Accounting Manager (N17)

The City of Annapolis is seeking a sophisticated, highly analytical, and proven financial manager to serve as Accounting Manager. This position performs high-level supervisory financial management work, administering complex municipal finance programs and directing the daily operations of professional accounting staff within the Finance Department.   

The Accounting Manager oversees the preparation of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), manages bond continuing disclosures with SEC/EMMA repositories, ensures compliance with IRS arbitrage regulations, and researches/implements new GASB pronouncements. The ideal candidate possesses deep technical expertise in governmental fund accounting, exceptional leadership skills to mentor professional staff, and the strategic foresight to guide municipal financial technology systems and capital planning.  

• ACFR & Financial Reporting: Manages the preparation of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in strict accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), and Maryland State Code. Ensures the reporting structure accurately reflects the Uniform Accounting and Reporting System.

• Bond Disclosures & SEC Compliance: Manages the preparation and filing of continuing disclosure reports for outstanding municipal bonds with EMMA (Nationally Recognized Municipal Securities Information Repository) as mandated by SEC regulations.

• IRS Arbitrage & Technical Guidance: Ensures City compliance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) arbitrage regulations. Provides technical accounting guidance to municipal departments and assists in establishing financial policies.

• Accounting Standards & Pronouncements: Researches, interprets, and analyzes new accounting pronouncements and standards (e.g., GASB updates), evaluating their impact on City operations and developing new internal accounting workflows to implement them.

• Staff Leadership & Development: Plans, directs, and supervises the activities of professional accounting staff; provides coaching, developmental instruction, and performance evaluations.

• General Ledger & Audits: Directs and supervises the maintenance of various accounting ledgers, reviewing trial balances for accurate reconciliation. Supervises and participates in preparing financial statements and audit schedules for year-end reporting and external auditors.

• Grants & Capital Planning: Interprets grants and aid regulations, translating technical terms into operational terms. Creates and guides the implementation of technology system budgets, financial controls for major construction projects, and capital improvement plans.

• Executive Advisory: Prepares complex financial studies, narrative reports, and executive summaries for the City Manager and Finance Director. Participates in ad hoc committees on specialized governmental accounting matters.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Public Finance & Fund Accounting: Extensive knowledge of governmental accounting principles (GAAP/GASB), cash and investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, debt management, and bond disclosures.   

• Regulatory & Statutory Compliance: Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, IRS arbitrage rules, SEC continuing disclosure regulations, and grants/aid requirements.   

• Supervisory & Human Relations: Ability to plan, direct, and supervise professional accounting staff engaged in complex, diversified accounting tasks; strong coaching and employee development skills.   

• Systems & Technology Oversight: Extensive knowledge of computerized municipal financial software applications. Ability to establish policies for technology systems, financial software implementations, and capital project tracking.   

• Analytical Writing & Communication: Ability to write and edit management narrative reports, conduct financial studies, translate complex grants language, and communicate effectively with city officials, external auditors, and the public. 

• Education: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business/Public Management, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, or a closely related field; AND

• Experience: Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative and budgetary experience, including direct experience in a public sector/governmental environment.

• Supervisory Requirement: At least three (3) years of the required experience must be in a formal supervisory capacity managing professional accounting or finance staff.

• Equivalent Option: An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

• Drug & Alcohol Screening: Consent to chemical substance screening consistent with mandated Federal, State, and City guidelines, including pre-employment and random drug/alcohol testing.

• Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary, requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Essential physical abilities include manual dexterity for keyboarding, reaching, visual/auditory acuity to operate office equipment, and high mental acuity for deductive reasoning.   

• Environment: Executed in a safe and secure professional office setting. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Annapolis Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment against any person seeking employment or employed in the civil service because of any consideration of political or religious affiliation or belief, race, color, sex, age, family status, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.