Accounting Technician II

Job Title

Accounting Technician II

Job Description

The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities. When you interact with a City employee, you will find our collaborative, driven and efficient staff working together to provide strategic solutions for the community and each other. We are a city focused on external and internal customer service and try to find a way to say "yes," while not compromising the City's or our own integrity. Our efforts are guided by our core values: Integrity, Stewardship, Service, Community, Innovation, Teamwork. Our employees are passionate about innovation, collaboration and growth, which is supported by the City's Council and Executive Team. We are an environment that thrives on making changes, pivoting quickly, and is full of movers and shakers. We are constantly striving to improve processes and better our approach so that we can better support the needs of the City. If you have growth mindset and find change exciting, the City of Palm Desert may be your ideal working environment! Appointment to this position is expected to fall within the salary range of $71,843 to $83,138 annually; however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization. Exceptional candidates with highly relevant experience and credentials may be considered for compensation above the anticipated hiring range.

Under immediate (I) or general (II) supervision, performs a variety of technical and clerical accounting tasks related to the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting and financial transactions; applies technical knowledge and application of the principles and practices of bookkeeping to support general accounting, fixed asset, payroll, procurement, budget, and/or other types of financial administration activities; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives supervision from supervisory or management staff. Does not directly or indirectly supervise other employees but may provide technical direction and training to less experienced staff.

Examples of Typical Job Functions

• Reviews, verifies, and records a variety of accounting and financial transactions in accordance with established processes and procedures; posts, balances, and reconciles transactions to the general ledger; calculates and makes adjustments; allocates payments to proper account; verifies account balances and available funds; prepares and maintains deposit and treasurer receipts; prepares adjusting journal entries; records changes and resolves discrepancies.
• Reviews and processes checks and payments in batches; prepares documentation for payment; coordinates management review and approval of batches; contacts departments and/or vendors to make corrections or request additional information when necessary; enters and verifies data into the financial management system to produce payment; prints checks; prepares positive pay or electronic funds transfer (EFT) and submits to the bank; attaches copies of checks and backup documentation to vouchers and purchase orders.
• Enters, processes, and verifies for accuracy a variety of documents in the City's financial management systems, such as purchase orders, vouchers, wires, and cash receipt documents.
• Reviews, verifies, and processes various requests for cash and payment such as petty cash, travel advance, and reimbursement requests; verifies proper approval, account numbers, and amounts; ensures compliance with City policy and procedure; prepares receipts as required.
• Reviews and processes purchase requests, contracts, and agreements in accordance with the City's purchasing ordinance and City Council action; generates and issues purchase orders.
• Maintains and updates Internal Revenue Service (IRS) W-9 information of vendors for IRS 1099 year-end tax reporting and processing; prepares, verifies, and mails out 1099 forms; follows-up with IRS on notices to withhold taxes and related notifications.
• Assists in preparing solicitation documents (e.g., Requests for Proposals, Requests for Quotes, Scopes of Work, and Construction Specifications); assists in administering the bid process.
• Reviews open purchase orders at year-end; calculates and monitors purchase order budgets and remaining balances annually; sends notifications for renewals and closes purchase orders as necessary.
• Researches, evaluates, and classifies fixed assets.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of operating and capital improvement program (CIP) budgets; prepares technical budget reports as assigned.
• Maintains and monitors grant financial records; verifies that purchases and expenditures are allocated and spent in accordance with rules and regulations governing the use of each grant.
• Receives, reviews, verifies, and processes time recording, payroll action, and personnel transaction documents to prepare payroll for all City employees; audits documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with rules and regulations; prepares and balances payroll reports and records.
• Processes payments for employee retirement benefits and other insurances.
• Generates and distributes routine monthly revenue and expenditure reports.
• Assists with the year-end closing, reconciliation, reporting, and audit processes; researches, compiles, reconciles, verifies, and prepares technical accounting, financial, and statistical information and materials.
• Assists in the implementation and upgrading of the City's financial system; assists in training staff and creating user documentation; troubleshoots basic technical system issues as needed.
• Drafts procedures related to assigned functional areas of responsibility in coordination with assigned management staff; trains employees on procedures.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and detailed accounting and financial records and files according to established policies and procedures.
• Performs a variety of administrative office support duties such as maintaining department website, sorting and distributing mail, and ordering and maintaining office and other related supplies.
• Researches and answers questions regarding various technical accounting issues.
• Serves as backup for other functional areas of responsibility including, but not limited to, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or cash receipts and disbursements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of: Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility. Basic principles and practices of bookkeeping and technical accounting. Terminology, practices, and procedures of technical financial and account document processing and record keeping, including cash receipts and disbursements, accounts payable, and/or accounts receivable. Financial reporting requirements of various state and federal agencies. Technical principles and practices of researching, compiling, and reporting on financial information. Record keeping and filing principles, procedures, systems, and methods. Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work. Business letter writing and the standard format for reports and correspondence. Methods of preparing and processing various records, reports, forms, and other documents specific to the accounting department. English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. Business arithmetic and basic financial and statistical techniques. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to: Learn, interpret, apply, and explain applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and City policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility. Learn and understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities. Perform clerical and technical accounting and financial support work accurately and in a timely manner. Gather, summarize, and present information and data in an effective manner. Review and audit payroll, accounting, procurement, budget, and other financial documents for completeness and accuracy. Review, post, balance, reconcile, and maintain accurate and confidential payroll and accounting records. Prepare, examine, analyze, and verify clear, complete, and concise financial documents and reports. Maintain accurate databases, records, and files. Perform arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations accurately. Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines. Effectively use computer systems, software, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks. Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Accounting Technician I/II: Equivalent to completion of 60 semester (or equivalent quarter) units from an accredited college or university with at least 15 units in accounting, business administration, or a related field. Accounting Technician I: Prior technical accounting experience is preferred. Accounting Technician II: Two (2) years of increasingly responsible specialized and technical accounting experience equivalent to that of an Accounting Technician I. Licenses and Certifications: None. 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, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions