Accounting Technician I

Company: City of Tulare
Location: Tulare
Posted on: May 13, 2022

Job Description:

Position Description

RECRUITMENT OVERVIEW:

The City of Tulare is currently recruiting to fill the position of Accounting Technician I. We are anticipating one vacancy in our Finance Department and an eligible list will also be established to fill future vacancies in this classification for a period of up to six months.

Thank you for your interest in the position. We look forward to the opportunity to consider you as an applicant. The dates associated with the various steps of our recruitment process are outlined in this job posting. Please be sure to make note of the dates and plan now to participate in each phase of the process.

The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 67,834 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The city provides a full-range of services to our citizens. The organization, staffed with 368 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.

To be considered for this position applicants must submit an application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application.

WRITTEN EXAM:

If we determine that you meet the minimum requirements for the position you will be invited to take a written exam which is the first phase of our recruitment process.

The written examination will be administered on the morning of: TUESDAY, MAY 17th. The exam will consist of a multiple choice format with the following content categories:

* Ability to Handle Money* Ability to Make Change* Bank Reconciliation* Interpersonal Skills

For planning purposes, we are including reference to the written exam. Additional details regarding the exam will be sent via email, to qualified applicants after our screening process is complete on or after May 10th at 5 p.m.

INTERVIEW:

Applicants that achieve a minimum passing score of 70% on the written exam will be eligible to participate in the interview phase which will be conducted on:Wednesday, June 1st.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under direct or general supervision, assists other accounting personnel in performing a wide variety of responsible clerical and technical accounting duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and financial transactions, including utility billing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable; and performs related work as required.

This is the entry-level class in the paraprofessional accounting technician series. Initially, under direct supervision, incumbents perform work in the areas of routine billing, accounting, and financial duties related to customer accounts for water, solid waste, and sewer services. Incumbents have frequent contact with the public providing customer services associated with utility payments, requests for service, responding to complaints, and providing information, and work closely with field operations to assess needed repairs, new accounts, or account terminations.

Examples of Essential Functions

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.

When performing the Water/Solid Waste/Sewer Billing assignment:

* Handles customer inquiries and complaints in person or by telephone; interprets policies and procedures and explains service fees, rates, and procedures; makes billing arrangements; researches questions and complaints and follows up as required; takes and processes service requests.* Operates specialized computer billing systems; prepares and sends bills; sets up new accounts and prepares closing bills for cancelled service; issues credit to accounts as necessary; reviews bills prior to sending to third-party vendor.* Receives customer payments in person or by mail; makes change and issues receipts; balances cash receipts, processes mail payments, develops totals by adding checks and receipts using a 10-key, scans bar code payments, and manually enters non-bar code payments.* Gathers, checks, and tabulates data used in the preparation of records and reports; researches background information and account histories.* Performs customer service for City utility customers involving billing issues, new accounts, and cancellations; issues new account numbers, completes forms, and posts to the system; researches requests for account balances.* Receives and posts payments for utility bills, business licenses, building, parking, and water service permits, bin rentals, and development impact fees; issues and sells parking passes; types business licenses.* Sorts, audits, and matches utility bills and payment checks; posts payment to the system.* May provide assistance to other City departments.

When performing the Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable assignment:

* Maintains and reconciles a variety of ledgers, reports and account records; examines and corrects accounting transactions to ensure accuracy.* Prepares a variety of routine fiscal reports, statements, and schedules; prepares new year, mid year, and year end reports.* Establishes and maintains complete files and records related to assigned function.* Prepares and posts journal entries.* Produces routine daily mainframe computer reports and accounts payable checks.* Sorts, audits, matches, and distributes invoices from vendors and service providers; confers with vendors regarding purchase orders, invoices, and payments; reviews statements for accuracy and completeness; processes invoices for approval for payment; prepares payments for mailing.* Monitors and balances various accounts verifying availability of funds and classification of expenditures.* Posts transactions to accounts payable system; verifies, corrects, and balances accounts payable system; generates checks; validates checks; matches checks to vouchers; mails checks to vendors.* Maintains current vendor information including 1099 information.* Gathers, checks, and tabulates data used in the preparation of records and reports; researches background information and account histories.* Enters and retrieves information using standard word processing and spreadsheet software.* Performs a variety of general clerical duties including typing, maintaining files and records, processing mail and ordering supplies; distributes mail and supplies to appropriate departments.* Assists customers, departments, and employees by providing fiscal information, explaining procedures, and answering questions.* Reconciles various bank accounts making adjustments due to cancellations and corrections.* Prepares monthly automatic billing, creates invoices, runs invoice report, posts, and prints report and invoices; prepares for mailing and creates back up copy for City files.* Assists professional accounting staff with special projects as required.* Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

* 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:

* 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 hand held equipment and software programs.* Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.* Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgement 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 and one year of responsible clerical experience.

License:

* Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California's driver's license.

Additional Information

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..... click apply for full job details

Keywords: City of Tulare, Tulare , Accounting Technician I, Accounting, Auditing , Tulare, California