Account Clerk I

ABOUT THE CITY: The City of La Habra is located at Orange County's north-western most corner; La Habra today is 7.3 square miles, with a population of 62,850. A quiet bedroom community, it is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountains, and desert recreation areas. The City is known for the Tamale Festival, Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, and the gem of La Habra, the Children’s Museum and Depot Theatre. For more information about the City, visit our website at: www.lahabraca.gov.

ABOUT THE POSITION: Under general supervision, performs a variety of clerical, fiscal and customer service duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and financial transactions, and depending on assignment, may include accounts payable, purchasing, accounts receivable, payroll,  customer service, cash handling, utility billing, business licensing, fire med and revenue; maintains manual and computerized accounting and financial records; prepares and assists with utility billing applications, business license applications and fire med applications; and performs related duties as required.

This is a broad classification with individual positions assigned to specific functional areas; duties and assignments may overlap depending on the operational needs of the department and staffing levels.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below depending on placement of division in the department and to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Perform a variety of accounting and customer service duties related to financial record keeping and generating, collecting, processing and recording City revenue.
• Perform a variety of general clerical duties including typing, scanning, maintaining files and records and performing data entry and retrieval of financial information using a computer terminal.
• Review and verify invoices; enter invoice amounts into computer system; type, log, copy, file and disperse payments.
• Assist with budget preparation.
• Maintain and order office supplies; and maintain office equipment and service. 
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports as necessary.
• Maintain and balance petty cash fund.
• Provide support in all phases of department operations.
• Receive, screen, and direct calls; provide information related to area of assignment as necessary.
• Assist with yearly records destruction for assigned area as necessary.
• Perform special projects, studies and collect and compile statistical and financial data for special
   reports, as directed.
• Attend and participate in support staff group meetings as required.
• Operate cash register; accepts payments for a variety of City services; count customer service cash drawers each morning and evening; reconcile cash register and daily cash totals; deposit monies in vault; research disputed payment.
• Verify deposits, computer source documents and other records for arithmetical accuracy, consistency, and record keeping practices.
• Review daily cash receipts for accuracy of amount and account numbers.
• Perform a variety of financial record keeping and reporting duties in support of assigned area including in the areas of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, revenue management, and purchasing.
• Assist with accounts payable duties including distribution of invoices and data entry.
• Perform general office support duties such as opening and routing mail and deliveries, monitoring postage rates, UPS, and FedEx changes; replenish postage meters as necessary.
• Prepare utility billing for mailing including sorting, organizing, and bundling.
• Open water payment envelopes and balances payments received against payment stubs; enters data into computer system; establishes new water accounts and closes accounts; gather information to produce work orders for new water service and termination of service; respond to customer call.
• Assist customers with business licenses, fire med, utility billing and dog licenses.
• Provide temporary and vacation relief for other positions within the work group. 
• Perform related duties as required.

QUALIFYING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

KNOWLEDGE OF: 

• Basic accounting principles.
• Basic principles of customer service.
• Basic mathematical principles.
• Basic principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software
   applications.
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Principles and procedures of procurement.
• Methods and techniques of cash handling.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

SKILL AND ABILITY TO:

• Perform a variety of accounting clerical duties.
• Prepare and process purchase orders.
• Maintain and order office supplies.
• Operate a multi-line telephone system and transfer calls to appropriate personnel.
• Operate a cash register.
• Prepare customer service related billing.
• Maintain a variety of financial records and files.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting software.
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Perform typing, filing and other clerical duties at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Maintain tact and courtesy in high stress environments.
• Maintain confidential information and ensure its continued security. 
• Complete assignments on a timely basis and meet deadlines. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: High school degree or equivalent. College level coursework in business administration, accounting bookkeeping, or related filed is preferred. 

EXPERIENCE: One year of accounting clerical experience is desirable.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Whileperformingthedutiesofthisjob,theemployeeisregularlyrequiredtousehandsto finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms above and below shoulder level. The employee uses finger dexterity in order to operate computer hardware for extended periods of time. The employee is required to constantly sit and occasionally walk and stand to access counters, work areas and files; stoop, kneel, or crouch to access or place records or files; lift and carry records and documents, typically weighing less than 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

MENTAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with staff, management, developers, contractors, consultants, and the general public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office environment with continual exposure to computer screens. Essential and secondary functions require maintaining physical condition for light lifting carrying; sitting for prolonged periods of time.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lahabraca. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview.  Candidates must successfully pass the oral interview in order to be placed on the eligibility list.   The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted.

If any accommodation is needed during the interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation. 

This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied.  

Any provision herein may be modified or revoked.

Salary : $39,582 - $55,702