Finance Clerk

Salary : $54,174.00 - $69,463.00 Annually
Location : City Hall - 300 E. Chapman Avenue Orange, CA
Job Type: Full Time Miscellaneous
Job Number: 01735
Department: Finance Department
Opening Date: 10/07/2026
Closing Date: 10/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Max Number of Applicants: 150

The City of Orange Finance Department is looking for its next Finance Clerk!
IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

This recruitment will close on October 21, 2026, or upon receipt of 150 applications, whichever occurs first.
Please save the following tentative dates:

Application Review: October 21-23, 2026
Written Exam: October 23-26, 2026
Panel Interviews: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Department Selection Interviews: Week of November 9th
Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of routine to complex technical and administrative account support duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and transactions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, utility billing, and/or business licensing, in addition to balancing and maintaining manual and computerized accounting and financial records; and performs related work as required.

Examples of Duties
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
When performing the accounts receivable assignment:

• Processes periodic invoice requests; creates and maintains new payor accounts.
• Receives and balances cash receipts and general ledger debits; allocates revenue to proper cost accounts; posts revenue; prepares bank deposits and related reports.
• Receives mail and direct payments from the public and from other City departments, balances monies received, and prepares receipts.
• Processes City-wide returned checks and contacts customers as appropriate; prepares delinquent item reports, initiates and monitors delinquent processing for collection; prepares and processes year-end write-offs for un-collectable accounts.
• Maintain and update IRS W-9 information of vendors for IRS 1099 year end tax reporting and processing.

When performing the accounts payable assignment:

• Processes payments in batches and logs batch reports as appropriate; processes warrant writing on a weekly basis; prepares documentation for payment; confers with vendors as necessary; enters and verifies data into the automated accounts payable system to produce payment; may prepare manual checks; prepares payments for mailing and files copies with backup.
• Audits, verifies, codes, and batches accounts payable transactions; matches purchase orders, packing slips, and invoices; researches discrepancies and unauthorized purchases; checks allocations against department budget appropriations; prepares payment requests; balances and maintains retention accounts; liquidates purchase orders; processes purchasing requisitions for the assigned department.
• Sets up new vendor accounts; obtains necessary information and paperwork from vendors; prepares vendor invoice tracking; inputs vendor invoices and prints checks; totals and balances accounts.
• Maintains credit card accounts; processes receipts and reconciles to credit card statements.
• Processes miscellaneous receipts.
• Transmits weekly warrant file to the bank.
• Reviews source documents for accuracy, receipt of necessary information, and compliance with rules, regulations, and procedures; determines proper handling for compliance.
• Receives vendor inquiries via telephone, fax, or mail; resolves any issues, problems, or requests using established procedures.
• Prepares centralized bank deposits and reports for the Investment Revenue Officer. Maintains warrant control log for check stock.
• Processes "orders to withhold personal income tax" on behalf of the Federal Franchise Tax Board and IRS.
• Maintains signature authorization listing used to verify payment authorization signatures.
• Verifies bankruptcy information of vendors; participates in audits of vendors and other City departments; maintains vendor W-9 information for 1099 processing.

When performing the utility billing assignment:

• Accepts and processes payments at the front counter, over the phone, and by mail, in cash, by check, or by credit card; makes change as necessary and maintains cash drawer as appropriate; processes automatic customer account debits through electronic bank transfers; balances payments and posts transactions in the accounting system daily.
• Sets up new accounts or closes out terminated accounts; notifies customers of excessive usage and initiates work orders to investigate for high consumption, potential leaks, or broken utility meters; calculates and processes billing adjustments due to leaks, penalty adjustments, or overestimating.
• Sends out late and final notices, collection notices, and performs necessary collections and delinquency processing.
• Maintains current billing book by downloading reads, printing and investigating problem accounts (e.g., high reads, missing reads, etc.); generates investigation list for the Customer Service Crew.
• Maintains accurate billing information through data entry, calculations, and verifications.

When performing the business licensing assignment:

• Maintains the business license database; researches new businesses and notifies them of licensing requirements; mails application materials; processes closing accounts; reviews and reconciles payment ledger against database of notices; verifies bankruptcy information and performs other research about business and property information; initiates work orders for inspectors as needed.
• Calculates necessary fees; accepts and processes payments at the front counter, over the phone, and by mail, in cash, by check, or by credit card; makes change as necessary and maintains cash drawer as appropriate; balances payments and posts transactions in the accounting system daily.
• Prepares monthly renewal, second, late, final, and delinquent notices.
• Balances month end work and researches, compiles, enters, and classifies data for new business input.
• Participates in the implementation of new business license rates.

