommendations and appraise the adequacy of the corrective actions;
• Interacts with all levels of City of Alamogordo staff during the course of audits and discusses audit results with appropriate higher-level management personnel;
• Reconcile City bank and investment accounts, verify deposits and payments, prepare journal entries; and
• Secondary responsibility for auditing the records of entities outside the governmental agency to determine compliance with City ordinances.

Fixed Assets

• Accurately maintains inventories and tags City wide fixed assets;
• Process and record fixed asset information;
• Maintains fixed asset policies and procedures; suggests changes; and provides training to City staff as needed;
• Compiles the necessary reports to reclassify assets into the appropriate fixed asset classification and reconciles general ledger accounts as necessary; and
• Works closely with the external auditor to provide annual fixed asset schedules.

Payroll

• Co- responsible for all aspects of the bi-weekly payroll for 350+ employees as assigned;
• Maintain and administer computerized payroll files and software, including the initial setup of various codes;
• Compile and prepare financial, statistical, and operational reports as required;
• Compile annual payroll expense budget estimates for the City's fiscal year budget;
• Monitor and ensure compliance with payroll regulations and procedures & policies and remain informed of current payroll issues;
• Research, recommend, and implement payroll-related activities to achieve departmental objectives;
• Assist in the reconciliation of various payroll reports to the general ledger;
• Prepare, reconcile, and distribute W-2 forms and process tax records and reports, including 941 deposits, state unemployment, retirement, workers' compensation, etc.;
• Review payroll timesheets for accuracy;
• Inform the appropriate party when records do not comply with the City of Alamogordo policies and FLSA regulations;
• Prepare final payroll, and prepare and submit electronic direct deposit file;
• Track, reconcile, and remit payment for complex insurance billings, payroll taxes, and benefits;
• Calculate and maintain court-ordered garnishments or other employee withholdings and remit payments as required;
• Input liability payment information for posting to accounting records;
• Calculate retroactive pay and termination pay and process payments based upon various organizational policies and guidelines, collective bargaining agreements, and associated state or federal requirements;
• Perform account analysis and account reconciliation;
• Maintain payroll filing system and records;
• Perform a bank run as assigned;
• Respond to employee questions regarding payroll-related issues, and assist in completing appropriate forms;
• Monitor, review, and update spreadsheets to track employee non-cash fringe benefit payroll records;
• Perform employee system maintenance for tax allocation as required;
• Review and maintain spreadsheets to track unemployment compensation claims paid;
• Collect proper authorization for charges and initiate payment or process refund requests as required;
• Provide and compile fiscal information for outside auditors;
• Perform monthly audit of departmental timekeeping systems to ensure compliance with City of Alamogordo payroll guidelines;
• Provide timekeeping system training and time entry assistance to City departments;
• Assign and maintain user accessibility of the timekeeping system as required;
• Verify proper payroll information is reported to the grantor for reimbursement of funds; and
• Update control spreadsheets with the latest payroll information.

Budget

• Prepare revenue and expenditure projections and perform a variety of studies, analyses, and forecasts on the City budget relating to cost-effectiveness, efficiency, compliance, and financial legislation, and make recommendations;
• Develop budget preparation instructions and guidelines for use by all City departments and respond to general and specific budget inquiries;
• Arrange for budget meetings, public notices, and public hearings on budget matters;
• Coordinate the distribution of budget and related material;
• Responsible for the compilation of the City's annual budget document, including fiscal year and project rollover;
• Respond to general and specific budget inquiries;
• Review budget adjustments for accuracy and process approved budget adjustments as necessary;
• Administer, maintain, and monitor approved budget allocations, adjustments, revenues, and expenditures in the City's budget software;
• Administer, maintain, and monitor approved budget allocations, adjustments, revenues, and expenditures in the New Mexico Department of Finance & Administration's (DFA) Local Government Budget Management System (LGBMS); and
• Research and review current and new legislation, policies, and procedures to remain up-to-date and knowledgeable of the City of Alamogordo and other regulatory agency policies and procedures.

OTHER IMPORTANT DUTIES

• Must maintain required license(s);
• Travel and attending meetings outside of normal work hours;
• Provide backup to other Finance positions as assigned;
• Secondary responsibility for planning and conducting internal audits on City operations and activities; conducts financial, administrative, operational, and compliance audits to determine the accuracy of financial transactions; compliance with the City of Alamogordo policies and ordinances; state and federal laws and regulations; contractual requirements; presence of internal controls; and efficiency of operations;
• Secondary responsibility for financial and fiscal year-end audit of all project budgets and notifying appropriate department personnel of discrepancies;
• Maintain the confidentiality of information obtained during the performance of duties; and
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Position : 61400003

Code : 260093-1

Type : INTERNAL & EXTERNAL

Location : ACCOUNTING STAFF

Job Family : FINANCIAL/ACCOUNTING

Job Class : ACCOUNTANT

Posting Start : 07/10/2026

Posting End : 07/24/2026

MINIMUM SALARY: $21.12

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