Accounting Technician

Accounting Technician

The current vacancy is in the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency Administration Branch. Oral exam is tentatively scheduled for October 2026. Responses to supplemental questions are required. Final filing date: October 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Salary information: $4,184.00 $5,340.00 approximate monthly/ $24.14 - $30.81 approximate hourly.

This position is in the United Public Employees of California UPEC General bargaining unit. Please refer to the applicable bargaining unit labor agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for potential future salary increases: Shasta County Labor Agreements.

The salary range consists of six (6) salary steps, with approximately 5% between each step. Newly hired employees are appointed at Step A of the assigned salary range. Employees are eligible for a merit-based salary increase from Step A to Step B after six months of satisfactory service. Thereafter, employees may be eligible for annual merit-based step increases, beginning one year from the Step B effective date, until they reach the top step of the salary range.

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with the community to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of Shasta County residents. HHSA is organized into four branches: Behavioral Health & Social Services, Public Health, Economic Mobility, and a centralized Administration Services. HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill, and those without resources look to HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety.

The Administration Services Branch includes the HHSA Director's office, Contracts, Asset Management, Fiscal, Financial Audits and Control, Medical Billing, Payroll, Community Relations and Education, Staff Development, Internal Accountability, Compliance, and Performance, Privacy and Security, Safety, Technology, and Administrative Hearings and Civil Rights. Each of these groups support the branches to help them achieve their goals.

Under direction, to perform paraprofessional accounting work of a specialized and complex nature in the preparation, maintenance, and analysis of financial and statistical records and reports. The Accounting Technician performs the more difficult and technical sub-professional accounting work required in the maintenance of fiscal and statistical records; prepares and assists in the preparation of financial statements, documents, analyses, and reports; maintains accounting records, reports, and manual or computer-based accounting systems; and performs related work as required.

This paraprofessional class is considered a bridge class involving paraprofessional work by an incumbent who has completed two years of the accounting education normally required to enter the professional accounting field. It is distinguished from the next higher professional entry class of Accountant Auditor I in that the latter has broader or more technical assignments which entail work of a more creative, evaluative, and analytical nature and regular application of the knowledge of accountancy theories, principles, and systems. It is distinguished from the next lower class of Senior Account Clerk, in the clerical accounting series, in that the consequence of error is greater, assignments are technically more complex and responsible, and the work requires greater knowledge of accounting practices and principles. Positions are found only in those line-operating departments having major accounting systems, or in the Auditor-Controller's Office.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of experience in Accounting or Business field and/or relevant college level units with work experience to demonstrate knowledge in audit, compliance, complex bookkeeping, and financial record keeping functions.

Examples of Essential Duties

When working within general County departments, incumbents may be responsible for the following duties: Compiles data and technically interprets such data for budget preparation purposes; supervises and participates in the maintaining of records in accounting systems on personnel, salaries, material inventories, fund appropriations and expenditures, accounts payable and accounts receivable, purchasing, and similar financial and statistical activities; assists in devising forms and methods in financial recordkeeping or accounting systems; prepares journal entries for fund transfers, and other administrative adjustments in budget appropriations; compiles data and prepares claims for state and federal reimbursement; gathers data and prepares special schedules for auditors; may prepare technically difficult statistical and/or accounting reports from a variety of sources; may supervise and assign work to subordinate clerical staff; uses computer terminal to enter and retrieve data; uses microfiche reader to research data; maintains journals and general ledgers of financial transactions and prepares analytical reports on revenues and expenditures; independently performs complex and technical audits based on analysis and interpretation of financial information; prepares calculations for billing for services provided by the county; appropriately distributes funds in accordance with state and federal regulations; maintains ancillary, general, statistical, and cost records; examines and reviews account records, adjusting balances and reconciling accounts; prepares and processes materials that require the analysis of source material and a thorough familiarity with policies, procedures, terminology, and various applicable laws in order to obtain the necessary data; compiles a variety of narrative and statistical reports, locates sources of information, devises forms to secure data, and determines proper format for finished reports; answers questions that involve searching for and abstracting technical data and detailed explanations of laws, policies, or procedures, referring only matters requiring policy decisions to the supervisor; may operate automated systems and trouble-shoot problems related to the production of fiscal and statistical reports and related documents; may be responsible for a billing and statistical record keeping operation; performs related duties as assigned.

When working within the Auditor-Controller's department, may be responsible for the following duties: balances accounts, funds, groups, and researches errors by checking previous entries, records, and supporting documents; notifies departments of errors and corrections made or to be made; reviews questionable claims for payment as to validity and proper account number; prepares a list of claims for approval by the board of supervisors; contacts departments because of insufficient appropriations and holds warrants until budget transfers are made; daily compares the beginning balance and a recap of daily transactions with the ending balance to ensure that all deposits, journal entries, claims, desk warrants, and tapes are posted accurately; reconciles monthly all county, trust, special district, school, and bond-sinking funds; reconciles auditor-controller's cash account with treasurer-tax collector's cash account; prepares orders for payment to special districts; assists in preparing annual financial statements for county; uses computer terminal to enter and retrieve data; uses microfiche reader to research data.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of: Basic accounting principles, procedures, and terminology; governmental accounting and budgeting; modern office methods, procedures, and equipment; general knowledge of the legal requirements and the accounting system related to a particular assignment may be required for certain positions; some familiarity with data processing accounting systems.

Ability to: Perform paraprofessional accounting work with minimal supervision; prepare accurate financial summaries and reports; make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately; maintain controls on complex records and analyze data; analyze and understand data processing reports; understand and interpret the principles, laws, and procedures involved in the bookkeeping and auditing functions; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; type with accuracy and with moderate speed on a typewriter or computer terminal; supervising the work of subordinate clerical staff may be required for certain positions; follow written and oral directions and instructions; analyze data and draw logical conclusions; common spreadsheet and database software packages; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; maintain confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications: It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Either the completion of the accounting courses required for an associate of arts degree from an accredited college or university in accounting AND two (2) years of experience in financial recordkeeping comparable to a Senior Account Clerk or higher with Shasta County; OR Three (3) years of full-time, increasingly responsible technical, advanced journey level experience in financial, accounting, or statistical record keeping activities. Formal education in basic accounting or bookkeeping may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Special Requirements: Some positions in this classification may require possession of a valid California driver's license. Employees who drive on County business to carry out job-related duties must possess a valid California driver's license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County. Eligibility for employment for those who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the appointing authority.

Supplemental Questions: Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Have you completed the courses required for an Associates of Arts degree in accounting? If "Yes," please list the accounting courses you completed. If "No," please type N/A.
2. Do you possess two (2) years of experience in financial recordkeeping comparable to a Senior Account Clerk or higher with Shasta County? If "Yes," please provide details including, but