When performing all assignments:

• Performs a variety of routine to complex administrative and technical account support duties related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, utility billing, business licensing, and/or department-specific technical account duties, including posting, balancing, adjusting, and maintaining manual and computerized account and financial records according to established policies and procedures.
• Verifies, posts and records a variety of financial transactions; prepares and maintains databases, records, and a variety of periodic and special financial, accounting and statistical reports; generates reports by computer and balances them appropriately.
• Enters and retrieves information and data using standard word processing and spreadsheet software, as well as accounting, financial, and other electronic information systems specific to the department to which assigned.
• Maintains a variety of ledgers, registers, and journals according to established account policies and procedures; reconciles transactions and data as directed; records changes and resolves differences; maintains the accuracy of accounting and financial records.
• Generates and assists in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial, summary and technical reports.
• Performs general office support duties such as opening and routing mail and deliveries; preparing correspondence; filing and record keeping; duplicating and distributing various written materials; and ordering and keeping inventory of office supplies.
• Assists customers, departments, and employees by providing answers and information regarding specific account information, discrepancies, general accounting procedures, and/or department specific issues and problems; researches issues regarding specific transactions; and updates related files and departments on action items; may dispatch maintenance crews to assist with emergencies.
• May initiate a variety of work orders for other personnel in the department to which assigned.
• May provide direction and training to lower-level or less experienced staff in area of assignment.
• May assist with the year-end closing process.
• Assists supervisor(s) with special projects as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Terminology and practices of financial and account document processing and record keeping, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, utility billing, and business licensing.
• Business arithmetic and basic financial and statistical techniques.
• Record-keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• Computer applications related to work, including word processing and spreadsheet software.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.

Ability to:

• Perform detailed account and financial office support work accurately and in a timely manner.
• Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and other requests for service.
• Interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Organize own work, set priorities and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and one (1) year of responsible administrative support experience; experience in financial/accounting record-keeping preferred.

Supplemental Information
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Disaster Service Worker:

All employees of the City of Orange are designated by both State law and City ordinance to be "Disaster Service Workers." In the event of a declared emergency or any undeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health and/or safety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and relief workers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours and performing work significantly different from the employees' normal work assignments and may continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.


City Mission, Vision, and Values:
Incumbents in all City positions are expected to exhibit the behavior characteristics reflected in the City's Mission, Vision, and Values statements in the performance of their duties: The City of Orange is committed to excellent service for our residents, businesses, and visitors. As an organization, the City of Orange is the leader in delivering the highest level of service to meet current and future needs of the community. The City's values include Teamwork, Excellence, Accountability, and Transparency.
BENEFITS FOR ORANGE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

The City of Orange provides a generous array of benefits to employees in addition to maintaining competitive salaries. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees working from 20 to 35 hours.

The following is a partial list of benefits:

Salary Range. Salary Ranges are composed of six (6) steps, each approximately five percent (5%) apart. Advancements through the steps are generally made yearly and based on performance.


Retirement Benefits. Retirement benefits are provided by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), including the City's contribution toward the Fourth Level Survivor's Benefit.


Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired non-safety employees who are " New " CalPERS Members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at age 62 defined benefit plan with three year final compensation in accordance with Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). New Members shall contribute half of normal cost of retirement as determined by CalPERS from their pensionable compensation, on a pre-tax basis, as set forth in California Government Code Section 7522.30.

An employee who is a " Classic " Member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired by the City of Orange on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2.7% @ age 55 benefit formula with one year final compensation. Employees contribute 8.00% of pension reportable salary on a pre-tax basis for this retirement benefit.


Social Security & Medicare. Employees do not pay into Social Security, however, do contribute 1.45% of salary towards Medicare.
Cafeteria Benefits Plan. The City pays up to $2,170 per month (Family) which can be applied towards CalPERS medical, dental, vision, health care reimbursement, and/or dependent care reimbursement. Under certain criteria, employees may elect to opt out of the City's medical plan altogether and receive $400 per month.


Life Insurance. The City provides a term life insurance policy of $50,000 .


Vacation. Employees earn 80 hours of vacation during the first year of service, and an increasing accrual up to 200 hours per year after 24 years of service. The City also provides an annual unused vacation payout plan.

Holidays. The City observes 11 paid holidays and provides 9 hours of floating holiday annually.

Sick Leave. Sick leave is accrued at a rate of 96 hours per year. Employees are eligible to convert unused sick leave to vacation on an annual basis. A partial payment (up to 50%) for accumulated unused sick leave is available to City employees who retire from the City.

Other Benefits. Most employees work a "9/80" alternate work schedule with City Hall closures every other Friday. Long Term Disability, an Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement (up to $1,500/fiscal year), Trip Reduction Program incentives, optional Deferred Compensation programs and Credit Union membership are a few of the additional benefits provided and/or available to employees.


CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A Medical Examination , Police Records Check, and thorough Background Investigation are required of all prospective employees.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA ), all job offers made by the City of Orange are contingent upon establishing proof of your legal right to work in the United States.

All benefited employees shall be subject to a twelve (12) month probationary period as a condition of employment.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The types and levels of employee benefits provided, including City contributions toward benefit costs, are subject to change as a result of periodic contract settlements between recognized employee associations and the City of Orange.

For more information, please click for the Orange Municipal Employees' Association Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Note: an updated MOU is in the process of being uploaded, so the current document may include outdated information. Please contact HR staff at if you have any questions regarding contents of the MOU.

The City of Orange is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
01


What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Did not graduate high school / did not obtain GED
• Graduated high school / obtained GED
• Completed some college-level coursework or obtained Associate degree
• Obtained Bachelor's degree
• Obtained Graduate degree

02


How many years of experience do you possess in administrative support?

• No experience
• Less than one (1) year
• One (1) year or more

03


Briefly describe your experience in administrative support. Be sure to include the company/organization's name and duties you performed. If none, type "N/A".
04


Briefly describe any experience you possess in financial/accounting record-keeping. Be sure to include the company/organization's name and duties you performed. If none, type "N/A".
05


Please list any college-level coursework you have taken in accounting, finance, or related field. If none, type "N/A".Be sure that the school information is listed in the "Education" section of your application.
Required Question