Accounts Payable Clerk

Job Summary

This is a Salem Housing Authority position, which is a separate employer from the City of Salem. Make an impact: The Salem Housing Authority is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated individual to join our team as an Accounts Payable Clerk. This position plays a key role in supporting our finance operations by performing a variety of basic accounting and customer service duties. The ideal candidate will have a general knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting principles, and standard procedures. We invite you to make an impact and join our team! This position performs primarily under the direction of a lead accountant as well as a section supervisor and will not be responsible for the supervision of others. Learn and grow: Salem Housing Authority (SHA) is a growing, innovative, and mission focused independent government Agency. We are committed to growing the capabilities of our people, where you can work with diverse individuals, explore new ways of thinking, and expand your capabilities. We pride ourselves on providing a great work-life balance. What you will do: The Accounts Payable Clerk will be responsibilities to support the accounts payable process, including receiving invoices, reviewing documentation for completeness and accuracy, and ensuring proper coding for timely payments. Additionally, this position will provide backup support for the Accounts Receivable process as needed. This role requires strong attention to detail, the ability to work with financial data accurately, and the initiative to gather necessary information to ensure proper coding and processing of transactions. If you're looking to build your accounting experience while supporting an organization that makes a meaningful impact in the community, we encourage you to apply.

• Perform a variety of customer service and administrative support duties involving in-person and over-the-phone communications, accounts payable, receivable, collections and other accounting services or transactions.
• Review and validate documents, such as proofreading for mathematical or content accuracy.
• Reviewing and/or working with ledgers and other financial records relating to charges and payments.
• Identify/resolve discrepancies in customer accounts, accounts receivable or accounts payable and resolve at a level commensurate with job duties.
• Provide reports information concerning financial activities.
• Determine if sufficient information is present to record the transaction into the accounting system(s).
• Balance like documents for entry into financial systems, account records, register, or other ledgers and journals.
• Provide professional customer service and prepare correspondence accurate and timely.
• Read and understand documents for billing and payment terms, and account designations.
• Review and verify invoices and check requests; ensuring proper back up and authorization has been submitted and resolve invoice discrepancies.
• Operate calculating and other office machines and equipment.
• Activity involving exertion, including lift up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects with or without accommodation.
• Perform tasks that may require the incumbent to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, use manual dexterity, perform repetitive motions, grasp, and feel with or without accommodation.
• Perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection). Work environment will include inside office.
• Perform other accounting assistant's duties or sections as assigned.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Competitive pay.
• Retirement pension through participation in the Oregon PERS system.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b retirement account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Standard and voluntary life insurance.
• Voluntary long-term care insurance.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Work schedule is Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Our team follows a hybrid schedule working in-office (360 Church St SE, Salem, OR 97301) 3 days a week, and remotely for the rest with manager approval. This is subject to change based on business needs.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• May require an Oregon Driver's license and a driving record that meets the Salem Housing Authority's driving standards.
• Graduation from high school or G.E.D., supplemented by courses in accounting and government accounting; and two years of experience in accounting procedures, experience with governmental fund accounts, cash handling, or any equivalent combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Qualifications (Not required to apply):

• Bilingual skills preferred.

What you will bring along:

• Knowledge of basic principles of customer service and government accounting practices; including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash handling, and collections;
• Experience in exercising good judgement and working independently to accomplish assigned responsibilities, determining correct procedures, rules, and regulations to be followed when preparing billings, posting payments, reconciling account information, receiving payments, and processing delinquent accounts;
• Experience with organizing and tracking work assignments involving multi-step processes to meet deadlines and ensure accurate, timely completion of processes; re-prioritize tasks and reply to requests for information on short notice on a daily basis;
• Knowledge of methods for making accurate arithmetical computations;
• Experience reviewing, interpreting, and applying relevant laws, rules, and regulations;
• Experience with a variety of financial and billing systems used to perform assigned job functions (Elite, Pay lease, banking web sites, etc.);
• Experience with establishing and maintaining relationships with other employees and the public;
• Respect, seek to understand, and value individual differences to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace;
• Experience operating computers and using common software applications efficiently;
• Excellent communication.

About us: Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Accounting Assistant. If you would like to learn more about the Salem Housing Authority, please visit our website at

How can I apply?

The Salem Housing Authority invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community. To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application. Click here to fill out the Section 3 Employment Preference Form (Download PDF reader) and submit with your employment application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

HOUSING AUTHORITY