Financial Specialist II

You can do great work and love what you do with the City of Delaware. We are an organization that succeeds because of teamwork, dedication, diversity, and the innovative spirit of all our  employees. The City of Delaware is an award-winning local government organization known for its professionalism, customer service orientation and a strong commitment to distinctive and well-planned community development. The work environment is stable with excellent benefits and retirement packages. Our mission is to ensure an effective government, a healthy economy, being a safe city and welcoming you to be a part of this great community!   

Under the administrative direction of the Deputy Finance Director, the Finance Specialist II plays a vital role in managing the City’s payroll operations and supporting broader financial functions. This position is responsible for performing a variety of accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll activities, including processing biweekly payroll, verifying timecards, maintaining payroll records, handling tax withholdings and pension contributions, and preparing quarterly and year-end reports. The role also supports accounts receivable tasks such as invoice creation, payment posting, and customer record maintenance, while contributing to financial reporting, journal entries, audit coordination, and budget preparation. The Finance Specialist II exercises independent judgment and may provide partial supervision to other staff, while serving as a resource across departments and acting as a backup for the Financial Specialist I. The position requires someone who can demonstrate accuracy, discretion, and a strong understanding of governmental accounting principles, with the ability to collaborate effectively and maintain compliance with all applicable regulations. Regular and reliable attendance is required. 

Essential Functions: For purposes of 42 USC 12101

1. Processes biweekly payroll for all City employees using payroll software. 
2. Generate and submit all tax-related payments and reports resulting from payroll processing including federal, state & local filings. 
3. Verify employee timecards for hours worked, leave balances and overtime records. 
4. Maintain, update & accurately process employee payroll records including pay codes, deductions, garnishments and tax withholdings. 
5. Process and remit monthly employer and employee pension contributions in accordance with pension plan agreements. 
6. Process quarterly payroll reports
7. Prepare required forms and year-end documents including W-2s and other payroll related statements.
8. Participates in personnel or labor relations activities, providing insight on how negotiations or personnel changes may impact payroll processing, timelines and reporting.
9. Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll related items.
10. Assist with establishment and implementation of efficient procedures for processing all data and transactions related to payroll.
11. Provide information to and assist city departments with questions related to accounts payable and receivable.
12. Prepares, posts, verifies and records payments and transactions related to accounts receivable.
13. Creates invoices as requested by departments and maintains customer records.
14. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and city regulations, city policies, procedures and budgets and principles of governmental accounting. Assists with the preparation of journal entries for financial statements and with responding to inquires relating to the annual audit.

15. Prepares and ensures all departmental and citywide information is gathered for the annual audit.
16. Assists with the analysis and preparation of the annual budget. 
17. Acts as a backup for Financial Specialist I position. 
18. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge

• Basic accounting.
• Bookkeeping.
• Budgeting.
• Finance.
• Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, Publisher, Access, Sharepoint, OneNote, and Teams) and other computer software.
• City and Department goals and objectives.
• City and Department policies and procedures.
• Government structure and process.

• Budget operations and procedures.
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processing and procedures.
• Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations applicable to governmental accounting and payroll processing.
• Understanding of OPERS and OP&F pension programs and guidelines.
• Public accounting and finance practices and principles.

Skills

• Excellent organization, attention to detail, accuracy, time management, and critical thinking skills.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.

• Civic engagement and customer service.

Abilities

• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, or regulations to specific situations.

• Deal with variables, define and solve problems, collect, analyze, and interpret data.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality about information within the office.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
• Calculate fractions, decimals, and percentages.
• Prepare correspondence.
• Compile and prepare reports.  
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions, policies and procedures.
• Be honest, dependable, and trustworthy.

• Maintain effective working relationships.

• Communicate effectively, both in oral and written form.    
• Exercise independent judgement and discretion.

• Work in a professional office environment.
• Analyze, post, balance, and reconcile financial data, ledgers, and accounts; to draw conclusions from financial data and identify accounts in need of detailed investigation.
• Initiate new procedures for maintaining effective and accurate financial records.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws and regulations in the performance of essential functions.
• Prepare accurate and complete reports and analyses through the use of queries from existing databases and spreadsheets.
• Flexible to changing priorities and deadlines.
• Work under pressure effectively.
• Process and provide backup for accounts payable position.
• Follow and interpret contracts and pay plans.

Physical Requirements

1. The majority of work is performed in an office environment where the physical demands require remaining in one place for extended periods of time; may work under stress of deadlines.
2. Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions and to communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
3. Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions and review, evaluate, and prepare a variety of written materials and documents.
4. Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate standard office equipment and a personal computer.
5. Sufficient mobility and flexibility, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office environment.

Equipment Operated

Computer, copier, phone, scanner, and other standard/modern office equipment; computer software (e.g., Microsoft Office, MUNIS, CMI, Adobe PDF, and other applicable computer software). 

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field or any combination of education. 
2. Two (2) or more years of experience in accounting, payroll, or a related field.
3. Regular and reliable attendance
4. Any combination of training and experience which will indicate the possession of the skills, knowledge and abilities listed below.

The City of Delaware offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health, dental, and life insurance, retirement pension and savings plans, paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and longevity pay and, in many positions, paid uniforms or clothing allowance. This position is part of the Management Pay Plan. Details about the compensation and benefits for this position can be found in the agreement by clicking here.

The information above is intended to be illustrative of the kinds of duties that may be assigned to the position and should not be interpreted to describe all the duties which may be required of employees holding this position.

The City of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA), the City of Delaware will provide reasonable accommodations, upon reasonable request, to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.