Bookkeeper II (Utilities)

Job Title

This classification involves specialized bookkeeping and clerical work for assigned department within the City. An employee in this position provides customer service; processes registrations and/or receives payments; checks discounts and extensions; creates and maintains financial spreadsheets; researches discrepancies; posts financial records, invoices, and/or claims; maintains and reviews financial records; handles NSF checks; prepares department payrolls; maintains vendor, member, security badge, and/or contract lists; processes documents using coding and more complex calculations; and balances accounts. This position also opens/closes assigned area and covers reception areas as needed.

Essential Job Functions

Provides front desk coverage; assists general public (walk-in/phone) and volunteers; registers patrons for classes; processes payments; updates member information into systems; takes member photos; and issues ID and security cards.

• Maintains security, member, or other types of lists.
• Receives money, verifies amounts received, and prepares deposits.
• Examines invoices and warrants; determines if material is received and properly priced; checks discounts and extensions; and approves invoices for payment.
• Creates and maintains financial spreadsheets; makes arithmetic calculations; checks various accounting tables; and creates reports.
• Sorts and files materials numerically, alphabetically, or by other established classifications; assembles and verifies correctness of records keeping data and other information gathered for reporting purposes.
• Maintains and reconciles gift card purchases, P-Cards, donations, and distributions.
• Maintains records.
• Completes and mails routine forms or form letters; distributes/delivers mail in office.
• Receives and counts cash and other payments; prepares receipts; reconciles and replenishes cash; and posts to records.
• Processes the payroll in large divisions; makes changes and corrections to payroll sheets; prepares special payrolls; submits to appropriate source; and assists new personnel in completing necessary payroll and deduction information.
• Analyzes budget status by monitoring expenditures; forecasts encumbrances for the fiscal budget year.
• Makes reminder phone calls for trips, lectures, and social services events.
• Operates adding machines, calculators, bookkeeping machines, data entry terminals, and other standard office equipment.
• Maintains vendor files; maintains inventory information; and maintains contract lists.
• Contacts vendors and Finance personnel to determine order, receipt, and payment status for goods and services.
• Prepares receipt work sheets for Finance indicating department, activity, and amounts received.
• Balances accounts; researches discrepancies.
• Assists other clerical personnel as needed.
• Performs related work as required.

Requirements

Education: High school or vocational school diploma or GED. Some college level course work in accounting or finance desired.

Experience: Reasonable work experience in financial record-keeping utilizing a computerized system involving accounts payables and accounts receivables including some supervisory experience. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required.

Physical Requirements: Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment and data center rooms and closets with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including but not limited to evenings, weekends and holidays.

Sensory: Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through personal contact, the use of the telephone and/or other City-issued technology devices.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist under desks and around furniture; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight up to 50 lbs.; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Occasional climbing on ladder or stool to reach or mount equipment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of accounting.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Skill in using Office and department software.
• Ability to apply accounting principles to the maintenance of standard fiscal and accounting records.
• Ability to maintain detailed and accurate records of inventory and accounting transactions
• Ability to make arithmetic computations and tabulations rapidly and accurately.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to prepare simple reports.
• Ability to operate adding machines, calculators, bookkeeping machines, data entry terminals, personal computers and other standard office and accounting machines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with supervisors and fellow employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with competing priorities and varied responsibilities.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively to develop win-win solution.
• Ability to evaluate the impact of alternative courses of action and evaluate circumstances of an innovative, new, or unprecedented nature

Benefits

City-Paid Medical Benefits: Group Health Insurance: The City pays for 100% of the cost for single coverage for full-time employees and 66.66% of cost for Dependent/Family Coverage. Upon retirement and separation from City employment, employee receives a monthly stipend of $350 per month, applicable toward retiree health coverage. Life Insurance: $30,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Cigna Behavioral Retirement: Employee Contribution = 8% Vesting = 10 Years Normal Retirement Benefit = 2.5% of pensionable earnings for each year of creditable service Average Final Compensation (AFC) = 3 best consecutive earning years Maximum Benefit = 80% of AFC, not to exceed $80,000. Normal Retirement = Age 62 and ten (10) years of creditable service Early Retirement = Age 57 and ten (10) years of creditable service, 3% annual reduction for each year prior to normal retirement age 13th check based on monthly retirement, payable if the pension plan funding status is equal to or greater than 100%. Paid in December each year following retirement Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) = 4 years/48 months maximum DROP Interest Rate = 4%, compounded annually Longevity: Based on successful completion of full-time, continuous service with the City, employee shall receive the following: Years of Creditable Service Longevity Benefit* 10 Years 2.5% 15 Years 2.5% 20 Years 5.0% * Longevity Benefit calculated on employee's base rate of pay Paid Holidays: Employees receive the following City-paid holidays: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Day Memorial Day Juneteenth 4th of July, Independence Day Labor Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day Friday after Thanksgiving Christmas Day Annual Leave: Annual leave may be taken as earned after completion of (90) calendar days. Maximum accumulation each fiscal year is 290 hours. At time of resignation or retirement, employee is paid for all annual leave accrued at their current rate of pay. Annual leave is accrued based on continuous, full-time service with the City, as follows: Completed Months of Service Total Hours Accrued Annually Up to and including first 60 months 96 hours/12 Days Greater than 60 months through 120 months 136 hours/17 Days Greater than 120 months through 204 months 176 hours/22 Days Greater than 204 months 216 hours/27 Days Annual Leave Cash Out: Employee can opt to receive a non-pensionable cash payment twice per year for up to forty (40) hours of annual leave, provided accrued annual leave bank does not fall below eighty (80) hours. Floating Holidays: Upon completion of (26) weeks of full-time employment with the City, employee shall be entitled to utilize up to five (5) floating holidays per fiscal year. Floating holidays shall not carry over to the next fiscal year. Perfect Attendance: For every six (6) months period (April 1 - September 30) and (October 1 - March 31) in which, no sick or unpaid leave is utilized, an employee shall receive ten (10) hours of annual leave credited. Employees who qualify for a consecutive Perfect Attendance benefit shall receive fourteen (14) hours of annual leave credited for each applicable consecutive earning period. Sick Leave: Each employee