Staff Accountant

The Orange County Water District is accepting applications for a Staff Accountant in the Finance Department. This position will primarily focus on accounts payable and serve as the primary backup for payroll but may support other areas of finance as needed. 

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

The Staff Accountant is the third level of a five-level accounting series, responsible for performing entry-level accounting work. The Staff Accountant is distinguished from the Senior Accountant, which is responsible for higher level accounting operations.

The following essential job functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed job functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different job functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Prepares, reviews, and processes accounting transactions related to cash receipts, customer billings, task orders, contracts, agreements, invoices, and/or purchase requisitions.
• Performs auditing functions involving purchase orders, invoices, accounts receivable, payroll, and/or other related functions. Prepares periodic reconciliation reports. 
• Prepares updates, analyzes, and corrects general ledger entries.
• Prepares, submits, and reviews a variety of reports, ledgers, reconciliations, analytical reports, and/or statements to and from internal departments, financial institutions, and/or government agencies.
• Prepares and submits use tax return.
• Researches and resolves automated accounting system issues independently.
   Preparing travel expenses, cash disbursements, cash projects, and special reports.
• Reviewing and processing invoices, request authorizations, availability of funds, and other related information.
• Preparing deposits.
• Coding and inputting payments to proper accounts/funds.
• Inputting billing information into a database.
• Preparing complex customer billing statements.
• Handles job stress.
• Interacts effectively with others in the workplace.
• Follows all workplace and job safety rules and policies.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as required.

Payroll duties include the following:

• Serves as primary backup for the Senior Payroll Accountant.
• Processes bi-weekly and monthly payroll for District employees and Directors according to established policies and procedures.
• Assists employees with payroll inquiries; investigates discrepancies on time entry, checks, or accrual balances.
• Audits confidential payroll records, and/or other related functions.
• Prepares a variety of payroll and tax reports, including reconciled wages and taxes.
• Reviews and enters timesheet information, corrections, and special payout information into financial information system for payroll processing; reviews for accuracy of hours and deductions; makes necessary adjustments.
• Calculates retroactive payments; processes deferred compensation and retirement files; transmits taxes; enters compensation and other special compensation into payroll system.
• Requests payments for all deductions (e.g. retirement and computer loans, judgments and child support, deferred compensation, and taxes); provides appropriate back-up and obtains signatures prior to transferring them to accounts payable for processing.
• Processes and distributes W2 forms; attends classes for an update on new tax changes; rolls over all accrual balances from old year to new year.
• Processes child support orders, wage withholding orders, and employment verification forms.
• Works with outside payroll service provider as needed.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Accounting and auditing principles.
• Methods of public and governmental accounting in finance.
• Various aspects of governmental accounting administration.
• Applicable Federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Automated financial systems.
• Customer service principles.

Payroll:

• Payroll principles.
• Automated payroll systems.

 
Ability and Skills in:

• Accounting work in support of the maintenance of the general accounting budget and cost systems of OCWD.
• Operating a 10-key machine.
• Maintaining accounting and payroll records.
• Using computers and related software applications.
• Preparing financial statements and/or reports, including bi-weekly payrolls.
• Auditing and analyzing financial data and information, including time entry data and payroll information.
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
 

Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, or a related field, with major coursework in finance, accounting or business administration.

Experience: 

• Four years of general accounting experience and payroll experience.
• Experience working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, such as JD Edwards.
• Experience with computerized payroll systems is required. Experience working with Ceridian Dayforce is preferred.

License: Valid California Class “C” Driver’s License.

 
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
 

Environment: Standard office setting.

Physical: Positions in this class typically require grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion. Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Incumbents require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; push, pull, lift, and/or carry light amounts of weight; verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

 
DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
 All Orange County Water District employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employees are required to complete all related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Salary : $83,242 - $104,062