Accounting Specialist I

Accounting Specialist I

An Accounting Specialist I is responsible for a variety of specialized journey-level clerical accounts maintenance and processing work for Accounts Payable, Cost/Property, Payroll, Revenue/Receipts, and Special Assessments. Employees may also perform complex journey level clerical accounting tasks for a department/division-wide accounting function (example: Information Technology; Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; Arts and Cultural; and Energy and Water Resources). Depending on assignment, responsibilities may include: account reconciliation, balancing payroll, journal voucher preparation, invoice initiation, and City property classification. In addition, this class may maintain (example: enter, audit, and adjust) a variety of journals, registers, and reports; complete bank deposit slips and daily receipts for monies received; maintain a petty cash fund; and track 1099 data. Due to the Citywide nature of the work performed, an Accounting Specialist I assigned to the Financial Services Department is required to meet weekly, biweekly, and monthly deadlines in order to process work in a timely manner. This class performs related duties as required.

An employee of this class is expected to routinely handle unusual problems and/or answer procedural questions from lower-level staff, City employees, departments/divisions, vendors, or other agencies or individuals who deal with the City. Although guidelines and procedures associated with the work are usually relatively clear, some interpretation may be necessary in resolving unusual problems. This class is distinguished from the higher-level Accounting Specialist II by the responsibility for training, leadwork, and the broader scope of paraprofessional assignments handled by the latter. Supervision is received from professional-level staff, with work evaluated through reports, conferences, results achieved, and a review of data processing error summary printouts. Employees in this class may progress by noncompetitive promotion to Accounting Specialist II upon meeting the minimum qualifications and specific criteria-based promotion requirements of performance.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from high school or a GED. Considerable (3 - 5 years) experience involving clerical accounting and/or bookkeeping responsibilities, preferably in the area of assignment (such as: Accounts Payable, Cost/Property, Payroll, Revenue/Receipts, and Special Assessments).

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Experience with personal computer (PC) software applications (spreadsheet and/or data manager) related to accounting is highly desirable.