Senior Accountant - Accounts Payable

About Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community.

We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.

Equity & Inclusion

Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities.

About The Division

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Accounts Payable team is a branch of SPR’s Policy & Finance Division. The AP team supports department-wide operations by managing essential financial processes. Our team oversees invoice and voucher processing, credit cards, and provides guidance on purchasing methods and proper coding of supplier invoices.

By upholding strong financial processes, we help our department function smoothly and provide consistent support to staff and the broader Seattle community.

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Accounting team is seeking a Senior Accountant to join our Accounts Payable team. In this role, you will report to the Accounts Payable Supervisor. The Senior Accountant will be expected to perform complex accounting work in the maintenance, control, analysis and development of financial records, reports and systems.

Additionally, you will be in charge of maintaining accounting records in accounts payable and financial systems. The SPR AP team supports the department’s financial operations by managing purchasing activities, processing vendor payments, overseeing credit card use, and ensuring compliance with City policies.

The team collaborates with internal partners to resolve Accounts Payable issues, develops Accounts Payable related reporting tools and controls, and provides training and guidance to staff to keep AP processes accurate, efficient, and timely.

Successful candidates should have experience and knowledge in accounts payable, accounting procedures, account balancing, reconciliation, experience working in a high-volume environment, along with strong prioritization and time management skills.

• Review contracts and memorandums of agreement, create and maintain purchase orders, change orders, requisitions and enter encumbrances in PeopleSoft.
• Oversee Public work, consultant contract invoices and as main contact working with Capital Project Development, Contract Management team and City Purchasing to solve purchase order encumbrance issues.
• Review and post accounts payable voucher to ensure appropriateness of purchase and timeliness of payments.
• Maintain and enforce department and City Purchasing policies and procedures including credit card; train department staff in their usage of credit cards; oversee and reconcile Parks monthly credit card transaction with Peoplesoft 9.2 financial system.
• Review vendor statements to ensure all invoices are processed timely.
• Develops, modifies query report and establishes Accounts Payable procedures and financial controls related to Accounts Payable.
• Prepare monthly reconciliation reports including maintaining current reports and design of new reports and writing of ad-hoc reports as required.
• Monitor the accounts payable month-end and year-end process to ensure all vendor payments are processed in the correct accounting period and meet the City’s closing deadlines.
• Provide leadership, coaching and training to staff and verify, audit Accounts Payable process.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field (requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter credit units in accounting with no substitution allowed) plus three years professional experience in general or governmental accounting (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• 3 years of accounts payable experience
• Specific, in-depth use of PeopleSoft 9.2 Accounts Payable module
• Experience and Proficiency with PeopleSoft, Excel and Word
• Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures to work duties
• Extensive accounting experience in a governmental environment, and understanding of government infrastructure
• Ability to under pressure, multi-task, change priorities and meet changing deadlines in a fast-paced technical environment
• Provide outstanding service to internal and external customers.
• Collaborate with colleagues to solve problems and follow up on all outstanding issues on a timely basis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Special Working Conditions and Work Schedule: Hybrid work schedule at home and office; 9/80 work schedule available

This position is an underfill of a Principal Accountant position.

Compensation

This position is part of the 5-Step Compensation program; The full salary range for this position is $48.07 (Step 1) – $55.96 (Step 5) hourly.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application

• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.
• A cover letter explaining your interest in the job and the skills you would bring to it.
• Incomplete Applications will not be considered*
• All approved candidates for this position will be required to perform Excel tests as a portion of the hiring process*

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle Parks and Recreation values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Seattle Parks and Recreation encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check.

The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3(Download PDF reader)(Download PDF reader). A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation time, 12 paid holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

Want to know more about Parks and Recreation? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/working-at-the-city/our-values

SPR's Core Competencies are

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making and promoting high-quality standards.

Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.

Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.

Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.

Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.

We recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots, automated response generators, or language models, can be helpful during the job search process. If you choose to use them, please carefully review all materials before submission to ensure accuracy, as you will be required to affirm that your responses are true and correct during the application process.

Submitting inaccurate or misleading information may result in disqualification. Please also note that relying on AI to complete text-based supplemental questions or during interviews may not accurately represent your skills and experiences, which are critical to applicant success. In some cases, you may be instructed not to use AI tools during the selection process.

Learn more about the City of Seattle AI Policy here.