Application Requirements In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.
Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.
For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at schristman@norcopa.gov or 610-829-6382.
Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.Job Description GENERAL PURPOSEThe Accountant 1 – Fiscal position, under direction and supervision, performs accounting and budget transactions, and analyzes and reports accounting records for assigned programs.SUPERVISION RECEIVED This position reports directly to a supervisory accounting or administrative position, or a higher-level accounting position.SUPERVISION EXERCISED This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees. ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION Maintains general ledgers, accounts payable and/or receivable and other accounting or fiscal systems while ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, and established accounting control procedures.Establishes and implements billing systems for user agencies, contractors, grantor agencies, Federal and/or state reimbursement, and similar sources of revenue.Reconciles accounts, reviews and approves or recommends approval of payroll, vendor, and other payments.Reviews budget submissions from operating offices, analyzing same for conformance to instructions, completeness of information, explanation, and justification for changes to base data. Works with and assists submitting official to ensure clarity and completeness of submission.Compiles and enters budget data into computer system. Identifies spending trends and other budget issues and notifies higher-level accounting or administrative officials of such findings.Assists staff in operating offices in using established computer systems for maintaining accounting records.Prepares reports for internal use and submission to other County and/or Court offices, and state and Federal agencies.May assist lower level technical and/or clerical positions with posting transactions, balancing ledgers, and performing similar functions. Ensures completeness and accuracy of such work, and provides advice and assistance on particular issues. Keeps higher-level personnel informed of problems encountered.*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate’s degree, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester credit hours in professional accounting courses, which may include courses in municipal or government accounting; ANDAt least three (3) years of full-time professional public sector work experience utilizing accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience. Examples of such work experience would include public sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis.OR Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester credit hours in professional accounting courses, which may include courses in municipal or government accounting; ANDAt least one (1) year of full-time professional public sector work experience utilizing accounting principles, practices, and standards, with ERP experience. Examples of such work experience would include public sector bookkeeping or fiscal analysis.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of accounting methods, techniques, and requirements commonly employed in governmental financial systems.Knowledge of accounting goals, objectives, principles, and practices pertaining to budget development and administration.Basic knowledge of Federal and state accounting procedures governing participation in governmental fiscal programs.Ability to prepare statistical, accounting, and financial statements.Ability to learn specific accounting methods, techniques, and requirements governing governmental financial systems.Ability to operate a personal computer to enter information into and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database, and graphics programs.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, officials in operating offices, and others involved in accounting and budget work.Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder. PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in different work site locations.The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.SELECTION GUIDELINES Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.FLSA STATUS: FLSA EXEMPT (NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: CS/GR22
UNION STATUS: NON-UNION
Updated September 2026Benefits Full-time employees of the County of Northampton are afforded a package of benefits which includes the following:
Medical Insurance Vision and Prescription Dental Life Insurance Retirement
I. Medical Insurance Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plans varies by the coverage selection and number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage through the spouse's employer is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual $1,500.00 opt out payment.
II. Vision and Prescription Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. Coverage under the vision plan varies and depends upon the employee's choice of doctor and frame selection.
III. Dental Coverage Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member.
IV. Life Insurance A life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees beginning on the first day of employment, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement. $20,000 is afforded to all eligible employees.
V. Retirement All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1000 hours per year qualify for County of Northampton retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and employees may choose to add additional voluntary contributions, not to exceed an additional 10%. Additionally, employees may participate in an optional deferred compensation plan [457(b)] which may provide present tax advantages and future retirement savings. Such arrangements are made directly with the providers and the County will administer payroll deductions only.