Sr. Accountant
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Sr. Accountant
Salary
$68,981.22 - $86,409.10 Annually
Location
Charlottesville (22902), VA
Job Type
Regular Full-Time
Job Number
260100006
Department
Finance Department
Opening Date
01/20/2026
Closing Date
2/10/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit
N/A
Description
Benefits
Questions
General Summary
The Senior Accountant performs advanced level financial accounting work in the analysis, reviewing, and reporting of finances for the City and/or a specific department. Works under limited supervision and reports to the City's Comptroller.
The prefer red hiring amount is between $68,981.22 - $86,409.10 Annually . Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.
For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
Reconciles all funds and accounts for assigned areas of responsibility; researches discrepancies, collection information, non-reconciliation of accounts, and reports findings to management in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Assists in planning, reviewing, preparing and monitoring routine and special monthly and annual budgets and budget projections for assigned areas of responsibility. Determines how data impacts financial statements.
Works regularly as a liaison to other agencies/departments and/or component units to provide information and to resolve accounting issues.
Responsible for knowing and following accounting pronouncements issued by various regulatory bodies, such as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and recommends revisions to established policies and procedures as indicated.
Prepares and submits routine and special costing, audit, financial and budgetary analysis reports and statements for City, State and Federal agencies, as required.
Provides, tracks, monitors, and verifies bank wire transfers, disbursements and appropriations for assigned accounts and funds, according to supervisor's instructions.
Provides technical support and advice to external auditors and regulatory agencies; prepares and assists with review of annual audit and financial schedules for assigned areas of responsibility.
Leads preparation and review of assigned portion of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for accuracy and completeness.
Conducts financial analysis and reports on efficiency and effectiveness of departmental financial programs.
Conducts general ledger management, such as posting, fixing errors, and reconciliation of accounts and journal transfers, of various departments' programs.
Conducts internal audits of payroll, accounts payable, accounting, and grants; assists external auditors.
Prepares and disburses customer and/or client accounting documents and correspondence and resolves inquiries by customers, clients and/or the general public for assigned areas of responsibility.
Approves expenditures for assigned accounts, funds, and other financial areas of responsibility, as delegated by supervisor.
Recommends changes to existing departmental policies and procedures or new department policies and procedures.
Participates in the development of procedures and suggests data reporting changes.
Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties
Completes special projects, as assigned.
May direct or supervisor staff or review the work of less experienced staff.
May train and lead less experienced accountants, as needed.
Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.
Education, Experience and Skills
Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field AND 5 years of accounting experience.
OR
Two years of college-level coursework AND 7 years of accounting experience.
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.
Preferred:
Certification as a CPA.
Experience with SAP or similar ERP system.
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge
Comprehensive knowledge of accounting theory, terminology, principles, and practices.
Thorough knowledge of the laws, ordinances and regulations governing municipal finance.
Reading
Advanced: ability to read, understand, and interpret financial reports and financial policies and procedures.
Writing
Intermediate: ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, prepare business letters, expositions, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.
Math
Advanced: ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories, work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables.
Communication Skill
Intermediate: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, city staff, financial agencies, auditors, and vendors. Provides and receives complex information. Contacts that may involve stressful, negative interactions which requires high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas.
Independence and Decision-Making
General Direction: normally performs the job by following general instructions or established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is some discretion when making decisions among a few easily identifiable choices of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance is reviewed frequently.
Technical Skill
Advanced: high level skills and extensive knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs and/or processes organization wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively. Expert level of skill of agency's systems and software with the ability to manipulate, write own reports, customize data and teach others. Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
Fiscal Responsibilities
Manages and reviews financial transactions, accounting, budget, and purchasing documents; and does research to audit documents for assigned unit or division. May recommend budget allocations.
Supervisory Responsibilities
May direct, supervise, guide, instruct, and monitor quality control of less experienced staff.
Other Characteristics
Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
Work effectively with sensitive and confidential issues.
Frequent change of tasks.
Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Tedious or exacting work.
Working closely with others as part of a team.
May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
Physical Conditions & Additional Information
Physical Demands:
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Frequently maintains stationary position.
Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:
Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.
Work Environment:
Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
The noise level is usually moderate.
The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.
Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.
The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City's policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City's policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated July 1, 2022
Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.
LEAVE:
Vacation:
3.09 hours accrued biweekly -- 0 -
3.85 hours accrued biweekly -- 3 -
4.62 hours accrued biweekly -- 5 -
5.40 hours accrued biweekly -- 10 -
6.16 hours accrued biweekly -- 15 -
6.93 hours accrued biweekly -- 20 -
7.70 hours accrued biweekly -- 25+ years
Sick:
4.62 hours per biweekly pay period, approximately 120 hours a years, no limit on accumulation
Holidays:
14 paid holidays per calendar year (13 observed and 1 floating)
INSURANCE:
Aetna Medical -
Choose from three options with different premiums and levels of coverage and coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire:
HMO: $0 premium for employee only coverage
POS 1: Employee-only premium of $36.28 per biweekly pay
POS 2: Employee-only premium of $13.02 per biweekly pay
(Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.)
Prescription Card ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand, $55 higher cost name brand)
Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand)
Dental (Delta Dental)
No cost for employee only coverage. Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.
Diagnosis and Preventive -- 100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care - 80%; Major Dental Care - 50%
Primary -- $50 deductible, 80/20
Prosthetic & Complex Restorative -- $50 deductible, 50/50
$1,500 maximum annual benefit
$1,000 Orthodontic Benefit
MetLife Vision Plan: Optional
Employee only coverage: $2.50 bi-weekly; Dependent coverage also available at differing rates.
Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay;
$130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.
Life:
Two times annual salary (paid by the City)
Optional supplemental life available for employee, spouse, dependents (paid by employee)
AFLAC: Optional
Cancer/accident/short term disability/intensive care insurance (paid by employee)
Long Term Disability
Protection from income loss due to long-term illness or injury (paid by the City)
RETIREMENT: The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS. There are certain provisions that must be met and the portability request must be executed within 18 months of vesting in the City's Plan.
Pension:
Choose from two options:
A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5 year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note that: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees)
Supplemental:
Deferred Compensation (457) - employee contribution
OTHER BENEFITS:
Flexible Spending Accounts:
Health Care Expenses
Dependent Care Expenses
Parking/Mass Transit Expenses
Parking Subsidy of $50 per month
Wellness Programs:
Gym Reimbursement Program
Monthly On-Site Nurse and Annual Flu Shots
Health Screenings and Fairs, Education Sessions, & Weekly Fitness Classes
Weight Watchers at Work
Bike Commuter Program:
Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bike commuting expenses
Employee Assistance Program:
A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.
Tuition Reimbursement Program:
Up to $1,500 for undergraduate OR Up to $3,000 for graduate level tuition per fiscal year per employee.
01
Please indicate your highest level of education: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section of your online application.)
Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or related field.
Associate's degree in Accounting or related field.
Two years of college-level coursework.
I possess an equivalent combination of education and experience that may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed in the job announcement.
None of the above.
02
Please indicate your level of accounting experience: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section of your online application.)
No experience related to this position.
Less than five (5) years of experience.
Five (5) to less than seven (7) years of experience.
Seven (7) years or greater.
03
Do you have experience working within an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) database such as SAP or similar accounting system?
Yes
No
04
To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.
Yes
No
05
I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.
Yes
No
Required Question
Employer
City of Charlottesville
Address
P. O. Box 911 605 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902
Phone
(434) 970-3490
Website
http://www.charlottesville.gov/jobs
