Senior Accounting Associate

Salary : $81,856.94 - $96,301.50 Annually
Location : City Hall - 123 5th Ave, Kirkland, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202100797
Location: Finance & Admin. - Payroll
Opening Date: 06/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME


Job Summary


Perform a variety of paraprofessional accounting duties that impact city-wide financial records; assist in preparation of semi-monthly payroll; assist professional accounting and public works staff with monitoring and processing complex financial activities and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, policies and procedures; support cost accounting, capital improvement project monitoring and grant billing. This position has specialty areas that include accounting, timekeeping, and payroll support. Assignments and projects in these functional areas will vary between Associates and may change from time to time; however, the nature and scope of the work, specific procedures/processes applied and general knowledge requirements will be comparable.

Principal Accountabilities

• Coordinate and assist with maintaining and processing information within key city-wide financial systems.
• Provide reports and analysis on accounting and financial information related to assigned responsibilities.
• Monitor assigned accounting activities to assure compliance with policies and procedures. Research transactions to ensure accuracy.

Essential Functions

• Respond to various internal and external requests for information. Produce regular or special reports and schedules as required. Verify information which may involve statistical tabulations and calculations in accordance with established formulas and procedures.
• Extract and provide information in support of the annual audit. Research auditor questions.
• Provide backup to other accounting and/or payroll staff, as needed. Serve as a resource in researching issues and questions regarding tax regulations, reporting requirements, payroll processing, and problematic records.
• Support capital improvement project budgeting and accounting, grant administration, and fund cost accounting.
• Serve as backup timekeeper; may have some primary timekeeping responsibilities.
• May assist with biennial budget preparation.

Detailed Accounting Functions

Accounting

• Assist in preparation of annual financial report. Prepare and provide analysis of year end accounting spreadsheets for annual state audited financial statements.
• Oversee city-wide asset and liability account reconciliations. Coordinate with employees in multiple departments to verify that asset and liability accounts are balanced on a regular basis.
• Research and Prepare journal entries for review by the Accounting or Financial Planning Manager as needed.

Why Kirkland?

Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!
If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they will tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive leadership and City Council, and innovation.
We also invest in you!
Competitive Wages: We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.
Awesome benefits: The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.
Childcare Programs: To help address the challenge of reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has agreements with two local childcare providers that offer discounted rates for our employees at 10 locations within 20 miles of Kirkland. Learn more!
Training and Career Development: The City of Kirkland believes in developing its e mployees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.

• Track and report seized property. Calculate and request payment of state share. Coordinate with Police Department to ensure complete and accurate records.
• Process city-wide accounts receivable including preparation of invoices, tracking of payments and assessment of finance charges per policy. Verify all transactions for accuracy and completeness.
• Provide accounting support for the EMS Transport Fee and Medical Self-Insurance programs that includes review, analysis and reconciliation of account balances and reserves.
• Provide accounting support to project engineers to ensure timely and accurate construction project reporting and maintain report records. Maintain IFAS project reports, prepare and process project revision sheets, and maintain project dashboards.
• Assist with reconciliation and analysis of CIP Funds and determination of CIP funding. Maintain spreadsheets supporting CIP/Utility funding requirements.
• Monitor assigned budgets throughout the year to ensure proper posting of expenditures. Record monthly cash receipts/disbursements for preparation and reconciliation of operating budgets. Research and prepare required journal entries, as needed.
• Prepare and maintain all documentation required to support assigned grants. Provide annual reconciliation of assigned grants for State audit.
• Perform customer service and coordination tasks associated with the administration of the Emergency Sewer Program (ESP).
• Assist in the preparation of biennial budgets by extracting and analyzing financial records for forecasting of revenues and expenditures. Update historical data to track revenue performance in the budget cycle.
• Process and administer water contracts, including payments and invoicing, tracking consumption, and billing issue resolution.
• Prepare invoices and supporting data for work performed in support of others by Public Works Operations and Maintenance crews. Maintain records of billing, payment, and tracking of past due invoices.
• Prepare monthly public works labor distribution records and corresponding monthly journal entries.
• Maintain monthly engineering manpower report for project management; prepare monthly manpower transfer for use in maintaining internal charge models.
• Prepare year-end Street report for annual audit and assist in the preparation of the annual levy reports.
• Reconcile and update records of Street Security Deposits collected and refunded.
• Track and report on School Impact fees and prepare monthly remittances.

Timekeeping

• Serve as backup timekeeper for the department.
• Serve as primary timekeeper responsible for Teamsters bargaining unit.

Payroll

• Responsible for preparing timely and accurate semi-monthly payroll and related information; audit employee hours submitted by timekeepers. Audit payroll reports for completeness, resolve discrepancies and correct errors.
• Answer employee related inquiries regarding benefits, pay, and labor contract information. Assist in maintaining personnel information in the Human Resources System.
• Assist with reconciliation, reporting and payment of various deductions and benefits.
• Coordinate and process employee wage assignments, garnishments and deductions, including federal W-4 tax information.

Peripheral Duties

• Provide back-up for other finance functions as needed.
• Perform special projects to support other Payroll Systems Staff and/or Department management.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work accurately and efficiently with attention to details.
• Knowledge of general accounting and fund accounting, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Ability to create complex spreadsheets.
• Ability to operate automated financial software and timekeeping system and document management system.
• Ability to perform complex reconciliations using a variety of data sources.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as calculator, typewriter, and personal computer.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and communicate sensitively and effectively with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to understand and implement laws, regulations and labor contracts related to payroll processing.
• Ability to work under pressure and/or continual interruptions, and to deal with a variety of deadlines of both an immediate and flexible nature.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and other employees, both verbally and in writing.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
AA degree in accounting or related field and 5 years experience in bookkeeping/accounting/ payroll processing in a union environment or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Experience with automated financial management systems and public sector accounting rules preferred.

Other

Working Conditions
Perform work in an office environment. Prolonged periods of sitting and computer keyboard entry is a routine part of this job.
Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled. Job is open until filled with first review by 15th day of original posting date.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call View phone number on click.appcast.io or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 711.
This position includes a health insurance benefit package with 100% City-paid premiums for 1.0 FTE (medical/dental/vision for employee and dependents). Premium is prorated for less than 1.0 FTE positions with cost shared between City and the employee.


Participation in the Public Employees Retirement System is mandatory for all eligible positions.


Other employment benefits include:

• 401b Municipal Employee Benefits Trust (MEBT) with 6.2% City matching contribution
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) VEBA dollars with City contribution (City contribution depending on employee elected medical plan)
• Voluntary Flexible Spending Account for Healthcare and Childcare
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• City paid Life Insurance
• City paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Paid vacation (starts with 13 days first year may be prorated for part-time positions)
• Annual 12 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Paid sick leave accruals (benefit may vary based on applicable bargaining unit)
• Paid Management Leave for select leadership positions

Perks include:

• Alternative work schedules
• Free EV charging at Level 2 and 3 chargers
• Free ORCA card for public transit
• Access to onsite fitness center and secure bike storage at City Hall
• Free employee parking
• Childcare programs with discounted tuition rates
• Wellness and transportation incentives

For further review of City Benefits and Perks please visit