What are the responsibilities and job description for the PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT - ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST position at County of El Paso?
Acceptable Experience and Education
High School Diploma with two (2) years of college accounting or bookkeeping or a closely related field which includes a specialization in accounting coursework, to include two (2) years clerical type work in an office environment with cash handling experience.
Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Certificates and Licenses Required (Depending on area of assignment):
May require Deputy Clerk deputizing; may require AOP certification;
May require or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.
High School Diploma with two (2) years of college accounting or bookkeeping or a closely related field which includes a specialization in accounting coursework, to include two (2) years clerical type work in an office environment with cash handling experience.
Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Certificates and Licenses Required (Depending on area of assignment):
May require Deputy Clerk deputizing; may require AOP certification;
May require or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.
Essential Duties
Performs routine clerical and administrative accounting functions that require application of basic standard bookkeeping and accounting theories, principles and techniques, and require the appropriate skill levels including basic skill levels in computer, analytical and communication skills;
Receives, processes and records cash, check or fund payments; verifies amount received is correct, issues receipt and enters and records transactions into accounting system; computes charges and refunds; identifies delinquent accounts and insufficient payments; responds to accounting inquiries and prepares and issues related correspondence;
Establishes and maintains a variety of accounts, including posting receipts, disbursements and other accounting transactions to appropriate ledgers and journals; verifies receipts and/or cash register tapes to checks and cash received, identifies errors, and makes necessary corrections; reconciles account ledgers and ensures that accounts balance;
Prepares deposits to send to bank; processes checks returned for insufficient funds for collection and makes necessary adjustments to accounting records;
As directed receives, processes, and verifies purchase orders for payment of bills; processes and reviews invoices for payment;
Accepts receipts and cash delivered by armored car from satellite offices; provides distribution to appropriate personnel;
As needed verifies cash advances to offices; may provide sales tax payments to the state Comptroller's Office;
Reconciles simple bank statements, ledger balances and other accounting transactions; refers problem transactions to higher level staff for assistance and problem resolution; maintains a filing system of canceled checks, bank statements and other documentation; monitors funds or line item budget balances and expenditures to ensure budget does not exceed budgeted line items;
Prepares periodic reports reflecting receipts, disbursements, ledger balances and other accounting transactions; collects, analyzes and summarizes accounting information; produces various spreadsheets and reports using established or other formats;
Assists co-workers with various related tasks;
Substitutes, if assigned, during temporary absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity of normal operations;
Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and
Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.
Depending on area assigned:
May specialize in collection of delinquent court fines and fees, including receiving payments, determining appropriate accounts to apply payment, posting monies to accounts and tracking in automated system, communicating basic information to clients, preparing and sending collections correspondence, and compiling daily collections reports for supervisory review;
May execute wire transfer slips or prepares deposits for submission to County Treasurer. Verifies completion of funds transactions to appropriate entity;
May prepare purchase order or check to vendor, call vendors for quotes, enter requisitions, and receive items into the financial system;
May enter data for Scofflaw invoicing to the City of El Paso;
May also include interviewing and communicating with defendants regarding financial status, calculating fees and investigating, evaluating and verifying applications for extension of time for payment of fines and/or court costs;
May negotiate and grant or deny an application based on defendant's financial resources;
May determine a payment schedule if an extension of time for payment is granted, distribute applications for extension of time for payment, establish and maintain a system for reviewing delinquency, monitor delinquent accounts, contact defendants regarding delinquent accounts and process for non-compliance. May issue and mail notices on delinquent accounts;
May prepare reports on delinquent accounts and other relevant information and submit for review and required action. May request that warrants be prepared based on court orders;
May process and/or audit payroll, travel, or other administrative accounting transactions;
May process funds for State agencies and disbursements for outside jurisdictions;
Maintains accounting controls and financial security by following policies and procedures and internal controls;
Ensures payees are provided a 1099 form in accordance with IRS guidelines; maintains a log for accountability;
Obtains signatures on forms; submits to agency;
Assists the internal and external auditors with requested information;
Researches cases; makes necessary investments or release funds; ensures accuracy;
Assists with office inventory and equipment tracking, accounting and reconciling;
Performs administrative and clerical tasks, performs data entry, may process billings; may receive payments; balances receipts with cash, credit cards, etc.; and processes mail;
Establishes and maintains files and records;
Serves as the initial point of phone, email, or personal contact for participants, outside agencies, other County departments and the general public concerning inquiries or complaints about a specific program and/or its services; researches information; make appropriate referrals for assistance;
Ensures compliance with established procedures and resolves problems pertaining to customers concerns;
Ensures proper documentation is provided by the customer in order to process requests;
Receives appropriate fees; ensures that all information on check(s) is in compliance with check acceptance policy; records all pertinent information in order to cross reference transaction with valid identification and receipts;
Is responsible for handling large amounts of money and balancing daily monies (cash, checks, and credit card transactions) to receipts at close out;
Provides information to customers on all phases of service provided;
Prepares checks and monetary disbursements (to include large amounts of money) to taxing entities, plaintiff's and other parties to satisfy judgments;
Notarizes documents;
Orders and maintains supplies;
Gathers, organizes, and summarizes information for special projects; assists with preparing various routing and complex reports, tables, graphs and statistical summaries;
Is responsible for programming real property, personal property and tax sales. Involves: issuance and executions of levies, advertising, deeds, and coordinating with affected entities.
