Finance Clerk

Finance Clerk Opportunity

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.