ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

Job Title

Under administrative direction, the purpose of the position is to perform district-based duties associated with handling more complex aspects of accounting/finance/payroll operations; and providing quality control and technical expertise for the department.

Employees in this classification monitor and calculate accounting/finance/payroll records; may direct the check preparation and production process; creates technical communications responding to internal or external inquiries. Position is responsible for researching any variances on vendor or payroll records, and the editing and balancing of financial data and/or payroll runs. Employees have lead responsibility for training and assisting co-workers in resolving problems. Performs related work as directed.

Essential Functions

• Responds to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous and empathetic manner representing OCPS in a positive light.
• Enter critical database information either into the accounting, finance, or payroll system.
• Enter sensitive data information for benefit accrual.
• Communicate with internal and external customers resolving variances on accounts or payroll issues.
• Train new staff members by developing and scheduling training sessions, as needed.
• Assist co-workers in resolving complicated problem vendor accounts or complicated payroll records.
• May audit and reimburse school and departmental petty cash expenditures.
• Process journal entries for general ledger for all voids, manual checks, change orders and expenditure corrections.
• Prepare vendor requests by analyzing statements, researching variances on vendors' accounts, processing invoices for payment, reconciling OCPS purchase orders to invoice, entering invoices for payment, preparing vendor checks for mailing, and processing vouchers for filing and audit review.
• Establish computer security for employees in respective department, as needed.
• Enter and maintain tax tables for retirement rates.
• Process capital outlay payment from facilities.
• Edit, balance, and review check runs for accounting or payroll; ensure accurate printing, signing and distribution.
• Write computer programs to extract sensitive/technical information for report production.
• Monitor and calculate court ordered garnishments.
• Research and analyze pay and leave histories from payroll records.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used by OCPS. With the support of the district, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position.
• Responsible for timely and accurate information they maintain as part of their job responsibilities.

Marginal Functions

• Open, stamp, and sort U.S. mail and courier envelopes for distribution.
• Sort and distribute reports.
• Prepare vendor checks for U.S. mailing.
• Prepare vendor payment files for record storage.
• Answer questions regarding employees' paycheck, sick/personal leave and vacation balances.
• Cover front desk.

Minimum Training and Experience

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by college-level course work or vocational training in accounting/finance; supplemented by five (5) years of related experience in an accounting/finance/payroll area or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Must be knowledgeable in SAP system processes.

Performance Aptitudes

• Data Utilization : Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information.
• Human Interaction : Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization : Requires the ability to operate and control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive and/or advisory data and information.
• Mathematical Aptitude : Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.
• Functional Reasoning : Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgement to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objective.
• Situational Reasoning : Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
• ADA Compliance
• Physical Ability : Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
• Sensory Requirements : Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds. Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require oral communications ability.
• Environmental Factors : Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

Orange County School District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.