Open externally until August 21, 2026.

Class Title: Accountant I

Position Title: Staff Accountant

Accountable To: Assistant Controller

Department: Finance

Band: C

Grade: 4

Subgrade: 2

Come join one of the nation’s highest ranked housing agencies. Be a part of an innovative and creative team of individuals committed to serving the community by providing affordable, quality housing.

The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) has been serving the community for over 45 years. St. Paul PHA is an independent agency that owns and operates affordable rental housing for low-income families and individuals throughout the City, with subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PHA provides approximately 4,273 affordable rental units in hi-rise buildings, townhomes, and scattered site single family and duplex homes. The PHA administers 5,242 Housing Choice Vouchers, paying over 45 million annually in federal rent subsidies to private owners who rent units to eligible families and individuals with very low incomes.

Mission Statement:

The PHA helps families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services.

Employment Benefits:

The PHA offers a generous employee benefits package. The standard package includes paid vacation and sick leave; eleven paid designated holidays and two paid floating holidays; health and dental insurance coverage; and an employer pension contribution equal to 7% of employee's salary (employee contributes 5%). Additional benefits vary by contract or Supervisory and Confidential (S&C) policies.

Class Summary: This is a broad level Accounting classification where incumbents perform duties of a specialized nature requiring both knowledge and experience. 

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Accountant I is the second level of a four level accounting series and is distinguished from the Administrative Support Professional by its responsibility for performing duties of a specialized nature requiring both knowledge and experience, and is distinguished from the Accountant II, which has lead responsibilities. 

Position Summary: Incumbent is responsible for maintaining encumbrance databases, entering accounts payable, accounts receivable, preparing and entering journal vouchers to general ledgers, as well as performing other essential related accounting functions. 

Duties:

Responsible for day-to-day transactional accounting activities related to Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, assuring accurate and timely processing, maintaining compliance with internal controls and recording as required by GASB.

Maintain non-tenant accounts receivable.

Responsible for preparing, reviewing and posting of general ledger and Bankbook entry of journal vouchers.

Provide necessary support to process disbursements. 

Maintain and administer both the "realtime" work authorization and purchase order encumbrance databases. 

Mail out Section 8 checks and Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) rent statements. 

Must abide by all Board approved policies, policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment, executive communications, administrative procedures, and safety procedures established by the PHA. 

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level. 

KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):

Knowledge of:

Basic accounting and budgeting techniques;

Familiarity with financial transactions and reporting requirements of government organizations;

customer service techniques.

SKILLS (position requirements at entry):

Skill in:

Prioritizing and handling multiple projects;

Preparing clear and concise reports and memos;

Maintaining accurate files and records

Using computers and related software applications;

Performing mathematical calculations and verifying accounting data

Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public etc. Sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Required Qualifications

Education: BA degree or 4 years of vocational and advanced vocational education in a relevant field such as Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.

Experience: One year of relevant experience in jobs at the B Band level or above such as such as general ledger, budget, payroll, accounts receivable or related experience; and/or relevant education. Additional relevant experience can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.  

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Relevant graduate degree.

Experience: Two years relevant technical level experience in accounting. Demonstrated experience working with ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse populations. 

Licensing Requirements (position requirements at entry):

Valid Driver’s License/Vehicle

Physical Requirements

Light Work: (Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated light work: [1] when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or [2] when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing or pulling of arm or leg controls; or [3] when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.) (For complete physical requirements see “Physical Demands Job Analyst” on file.)