State of Maryland

An Accountant Lead Specialized is the lead level of advanced accounting work in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting. Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Accountants performing cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting duties.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Accountant Supervisor II or other designated administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and the Examples of Work sections in a class specification.

The Accountant Lead Specialized is differentiated from Accountant Advanced in that the Accountant Lead Specialized assigns, reviews and approves the work and trains lower-level Accountants Advanced while the Accountant Advanced performs the full range of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting or bond and loan accounting duties  and responsibilities under general supervision. The Accountant Lead Specialized is differentiated from Accountant Lead in that the Accountant Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Accountants performing general accounting duties. The Accountant Lead Specialized is differentiated from the Accountant Supervisor II in that the Accountant Supervisor II has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Accountants Advanced.

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of Accountants performing advanced accounting duties;

Trains Accountants performing advanced accounting duties;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Accountants in the resolution of complex problems in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting;

Performs advanced level cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting in the preparation of financial records, reports and statements for use by management;

Applies the principles of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting to develop and implement detailed accounting systems not available in general accounting systems;

Reviews and authorizes detailed costs, systems changes, federal fund distributions, or bond and loan records for inclusion in the general accounting system;

Meets with agency management personnel and program managers to discuss and resolve advanced level accounting problems and issues;

Interprets and applies funding source laws and regulations to specific agency fiscal matters;

Documents and defends decisions made in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting;

Analyzes agency organizational structure and functions, as applicable to cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting or bond and loan accounting;

 May design and establish cost finding and reporting measures to identify, record and report the unit cost factors affecting work products and services;

May analyze changes in legislation, available resources, overhead, staffing, and accounting methods and project the effect on the cost of services;

May provide management with the financial basis for recovering actual overhead costs as well as cost and comparative analysis reports for evaluating the effectiveness of cost identification;

May develop and modify data bases from which fiscal staff can extract journal entries, ledger accounts, trial balances and financial statements by computer;

May formulate and recommend installation of specialized automated accounting systems, providing technical guidance and direction to agency and field fiscal staff in the implementation and operation of the systems;

May design data entry forms and prepare computer user manuals to guide agency and field fiscal staff in electronic accounting record-keeping;

May assess the fiscal operations of an agency to identify accounting functions which would benefit from automation;

May test the adequacy of automated accounting systems by evaluating the reliability and effectiveness of internal controls;

May establish and maintain accounting systems for federal fund allocations and reconcile these accounts to internal and external accounting systems;

May monitor the disbursement of federal funds in compliance with State and federal legislation, rules, regulations and policies;

May calculate cash flow and request the draw down of funds to agency accounts;

May prepare periodic reports to federal officials on the financial status, cash flow and indirect costs associated with distributing federal fund allocations;

May ensure the appropriate documentation and accounting records for long term loans financed through interest-bearing bond offerings;

May determine the interest payments on bonds to be paid to bond holders based on factors such as maturity date of the offering, tax advantages of calling in the bond early and the amortization schedule of payments;

May establish and maintain accounting records for combined bonds and loans with differing maturity dates, interest rates payments and amortization methods;

May prepare periodic reports to federal government officials on bond and loan activities and accounting for federal housing subsidies allocated for housing programs;

May analyze liquidity, financial performance, yields in investment, loans and debt;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theory, procedures and methods of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting;

Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, theory, procedures and methods;

Knowledge of generally accepted auditing standards;

Knowledge of business administration and management practices;

Knowledge of fiscal control reporting policies and procedures;

Knowledge of commercial accounting systems as related to State or federal charges and reporting requirements;

Skill in designing, modifying and implementing accounting methods and procedures to increase the reliability and efficiency of operations in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting;

Skill in interpreting and applying funding source laws and regulations;

Skill in documenting and defending decisions made in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting;

Skill in analyzing agency organizational structure and functions as applicable to cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting or bond and loan accounting;

Skill in designing, modifying and implementing accounting methods and procedures to increase reliability and efficiency of operations;

Skill in identifying and correcting non-conforming entries made to internal and external accounting systems;

Skill in applying fiscal policies in the establishment of fiscal control measures;

Skill in preparing, analyzing and interpreting financial reports and statements;

Skill in interpreting and applying State and federal laws, policies, regulations and rules to agency accounting operations;

Skill in using computerized fiscal applications and software, to include spreadsheet software and data base applications;

Skill in managing work time efficiently and effectively under deadlines;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other accountants, agency fiscal staff, agency management personnel, information processing personnel, payroll personnel, representatives from fiscal control agencies, auditors and federal officials;

Ability to assign, review and approve the work of Accountants performing advanced accounting duties;

Ability to train Accountants performing advanced accounting duties.

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by three credit hours in auditing.

Experience: Four years of experience examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting systems, records and reports by applying generally accepted accounting principles to include two years performing advanced duties in the areas of cost accounting, systems accounting, federal fund accounting, or bond and loan accounting.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with thirty credit hours in Accounting and related courses, including or supplemented by three credit hours in auditing for the required education.

2. Applicants who have met the requirements for admission to the CPA examination prior to July 1, 1974 will be considered to have met the educational requirement referenced above.

3. Possession of a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or a Master's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of the required general accounting experience.

4. Applicants may substitute one year of professional auditing experience for one year of the required general accounting experience.

5. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the Accounting Officer classification or Financial Management specialty codes in the Accounting field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

July 21, 2017