Job Description
Accounting Officer 
Job Details 
Title 
Accounting Officer 
Direct Reports 
Nil 
Department 
Finance 
Authorities 
Refer Delegations 
Reporting to 
Management Accountant 
Last upda 
t 
ed 
April 
2012 
Job Purpose 
The  
Accounting Officer 
is accountable to the  
Management Accountant and is responsible for  
ensuring that all  
development contribution and sundry debtors are invoiced 
, 
and that these 
debts  
are collected when due 
.  
The  
position is also responsible for 
all  
aspects of payroll for  
staff and elected  
members.  
These services include: 
Control of debtors sub ledger 
Fortnightly and monthly payroll 
processing 
Debtor invoicing and reconciliations 
General ledger reconciliations 
Debt collection 
Assistance with general accounting 
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Key relationships 
External 
Internal 
 
Debtors 
 
Lakes Environmental  
 
Payroll  
Software  
Provider 
 
Inland Revenue 
 
Trails and Youth Trusts 
 
Auditors  
 
Chief Executive  
Officer 
 
Deputy CEO / Finance Manager 
 
Accounting Manager 
 
Management Accountant  
 
Activity managers 
 
Staff 
Key accountabilities 
Responsibility 
/objective 
Outcome 
Payroll Administration:  
Coordination and Management  
of payroll function 
 
Liaison with staff  
and councillors  
on all payroll matters 
. 
 
Collation 
, input 
, 
checking  
and processing  
of fortnightly  
payroll dat 
a 
, 
including expense claims and other one 
- 
off  
transactions. 
 
Processing of monthly Councillor payroll. 
 
Processing  
and administration  
of IRD and other 
payroll  
deductions.  
 
Distribution of payslips and various payroll reports. 
 
A 
dministration  
and reconciliation of Annual and Sick leave  
entitlements. 
 
Input of payroll journals to the general ledger. 
 
R 
econciliation of all payroll 
related general ledger  
accounts to the payroll. 
 
Completion of  
quarterly and annual  
statistical  
payroll  
returns by  
requested  
deadlines. 
 
Maintain confidentiality of all payroll information.  
Maintain the Councils  
 
 
 
Ensure  
Control accounts  
are in balance at all times 
. 
 
Generat 
e 
invoices  
and credit notes  
as  
required/ 
requested 
(this includes Development Contributions, 
Lakes  
Environmental,  
Private Plan Change charges,  
Section  
Clearance & other Sundry debtors). 
 
Ensure debtor 
receipts are alloca 
ted correctly. 
 
Distribut 
e 
monthly statements 
. 
 
Reconcile  
the 
debtors 
 
 
 
 
 
Perform month end roll over within 5 working days of the  
end of the month 
. 
 
Compil 
e 
monthly aged debtor 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepare Debtor reports for FACC committee by agenda  
deadlines. 
Debt  
R 
ecovery 
 
Debt reminder letters sent out on a regular basis 
, and  
email and phone contact when necessary. 
 
Liaise with relevant council personnel to assist with  
collection of outstanding debt.  
 
Ensure all correspondence logged in Debt Management  
system.  
 
Negotiate payment programmes where appropriate and  
monitor for performance 
and ensure up to date 
. 
 
All queri 
es are responded to within 7 days of receipt 
. 
Training of all managers and  
staff on the use of the invoicing  
system 
 
Ensur 
e 
that all staff are adequately trained with a high  
skill level and understanding of the QLDC invoicing  
system 
. 
Ensure that all processing is  
performed in a  
timely 
and  
accurate manner 
 
Checking all input for accuracy before processing 
. 
 
Input 
of 
data including  
invoices &  
credit notes 
is timely. 
 
Ensure back charging required is performed on a regular  
monthly basis 
. 
 
Ensur 
e 
all credit notes are property authorised 
. 
 
Invoice 
s 
for Development Contributions and  
Resource  
Contributions are issued on time 
. 
General Accounting 
 
Processing journals and general  
ledger  
maintenance as  
necessary, accurately and in a timely manner 
. 
 
Street  
F 
ront Bonds 
detailed schedule 
maintained and  
reconciled. 
 
Subdivision  
B 
onds  
schedule maintained  
and reconciled. 
 
Year  
E 
nd  
A 
udit reconciliations. 
Provide assistance with the following: 
 
Assisting the Management Accountant to ensure integrity  
of the  
General Ledger (coding accuracy) 
. 
 
Assisting the Management Accountant with preparation  
of monthly management reports 
. 
 
Assisting the Management Accountant with budget input  
and monitoring. 
 
Assist with 
allocation of overheads to departments 
. 
 
Production of al 
l financial reports in accordance with  
published timetables 
. 
Manages Health and Safety 
 
Ensure compliance to all legal/statutory and company  
requirements for health and safety 
. 
Maintain professionalism 
 
Adhere to company policies 
. 
 
Keeping abreast with  
technology 
. 
 
Maintain and update oneself with knowledge required for  
job 
. 
 
Other duties, consistent with the role, as required from 
time to time by Manager and CEO 
. 
Key behavioural competencies 
Competency 
Description 
Excellent Service 
We get it done  
and do it well 
Respect 
We value and respect others 
Inspiration 
We lead by example 
Collaboration 
We succeed by working together 
Accountability 
We are open and honest 
Qualifications/Experience 
Essential 
Desirable 
Qualifications 
 
A sound level of numerical,  
written  
and spoken English skills 
. 
Experience 
 
At least two years of clerical  
experience with Accounts Receivable  
and Payroll 
. 
 
Proven history of management of  
large scale debtors ledger 
.  
 
Must be capable of interpreting  
information, with a competent level of  
problem solving abilit 
y 
. 
 
Must be solution focused 
. 
 
An up to date knowledge  
of payroll legislation  
would be an advantage 
but not essential 
. 
 
Some general accounting  
experience or an  
understanding of  
accounting principles  
would be useful. 
Skills 
 
Windows  
and Microsoft Office  
applications 
(Outlook, Word, Excel). 
 
Must be a team player and keep their  
eyes focussed on the wider goals of  
the organisation 
. 
 
Must be capable of operating with a  
minimal level of supervision, making  
appropriate decisions within  
autho 
rities delegated 
. 
 
A high level of accuracy and the ability  
to keep detailed file notes 
. 
 
Strong communication, written and  
verbal 
. 
 
Agreed by: 
Signature: 
Date: 
Team member: 
Manager: