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Job Description

MUNICIPAL COURT CONTROLLER

JOB CODE 03250

Effective Date:	Rev. 09/06A

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to plan, direct, and supervise the Municipal Court Financial Management Division which performs all court-related accounting functions, and the Collections section responsible for all court-related collections activities. The incumbent is required to design and implement policies and procedures as part of a comprehensive business system to effectively and efficiently support the implementation of judicial rulings and legislative changes and be responsible for ensuring that accounting procedures conform to City policy and generally accepted accounting procedures. The Municipal Court Controller is responsible for the maintenance of defendant bail trusts, victim restitution trusts, Arizona State surcharge trusts, surety bonding systems, revenue accounting systems, imprest checking accounts, all accounts receivable accounting, and collections. Work requires the application of problem solving skills as well as considerable initiative and independent judgment within the framework of Court policy guidelines. Supervision is exercised over a large professional, supervisory, and clerical staff. The Municipal Court Controller works under the general direction of the Municipal Court Executive Officer, and performance is evaluated on the basis of results achieved.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Plans, directs, and supervises the activities of the Financial Management Division of the Municipal Court;
• Supervises the reconciliation of monthly general ledger account;
• Participates in long-range planning and program development;
• Directs financial audits in the operating divisions of the Court and makes recommendations for procedural improvements;
• Installs and monitors controls for administrative, program, and fiscal procedures;
• Analyzes and interprets fiscal Court and accounting records and prepares accurate and complete financial reporting;
• Interacts verbally with the public and the media on potentially sensitive issues;
• Directs the disbursement of monies held "in trust" by the Court and controlled through imprest accounts;
• Analyzes and evaluates the needs of the Court in the implementation of various automated systems;
• Directs the review of judicial financial sentencing orders to ensure legal and administrative policies are followed;
• Identifies, recommends, and implements business system changes required as a result of new legislative enactments;
• Defines the Municipal Court accounting requirements for the CMS computer system;
• Develops and implements appropriate accounting controls in the Court;
• Supervises the preparation and administration of operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures to meet budget goals and requirements;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Accounting controls, principles, and practices.
• Principles and practices of the Municipal Court financial administration, including trust accounting.
• City and Court policies and procedures relating to the collection processes.
• Modern office practices and procedures and standard office and accounting equipment.
• Principles and methods of business organization and management.
• Data processing principles and management.
• Laws and ordinances relating to Municipal Court accounting.

Ability to:

• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.
• Communicate orally with other City employees and the public in face-to-face one-to-one settings.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• Work cooperatively with other City employees and the public.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon work location, assignment, or shift.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Five years of professional accounting experience, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity, and a bachelor's degree in accounting, business or public administration, or a related field. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.