Join TriMet as a Senior Accountant in Long-Term Liabilities and embark on a journey in specialized governmental accounting. In this role, you will play a vital part in implementing new accounting standards issued by GASB, taking on exciting projects within the Finance team. As the Senior Accountant, you will handle high-level and technical accounting responsibilities for TriMet's long-term liabilities, including long-term debt, accrued interest payable, lease-leaseback transactions, pollution remediation obligations, and more. Additionally, you will be responsible for financial accounting and reporting for TriMet's pension plans and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) obligations. Take advantage of the flexible schedule, fantastic benefits, and work-life balance offered by TriMet while becoming a valued member of a team that genuinely values its employees and their contributions. Don't miss this opportunity to thrive in a dynamic environment that champions safety, professional growth, and excellence in public service.

The position performs high-level and technical accounting for our agency's long-term liabilities, including long-term debt, accrued interest payable, lease-leaseback transactions, pollution remediation obligations, claims reserve accounts, as well as payroll liabilities and related benefit liability accounts. The Senior Accountant is also responsible for financial accounting and reporting for TriMet's defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans (401, 457) and TriMet's Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) obligation. 

The Senior Accountant in Long-Term Liabilities also leads implementation for Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and assists with the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements as well as the annual audit.

This position has a flexible schedule and fantastic benefits, as well as work-life balance. Become a valued member of a great team that values its employees and their contributions!

Ensure a commitment to safety through consistent and professional behaviors in performance of job requirements that demonstrate safety is a fundamental value that guides all aspects of our work. Perform related duties as required.

Essential Functions

1.  Accounting and reconciliation of payroll liability accounts and related fringe/other benefit liability accounts (Health Savings Account, 401a, 457). Investigate and resolve discrepancies in the benefit liability account reconciliations through coordination with Accounts Receivable, Payroll & Benefits office to ensure activity is accounted for correctly in the general ledger. Prepare and analyze payroll expense across the organization in connection with month-end close. Perform costing of payroll expense and perform related reconciliations (identify differences). Accounting and reconciliation of sub-system data (US Bank transactions for retiree benefits) to ERP/Oracle payments and deductions for retiree benefits related to Medical, Dental, Medicare Part B and Pension Payments to ensure activity is reconciled between the two sets of data differences).

2.  Accounting and reconciliation for the District’s two Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts. Prepare annual financials and related footnote disclosures for DB plans. Coordinate with pension advisory consultants to prepare fair value disclosures (GASB #72) for the investments in the DB Plan Trusts. Provide information to the Accounting Manager on employee investment trends and fund performance of the DB plans. Coordinate and assist with annual actuarial valuations for each plan.valuations for each plan.

3.  Accounting and reconciliation for pollution remediation activity, long-term debt activity (bond refundings, interest accruals, premium/discount, deferred gain/loss) and the lease-leaseback transaction through preparing and posting monthly journal entries. Track/account for bond spending on capital programs in order to assist with the monthly bond requisition/draw process. Ensure budgetary compliance for debt service and review annual bond disclosures on MSRB/EMMA. In connection with annual audit, prepare year-end schedules and required footnote disclosures for long-term debt and pollution remediation activities.

4.  Accounting and reconciliation for TriMet's Other Post-Employment Benefit (GASB #75) and Net Pension Liability (GASB #68) obligations. Coordinate and assist with annual actuarial valuation for the OPEB plan. At year-end prepare OPEB and Pension financial schedules and related footnote disclosures.

5.  Research and lead  implementation of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) as they relate to long-term liabilities. In connection with the implementation of new accounting standards, develop policies, procedures and processes.

6.  Help manage ongoing debt compliance obligations related to arbitrage, continuing disclosure, and expenditure of bond proceeds as required under SEC Rules IRS Rules, and debt covenants within bond documents and ordinances

7.  Accounting and reconciliation for claims liabilities. Coordinate with the Director of Financial Services, Accounting Manager and Risk Management Director to ensure reserves for claims are adequate and accounted for in compliance with GAAP. Prepare and communicate  claims reporting data to key  parties monthly.  Assist with annual external audit financial statement footnotes for risk management & claims activity.

8.  Assist with annual budget development for debt service, leases, PIPD and workers compensation. 

9.  Assist with monthly and annual financial statement preparation. Review financials for analytics, design reports to assist with monthly analysis. Assist with the monthly preparation of financial statements to identify errors, omissions and adjustments needed.

10.  In connection with reconciling the District’s long-term debt, assist with managing liquidity needs to ensure adequate cash on hand is available to meet District’s current and future capital spending. Working with the Budget Office, review capital spending to manage liquidity and align bond proceeds with planned spending.

11.  Assist with special projects at the request of the Accounting Manager and Finance Director. Review and recommend modifications to accounting systems and procedures upon approval, implement new or modified systems and procedures. Use subject-matter expertise to research, recommend to management, and implement ideas for continuous improvements to debt policies and procedures.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. TriMet is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. If you are excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Position Requirements

A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree is required.

A Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (with course work in Accounting), or Accounting, is required.          

A minimum of four (4) years total credited experience.*

Four (4) years of experience of accounting-related work, journal entry transactions or similar technical financial responsibilities are required.

Four (4) years of experience in financial statement preparation, financial analysis and analytical review are required.

Two (2) years of experience in researching and/or implementing accounting standards (GASB, FASB) are required.

One (1) year of experience with Oracle or an ERP is preferred.

One (1) year of experience in public accounting is preferred.

Status as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is preferred.


Or any equivalent combination of training and experience.

*The amount of credit a candidate receives for prior years of experience is based on the relevancy of that experience to the required or preferred prerequisites of the job description. Experience is prorated based on hours worked. LRHR assigns and validates the "credited experience".

Selection Criteria

Type of Position / Grade / FLSA
Grade 13, Exempt, Non-Union, Full-Time

Salary Range
Minimum: $72,996.00
Maximum: $109,494.00

Salary offers will be determined by a candidate’s education, training and relevant experience. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above.  For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet’s salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.

Selection Process 
Candidates will be selected based at a minimum on the result of:
1. Application Review (please include: Cover Letter and Resume)
2. Panel Interviews
3. Reference Check

Supplemental Information
Make sure you describe in detail how your education, training and work experience fit with this role. You are encouraged to attach a resume, cover letter, training certificates and/or letters of recommendation with your application. You are permitted five attachments of less than 5MB each.
 
If you are a qualified veteran and would like to apply for veterans' preference points, you will need to reflect your status on the application and attach supporting documentation at the time of application submission.

If you need accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process, contact our Human Resources staff at 503-962-7505, or the TTY line at 7-1-1. Note that we require a minimum of two workdays' notice prior to the need for accommodation.

TriMet is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and sensitive to the needs of the diverse community we serve, including veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
 
ADA Statement
As applied to the workplace, applicants and employees must be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions may include required job functions performed infrequently as well as production standards related to the quality and quantity of work.

If a person with a disability could meet job qualifications with a reasonable accommodation, TriMet will work with the employee to accommodate the need. If TriMet's accommodation is effective in allowing the employee to perform the essential functions of the job, it need not be the employee's preferred accommodation.