Accounting Technician (20486861)

POSITION

The City of Seal Beach is seeking a skilled Accounting Technician that will serve as the liaison between the City, vendors, customers, and staff regarding invoices. The Accounting Technician will process accounts payable and/or accounts receivable invoices, business expense reimbursements; warrant requisitions; and generate bank transmission files and warrant registers.  Under general supervision, performs difficult and responsible accounting support and administrative work in the Finance Department; participates in the preparation, review and adjustment of accounting records related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, payroll, utility billing, insurance billing, budgeting, and other functions; and does related work as required.  

The ideal candidate for this position will provide excellent customer service, demonstrate strong attention to detail, and be a team player. The Accounting Technician should possess strong technical skills and have experience working with various software systems in order to analyze data and conduct research. This person should also have excellent communication, accountability, and organizational skills.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Accounting Technician is distinguished from accounting clerical personnel by its specialized knowledge of technical accounting methods and procedures. The Accounting Technician is differentiated from the Senior Accounting Technician, which exercises lead direction over accounting clerical staff and has responsibility for the preparation and reconciliation of a broader range of accounting and financial reports and audit schedules. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

1. Processes Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable invoices, verifies  authorization signature, and balances weekly totals. Verifies accuracy of invoices and related supporting documents.
2. Inputs and edits vendor/customer invoices, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) billings and utility billings. Verifies batch edits for accuracy, reconciles and posts batch edit reports. Researches and matches vendor invoices to receiving documents for payment.
3. Reviews, prints, and processes warrant requisitions. Ensure accounts are coded correctly and recorded.
4. Prints checks, remits payments, balances and distributes check registers. Audits check copies for errors and appropriate back-up. Matches supporting documentation with checks to validate check issuance.
5. Acts as liaison between the City and its vendors/customers. Obtains information from vendors/customers regarding statements and invoices. Provides information regarding payments and related issues. Research questions and resolves problems.
6. Processes monthly journal entries. Reviews and distributes aging reports.
7. Handles the cashiering function for all City revenue; receives payments from mail and walk-in customers; records incoming revenue for the city including utility bills, accounts receivable, invoices, collects and accounts for money; issues receipts; reconciles cash receipt batches and prepares daily deposits.
8. May support utility billing for utility service by telephone, correspondence and in person; analyze customer records to establish appropriate deposit amounts from written guidelines for new and existing utility users and prepare deposit refunds for manager approval.
9. Use various computer systems extensively to post payments; enter data of new utility customers and make data changes; interact with customers, coordinate with service and billing divisions, obtain other information to assist customers, research, and use discretion to determine deposit and restoration of service requirements.
10. Perform financial transactions including processing or transferring payments, refunding credit amounts or deposits, adjusting charges and/or deposits, reversing payments, issuing refunds, and adjusting service fees.
11. Reviews and adjusts accounting and budgeting entries; assures that proper account numbers, rates and deductions, purchase orders, or payment information has been provided.
12. May audit fee payments and aging reports for cash and electronic transactions.
13. May conduct business research to identify entities requiring licenses, including analysis of sales records, tax returns, and other data sources.
14. May train other accounting and office personnel regarding accounting procedures.
15. May perform other duties as assigned.

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.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is constantly required to sit, and frequently to stand and walk to counter areas.  The sensory demands include the ability to talk, and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate computer hardware and standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee occasionally lifts and carries records and documents weighing less than 20 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and projects concurrently; and interact appropriately with staff, management, vendors, and the general public in the course of work.

The employee frequently works in office conditions where the noise level is usually moderate, at and below 85 decibels.