Accounting Technician

Accounting And Finance Department Position

The purpose of this classification is to maintain various accounting records, to handle invoice payments to vendors, to assist with required federal and state payroll reporting, to perform vendor and general ledger account reconciliations and perform clerical accounting functions.

The following duties are normal for this classification. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

• Processes purchase order invoices, which includes reviewing invoices for proper receipt, accurate purchase prices, appropriate tax rates and adequate funding.
• Processes check requisitions, which includes reviewing documents for signature authority and appropriate supporting documentation.
• Reviews invoices and other payment documents for proper accounting, which includes interpreting and applying accounting standards for financial reporting to classify the expenditure.
• Researches general ledger accounts and reconciles vendor accounts to provide information and assistance.
• Reconciles accounts payable general ledger accounts.
• Establishes and maintains vendor profiles to include verifying tax identification numbers with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Assists with the issuance of tax documents, primarily Form 1099s, in compliance with IRS regulations.
• Enters and posts daily deposits, cash receipts, and monthly transfer checks.
• Calculates and properly prepares journal entries to record activity in the general ledger for all City funds.
• Keys or posts entry or exit accounting data; maintains journal entries or deposit and receipt records.
• Handles returned checks; generates and maintains all appropriate records for returned checks.
• Queries and compiles disbursement information in response to public records and external audit requests.
• Prepares and maintains management reports as assigned.
• Analyzes reports for highest level of quality and relevance.
• Notarizes city documents.
• Answers telephone calls; assists walk-in customers; responds to inquiries, problems and complaints from the general public and forwards to staff members as appropriate; provides information to the general public regarding department operations and services.
• Creates and physically maintains a variety of documents and records files; files checks.
• Performs secretarial duties for department staff, specifically: taking telephone messages, maintaining calendars, drafting and typing correspondence, copying materials.
• Generates and types correspondence, notices, reports, rosters, and lists for processing and mailing; types address labels; stuffs envelopes; mails documents; sorts and distributes mail.
• Incorporates the core beliefs of the city within the Accounting and Finance Department in order to achieve the city's standard of excellence to be the most innovative and effectively-managed city.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Recommends policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the department.
• Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in day to day activities.
• Must meet regular attendance requirements.
• Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
• Performs other related duties as required.

High school diploma or GED required; one year of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related field. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computers, printers, calculators, facsimile machines, and telephones. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary work.

DATA COMPREHENSION: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things which may include spreadsheets, flow charts, graphs, and complex financial data.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange financial and administrative information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with city officials and the general public.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires ability to read a variety of financial and accounting documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand complex accounting principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to add and subtract; multiply and divide; calculate decimals and percentages; interpret graphs; compute discounts, interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion; perform calculations involving variables, formulas, square roots, and polynomials; perform statistical calculations which include frequency distributions, reliability and validity of tests, correlation techniques, factor analysis, and econometrics.

FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment which may include automated office equipment.

MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment.

MANUAL DEXTERITY: May require the ability to handle a variety of items, computers, printers, calculators, facsimile machines, and telephones, control knobs, switches, etc. May require the ability to use one hand for twisting motion or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

COLOR DIFFERENTIATION: May require the ability to discern color.

INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT: Requires the ability to deal with and relate to people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be able to adapt to and perform under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk, express, or exchange ideas by means of spoken words and/or hear and perceive nature of sounds by ear.