Job Title: Accounting Specialist
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports to: Accounting Supervisor
Pay Grade: PG2
Dept./School: Business, Finance & Administrative Services
Initiated Date: April 2025
WHO WE ARE
La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. We have a strong, 100-year, legacy in the Rio Grande Valley. The districts vision - Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student - conveys our urgent focus on students.
Our work is rooted in five district priorities, which require collaboration and deep commitment to supporting one another as we serve the community.
We are focused on ensuring every student in La Joya ISD has access to high-quality, best-fit schools as we work to improve from a B-district to an A-rated district. We serve more than 22,000 students in more than 30 schools and span six municipalities, covering more than 220 square miles.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking a detail-oriented, dependable, and collaborative accounting professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate accuracy in financial recordkeeping, experience in school activity fund accounting, and a commitment to maintaining compliance with public sector financial standards. This individual will work closely with campuses to support proper handling of student activity funds, perform reconciliations, and support various internal and enterprise fund operations. Strong communication, organizational skills, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving discrepancies are essential. A strong sense of ownership, customer service mindset, and the ability to navigate multiple priorities with accuracy and integrity will make this candidate successful in supporting our districts financial operations.
WHY LA JOYA ISD
You will be joining a district that is building on a legacy of achievement while rapidly improving and creating systems to reach new heights for student outcomes and improving the District's overall operational efficiency and effectiveness. You will receive intentional, targeted support in your essential role in serving the Business, Finance and Administrative Services Department of the District. We are also a district focused on continuous improvement and rigorous analysis of the policies and procedures we have in place to ensure that the financial and business operations of the District are transparent to the public and in keeping with generally acceptable accounting principles.
Minimum Required Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business or related field.
Experience:
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience in accounting or finance, preferably in a public or governmental organization.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong analytical and reconciliation skills, with the ability to detect and correct discrepancies.
- Working knowledge of Texas school district fund accounting, including activity funds and custodial funds (Funds 461 and 865).
- Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and reconciliations.
- Familiarity with Texas Education Agency (TEA) Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG).
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, especially in working with campus staff and external stakeholders
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
General:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, including general ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable entries.
- Process and record financial transactions, such as invoices, payments and receipts.
- Assists in the preparation of financial reports, such as budget to actual reports and balance sheet statements.
- Assist in the reconciliation of bank statements, accounts, and other financial data to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies.
- Maintain organized and accurate financial filing systems.
- Assist in the accounting of the Districts Enterprise Funds.
- Assist in the accounting of the Districts Internal Service Funds.
- Oversee the Campus Activity Fund (Fund 461) for all District campuses, ensuring all campus activity and custodial fund transactions are processed in accordance with District policy and state regulations.
- Provide training and technical support to campus secretaries and sponsors on proper fund handling and documentation.
- Monitor fund balances and notify campuses of potential issues related to overspending or inactive accounts.
- Oversee all of the Districts Custodial Funds, including the Student Activity Fund (Fund 865) for all District campuses.
- Provide administrative support to accountants and other finance personnel.
- Communicate as required with District staff, customers, vendors or other stakeholders regarding financial matters.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Safety:
- Performs preventive maintenance on tools and equipment and ensures equipment operates safely.
- Follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties, including lifting and climbing; operates tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
- Corrects unsafe conditions in the work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to the supervisor.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- None
Personal Work Relationships
- All La Joya ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the Districts mission, vision, and strategic goals.
- Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct, and work ethic.
- Demonstrates high-quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
- Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.
Travel Requirements
- Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings, as required.
Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards
- Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.
- Posture: Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
- Motion: Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
- Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
- Environment: Works in an office setting; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours.
- Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
- Mental Demands: Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.
Position Working Days:
226 Days
NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive description of all work requirements and responsibilities, and management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other responsibilities be performed when the job changes. Additionally, the minimum level of education notated as a requirement could be supplemented by commensurate experience and/or certification(s) or license(s) as determined by the hiring manager.
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