Job Description
Salary: $76,423.36 - $97,580.86 Annually
Location : Champaign, IL
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: ACCOUNTANT JULY 2024
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 07/24/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Description Are you an accounting professional ready to grow your career? Are you looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work that has real impact in our community?? If this sounds like you, then consider applying to be the next
Staff Accountant in the Finance Department at the City of Champaign.
Through sound fiscal practices and thoughtful financial planning, the Finance Department is integral to maintaining the City's stable financial condition and strong economic growth. In the Department, efficient and effective financial stewardship intersects with creativity and innovation to provide stellar services and programs to our community.
Responsibilities of Position The Staff Accountant performs various accounting duties including preparing journal entries, performing reconciling and account analysis work, tracking and accounting for leases, serving as a backup for payroll, and completing special projects related to complex financial issues. We are looking for someone who is independent, organized and detail-oriented. The ability to utilize technology such as automated financial management systems is a necessity.
Required Qualifications •A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
•Professional experience performing accounting or auditing work.
•An equivalent combination of work experience and education that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications •Master's degree in accounting or related field.
•Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or registration.
•Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or budget software systems.
•Experience working in or with governments on financial-related matters.
•Expertise using spreadsheet applications.
Drug screening and criminal background check will be required. The annual starting salary range is $76,423 - $87,002, DOQ, plus an excellent fringe benefits package.
Position open until filled. Other Information The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion.
Contact the Human Resources Department at (217) 403-8770 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process. The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, the Illinois WorkNet Center and the City of Champaign City Building.
Our mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. These values guide our work:
Personal Integrity We act in the best interests of the City
We behave in an ethical and legal manner
We are open and honest
We follow through on commitments
We are loyal to the City
Responsibility We anticipate issues, problems, and opportunities
We take initiative
We act to prevent and solve problems
We take responsibility for the outcome of our actions and decisions
We hold ourselves and others accountable
Respect We treat others in a fair, courteous, and equitable manner
We actively listen and seek understanding
We provide a direct response
We embrace ethnic and cultural diversity in the community and our workplace
We are positive and cooperative
We are willing to apologize
Teamwork We know and respect our roles and responsibilities
We ask who needs to be involved and we involve others appropriately
We define and agree upon the goals
We collaborate to achieve organizational goals
We help others accomplish their goals
We share authority, responsibility, and credit
Results We take pride in our work
We complete assignments and projects on time and within budget
We evaluate outcomes and seek feedback on our performance
We learn from our mistakes
We innovate
This position is classified as Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt.
HEALTH INSURANCE The City offers employee's a robust Health Alliance HMO plan.
The City of Champaign pays up to $580 of the employee (single) health insurance premium and 50 percent of the dependent premium for continuous full-time employees or 25 percent of the dependent premium for continuous part-time employees. Premiums for single employee coverage above $580 per month are shared by the employee and the City. For the 2024/2025 plan year, NBU employees contribute 1.2017 percent of their salary for the HMO plan. Premiums may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Health insurance coverage begins on the date of hire and ends effective the date of employment separation.
Rates are available under the Fringe Benefit Summaries section on the City's website at
DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE Employees may purchase dental and/or vision insurance through payroll deduction. Employees pay 100 percent of the monthly premium for this coverage. Premiums for dental and vision insurance may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Dental and vision insurance begins after waiting for one complete calendar month (e.g., if hire date is in the month of January, coverage begins on March 1st).
The dental plan has two options: Delta Dental Network Low Plan (PPO) and Delta Dental High Plan.
Vision insurance is provided by EyeMed.
Rates are available under the Fringe Benefit Summaries section on the City's website at
LIFE INSURANCE The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand dollars (up to a maximum of $100,000), or $30,000, whichever is greater. Employees may elect to purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for themselves up to 5x their annual salary or $500,000 (whichever is lower), through payroll deduction. Employees may also purchase term life for their spouses/dependents.
•Employee voluntary supplemental life insurance coverage can be purchased in $10,000 increments and the price is calculated based on the employee's age.
•Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their spouses up to half the amount purchased for themselves in $5,000 increments. Cost is calculated based on the employee's age.
•Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their dependent children in the amount of $10,000 for any/all eligible children.
•Employees may purchase Basic Life Insurance for their spouse and eligible dependent children.
o Option #1: $3.60/month for $10,000 for spouse and $5,000 for any/all eligible children.
o Option #2: $1.80/month for $5,000 for spouse and $2,000 for any/all eligible children.
PENSION Illinois state law requires that eligible municipal employees be covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Employee contributions to IMRF are 4.5 percent of salary and are tax-deferred. For 2024, the City contributes 6.46 percent of eligible employee's salaries to IMRF. In addition, IMRF members are covered by Social Security (FICA). Obtain additional information by contacting IMRF at 1-800-ASK-IMRF. Employees are eligible to contribute additional funds to IMRF through Voluntary Additional Contributions. Contact HR for details.
RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS) A retirement health savings plan administered by the Mission Square Retirement Corporation has been established for NBU employees. NBU employees participate in a mandatory contribution of 1 percent of pre-tax salary into an RHS investment account. This account is available for use by the employee at retirement or separation of service. Eligible uses of the funds include medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, dental/vision expenses, coinsurance, and co-pays for employees, spouse, and/or dependents. Note: Upon separation, a mandatory 50 percent of accrued vacation, compensatory and payout-eligible sick leave will be contributed to your RHS balance.
HOLIDAYS New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
PERSONAL LEAVE At the beginning of each fiscal year July 1st, continuous full-time employees are credited with three personal days (24 hours); personal days are pro-rated for continuous part-time employees. Personal leave may not be accumulated and carried over into the next fiscal year. Personal leave during the first year of employment varies based on the date of employment.
VACATION Vacation accrual rates are based on years of service and pro-rated for part-time employees. Vacation may be taken after six months of employment. Requests for leave to be taken during the initial six months of employment must be approved by the employee's supervisor and may be permitted through a combination of personal leave, unpaid leave, flex time, and/or compensatory time.
SICK LEAVE Continuous full-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.69 hours per pay period (approximately 1 day per month); sick leave accrual is pro-rated for continuous part-time employees. The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours. T
LONGEVITY PAY Employees receive longevity pay based upon their years of continuous employment with the City. Longevity pay is an addition to the employees' base wage rate.
CREDIT UNION Employees may join the Credit Union I. Payroll deduction for savings and credit union loan payments are available as well as a deduction for a savings bond program and Christmas Club. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Credit Union directly at (800) 252-6950.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN The City of Champaign offers employees the opportunity to participate in a tax-deferred annuity plan of the Mission Square Retirement Corporation through payroll deduction. This is an optional plan with no City contributions. More information may be obtained by contacting Client Services (1-800-669-7400).
01
Please select the option below that best describes your educational background:
- High school diploma or GED
- Associate's degree
- Bachelor's degree or higher
02
If you selected a degree above, please specify the type of degree and major and/or minor field. If you did not select a degree, please describe your relevant experience and training that demonstrates your qualifications for this position.
03
Are you a registered or licensed CPA in the State of Illinois?
04
Select from the list below the types of accounting functions/tasks with which you have professional work experience. Check all that apply:
- Preparing journal entries
- Reconciling accounts
- Analyzing variances
- Preparing reports
- Performing audits
- Preparing for audits
- None of the above
05
Briefly describe your professional experience in each of the areas selected above. If you selected "None of the above," enter N/A.
06
Please describe your experience with Excel or other spreadsheet applications. Provide specific examples of your proficiency, such as the use of advanced formulas, macros, pivot tables, etc., that will help assess your skill level. If you have no experience, enter N/A.
07
Which financial systems do you have experience working with? For example, systems like Tyler Munis, Oracle, SAP, JDE, Questica or Banner. If you have no experience with any financial system, enter N/A.
08
How have you used the above system (i.e. data entry, processing transactions, troubleshooting, assisting with implementing solutions, etc.)? If you have no experience in this area, enter N/A.
09
Please describe any experience in governmental finance/accounting/administration. This includes any relevant experience while not employed by a governmental entity, such as providing financial services to governmental entities. If you have no experience, please respond with N/A.
Required Question
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Work experience placement, Christmas work, New year, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,