# Tasks & work activities — public finance accountant

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 13-2011.00 (Accountants and Auditors).

## Task statements

- **[Core]** Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- **[Core]** Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- **[Core]** Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- **[Core]** Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- **[Core]** Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- **[Core]** Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- **[Core]** Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- **[Core]** Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
- **[Core]** Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
- **[Core]** Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- **[Core]** Prepare adjusting journal entries.
- **[Core]** Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- **[Core]** Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
- **[Core]** Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries.
- **[Core]** Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
- **[Core]** Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
- **[Core]** Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
- **[Core]** Evaluate taxpayer finances to determine tax liability, using knowledge of interest and discount rates, annuities, valuation of stocks and bonds, and amortization valuation of depletable assets.
- **[Core]** Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives.
- **[Core]** Audit payroll and personnel records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws.
- **[Supplemental]** Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office.
- **[Supplemental]** Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
- **[Supplemental]** Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.
- **[Supplemental]** Direct activities of personnel engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records.
- **[Supplemental]** Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned.
- **[nan]** Develop, maintain, or analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs.
- **[nan]** Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate financial planning.
- **[nan]** Process invoices for payment.
- **[nan]** Review data about material assets, net worth, liabilities, capital stock, surplus, income, or expenditures.

## Detailed work activities

- Advise others on business or operational matters.
- Advise others on financial matters.
- Advise others on human resources topics.
- Analyze budgetary or accounting data.
- Analyze business or financial data.
- Analyze financial information.
- Assess financial status of clients.
- Calculate tax information.
- Collect evidence for legal proceedings.
- Conduct financial or regulatory audits.
- Coordinate regulatory documentation activities.
- Develop business or financial information systems.
- Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers.
- Evaluate effectiveness of personnel policies or practices.
- Examine financial records or processes.
- Examine financial records.
- Investigate legal issues.
- Oversee business processes.
- Pay charges, fees, or taxes.
- Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
- Prepare financial documents.
- Prepare operational budgets.
- Report information to managers or other personnel.
- Verify accuracy of financial information.
- Verify accuracy of records.