Other Important Duties*
Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.
This classification typically performs duties at a department or office level.
As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor.
Summary of Position
The Accounting Specialist under close supervision performs clerical accounting functions in accordance with standard policies and procedures. Reconciles accounting spreadsheets and bank accounts, posts information to general or subsidiary ledgers, processes payments and cash receipts, and prepares accounting reports.
May carry out clerical accounting functions related to the collection of delinquent tax accounts or court fine and fee accounts to bring into compliance with the various property tax or criminal justice system laws, requirements and regulations.
The Accounting Specialist under close supervision performs clerical accounting functions in accordance with standard policies and procedures. Reconciles accounting spreadsheets and bank accounts, posts information to general or subsidiary ledgers, processes payments and cash receipts, and prepares accounting reports.
May carry out clerical accounting functions related to the collection of delinquent tax accounts or court fine and fee accounts to bring into compliance with the various property tax or criminal justice system laws, requirements and regulations.
Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: Financial systems; basic accounting principles; processes of accounts payable and receivable; Texas Local Government Code; laws, regulations, methods, and processes associated with treasury activities; related banking operations and practices; of financial record keeping methods, terminology and processes; basic accounting, money handling; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products.
Skill/Ability to: Make arithmetical computations quickly and accurately; interpret and apply appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; prepare reports; to post data, balance and reconcile accounts; and perform accurate calculations; plan and execute work both independently and as a team member; display a high degree of self-motivation; understand report writing and statistics; time management; work expeditiously and accurately under pressure; use various types of scanner; us 10-dey calculator; learn coding; operate standard office equipment which may include computers and calculators; communicate, read, understand and follow written and oral instructions; use computerized accounting systems; prepare data in proper format for data entry; understand and maintain financial accounting files or other record systems; recognize and correct computational errors; accurately compare, post and transfer numbers; understand transactions in terms of accounting codes and classifications; prepare routine and special financial reports; communicate effectively by phone or in person; learn County accounting systems; understand the various accounts payable division processes; have organizational skills, interpersonal skills, analytical and problem solving; have computer skills to include spreadsheets and word processing programs ;time management skills to meet deadlines; multitask and work under time constraints; operate general office equipment; prepare and maintain records; maintain filing systems; be dependable and self-motivated; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work; Pass a Criminal Background Check;
Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance:
Knowledge of: Financial systems; basic accounting principles; processes of accounts payable and receivable; Texas Local Government Code; laws, regulations, methods, and processes associated with treasury activities; related banking operations and practices; of financial record keeping methods, terminology and processes; basic accounting, money handling; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products.
Skill/Ability to: Make arithmetical computations quickly and accurately; interpret and apply appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; prepare reports; to post data, balance and reconcile accounts; and perform accurate calculations; plan and execute work both independently and as a team member; display a high degree of self-motivation; understand report writing and statistics; time management; work expeditiously and accurately under pressure; use various types of scanner; us 10-dey calculator; learn coding; operate standard office equipment which may include computers and calculators; communicate, read, understand and follow written and oral instructions; use computerized accounting systems; prepare data in proper format for data entry; understand and maintain financial accounting files or other record systems; recognize and correct computational errors; accurately compare, post and transfer numbers; understand transactions in terms of accounting codes and classifications; prepare routine and special financial reports; communicate effectively by phone or in person; learn County accounting systems; understand the various accounts payable division processes; have organizational skills, interpersonal skills, analytical and problem solving; have computer skills to include spreadsheets and word processing programs ;time management skills to meet deadlines; multitask and work under time constraints; operate general office equipment; prepare and maintain records; maintain filing systems; be dependable and self-motivated; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work; Pass a Criminal Background Check;
Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance:
- Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
- Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment;
- Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
- Maintain strict confidentiality;
- Project positive support of their department and all county organizations at all times; and,
- Maintain and enhance the County's commitment to customer service excellence
Additional Information
Organizational RelationshipsReports to: Accounting Supervisor, Manager, Supervisor
Directs: This is a non-supervisory position
Other: May have contact with vendors, other County of El Paso Departments, Elected Officials, Department heads, entities that provide services to the County, contractors, city government offices and various school districts, the general public and other county employees
Salary : $38,806
