Account Clerk

Job Title

Account Clerk

Job Description

This is an open recruitment to fill one future full-time vacancy. The incumbent will enjoy working a 4/10 work schedule (Monday through Thursday). A 4% COLA increase is scheduled for July 1, 2027. The incumbent will enjoy a family environment and be a part of an enthusiastic work force that has its own spirit committee that facilitates monthly employee events. The incumbent will thrive working in this small culture environment allowing them to grow their knowledge, experience, resume, and prepare them for advancement by introducing them to a variety of finance related projects and responsibilities.

Under general supervision, processes utility billing data with heavy customer service emphasis and problem solving abilities; receives and answers inquiries by phone and in person; performs a variety of clerical and office support work related to the processing of financial transactions, record keeping and the preparation and reconciliation of financial and accounting records and reports; serves as the City's main receptionist; and performs other duties as required. The Account Clerk is the first working-level class in the Account Clerk series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents perform work in accounts receivable and/or accounts payable, in addition to performing a variety of record keeping, reconciliation and report preparation activities. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes broader in scope, assignments are more varied and are performed under more general supervision. This class is alternately staffed with the Senior Account Clerk. Incumbents may advance to the higher-level class after gaining the knowledge, skills, and experience that meet the qualifications and after demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Scope of Work and Examples of Duties

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Responds to customer telephone and counter inquires regarding utility account balances, payment plans, and meter readings and delinquencies; maintain files and registers related to utility billing. Provides a high level of customer service and receives visitors and phone calls, takes messages or routes to appropriate person; answers questions; explains complex department or City procedures, processes or activities. Audits claims, warrants, computer source documents, and other records for accuracy, where interpretation of established procedures or working with a variety of accounts is required; codes and otherwise prepares for further processing according to established procedures. Prepares standard forms and maintains reference records and files according to established procedure; prepares and/or types statistical reports, correspondence, and related documents according to prescribed format. Collects money for a variety of accounts, and may calculate payments using complicated formulas; assists the public by providing detailed explanations and interpretations of rules and regulations as they are related to individual payments. Provides information to other departments or the public which require judgment and interpretation; searches for and abstracts technical data, and provides detailed explanations of policies and procedures; refers only matters requiring policy decisions to the supervisor. Prepares mailings; sorts and/or files materials, creates and maintains computer or hard copy files, accesses files or locates materials by conducting file searches; makes copies of documents, forms or other materials; operates a variety of office equipment such as electronic calculators, typewriters, data terminals, computers and peripheral equipment, copiers and facsimile machines; provides back up to other office employees as required; and performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of: City policies and procedures involved in the preparation and processing of fiscal records; procedures, methods, and office equipment used in accounts payable, payroll, and cash accounting; general ledger accounting procedures. Ability to: work independently; analyze unusual situations involved in fiscal, financial, and statistical record keeping systems and resolve through application of City policy; make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately; perform clerical, financial record keeping work; understand and follow oral and written directions; understand, apply, and detect errors in specific segments of a record keeping system; operate a variety of office equipment, including calculator and computer; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and those contacted in the course of the work. Education and/or Experience Any combination of education and/or experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary. Example combinations include: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and one (1) year of experience in performing general accounting office work. Coursework related to bookkeeping, basic accounting and/or related computer applications and some experience in processing financial documents and maintaining financial or accounting records is desirable. Some experience and/or training in the use of Microsoft Office Products and other modern software applications.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to grasp and feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Incumbents perform sedentary work. Specific vision abilities required by these positions are those required to perform office machine operations. Work Environment Incumbents are not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

City of La Palma, CA