What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounting Specialist position at City of Eureka, CA?
Description Summary
DEFINITION
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Expectation of Job Duties
When performing all assignments:
- Maintains the daily financial records on utility accounts, including receiving utility payments, performing data entry, maintaining receipt records according to prescribed guidelines, printing and auditing reports, entering field data, preparing and balancing invoices, and preparing work orders.
- Issues business licenses and processes renewals, including batching receipts for incoming renewals, assessing penalties and late fees, and recording new license numbers.
- Assists other finance personnel in performing a variety of technical accounting duties in the preparation, maintenance and processing of accounting records and financial transactions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing functions, and business licenses.
- Verifies, posts and records a variety of financial transactions; prepares and maintains spreadsheets, records and a variety of periodic and special financial and accounting reports.
- Enters and retrieves information using standard word processing and spreadsheet software.
- Reconciles transactions and data as directed; records changes and resolves differences, maintains the accuracy of basic accounting and financial records related to the assigned functional area; handles cash transactions.
- Prepares receipts for utility, business and dog licenses, insurance payments, and other accounts receivables.
- Assists customers, departments, and employees by providing answers and information regarding specific account information, discrepancies and/or basic accounting procedures; and updates related files and departments on action items.
- Generates and assists in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial, summary and technical reports, as directed.
- Performs general office support duties such as filing and record keeping, prepares correspondence.
- Assists professional accounting staff with special projects as required.
- Contributes to a positive work environment by participating in solutions to problems as they occur.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Sets up new accounts; processes and analyzes the utility accounts & notifies customers of excessive usage.
- Calculates and processes utility adjustments due to leaks, penalty adjustments, or overestimating.
- Operates handheld equipment and computers utilized for meter reading, and processes and analyzes data reports from the handheld.
- Sends out collection notices, final and late notices, and performs necessary collections and delinquency processing.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of:
- Terminology and practices of financial and accounting document processing and record keeping, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, and business licensing.
- Billing as related to water meters and functions. Modern office practices, methods and computer equipment.
- Computer applications related to the work, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
- Records management principles and practices.
- Business arithmetic and statistical techniques.
- English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
- Techniques providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.
Ability to:
- Perform detailed accounting and financial office support work accurately and in a timely manner.
- Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and other requests for service.
- Interpret, apply and explain policies and procedures.
- Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
- Establish, maintain and research files.
- Make accurate arithmetic and financial computations.
- Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
- Organize own work, set priorities and meet critical time deadlines.
- Operate modern office equipment including computer and handheld equipment and software programs.
- Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone and in writing.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees those contacted in the course of the work.
Requirements
Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
- One (1) year of related clerical experience, preferably in processing financial documents, maintaining financial or accounting records, or billing and collections.
- Valid California class C driver's license with satisfactory driving record may be required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects necessary to perform job functions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
All applications received are screened to determine which applicants most closely match the desired education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the position. Applicants will receive email notification of the results of the screening process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not necessarily guaranteed advancement to the examination process, as only the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate. The most qualified applicants will be invited to an in-person only written examination tentatively to be held in early March. The Department Head [and/or designee(s)] will interview the top six (6) candidates from the examination process. The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill full-time, part-time, temporary, and grant positions. The City reserves the right to extend the final filing date as necessary.
Important Note: Please make sure it is absolutely clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications/requirements listed above. Applications that do not appear to meet the minimum qualifications will not move forward in the recruitment process.
City of Eureka's Commitment to Inclusion and Belonging
We envision an inclusive community where everyone’s fundamental needs are met, where our employees respect and celebrate all walks of life, where everyone can grow and thrive, as we work with integrity for the good of Eureka. Our mission is to meet the needs of Eureka residents, businesses and visitors by providing services and making decisions that are socially, fiscally and environmentally responsible, creating a workplace that values growth, inclusion and empathy for
all.
Disaster Service Worker
All City of Eureka employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
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The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin
may be modified or revoked. The City of Eureka is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis
of handicap status in the admission, access to, treatment, or employment for its programs, or activities, whether funded by
the City or by grants. Women, persons with disabilities, and minorities are encouraged to apply. In accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate people with special physical or mental requirements. If you have special needs, please call (707) 441-4124 prior to the examination date. When indicating you have a special need, one of the following definitions will apply to you. A disabled person is anyone who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities: i.e., walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, working or learning; or (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
