The Senior Accountant is responsible for managing the payroll and pension accounting operations of the municipality and oversight of the collections process, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial records, and providing support to the Controller and Finance Director in reporting, account management, audit, and financial analysis. This position plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with accounting standards and regulations while integrating into a team of accounting and financial professionals to deliver expert financial and accounting advice to the City Manager and City Council.
Primary Responsibilities
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Processing of municipal payroll, ensuring employee compensation is accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable federal, state, local, and collective bargaining requirements.
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Review payroll reports, reconcile payroll-related accounts, and coordinate with Human Resources and department managers to resolve discrepancies that might impact entitlements.
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Lead year-end payroll reporting, including tax filings, W-2 preparation, and related compliance activities.
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Assist in the preparation of comprehensive financial reports for payroll and pension for internal and external stakeholders, including the City Council, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
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Assist the Controller to maintain and reconcile the general ledger, ensuring the accuracy of all journal entries and account balances.
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Provides accounting oversight and expertise as needed to the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring timely processing of invoices, payments, and collections and developing innovative process improvements to support these functions.
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Reconcile bank statements and other financial accounts, investigating and resolving discrepancies as needed.
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Assist in the coordination and execution of the annual audit process, working closely with external auditors to ensure timely and accurate completion of Prepared By Client (PBCs) tasks.
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Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, maintain accurate and organized records for audit and reporting purposes while ensuring that internal controls are adequate to safeguard municipal assets and protect financial processes.
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Conduct detailed financial analyses of payroll to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements.
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Prepare ad-hoc financial reports and analyses of pay related questions as requested by management to support decision-making and strategic initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
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A bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university is highly encouraged for this position but not required.
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General knowledge of accounting principles relating to fund accounting, accounts payable, payroll, and general ledger functions.
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Proficiency in Microsoft office.
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Three (3) to four (4) years of progressive financial experience in either accounting or supporting accounting operations.
Salary and Benefits
Salary negotiable within the expected hiring range of $63,668 – $79,476.
The City of Collinsville offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
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100% City‑funded single‑coverage health, dental, vision, and prescription insurance
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Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) pension
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IMRF disability benefits
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Student loan forgiveness eligibility
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Vacation, sick leave, personal time, and tuition reimbursement
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11 paid holidays
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Flexible work schedule
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More details available at: https://www.collinsvilleil.org/departments/employee-benefits
Application deadline is July 25, 2026.
