Accounting Technician

Accounting Technician (Payroll)

The City of Laguna Beach is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the position of Accounting Technician (Payroll) in the Finance Division of the Administrative Services Department.

What you'll do: We are looking for a detail-oriented, team player that will assist in the payroll process for the employees of the City of Laguna Beach. Under the direct supervision of the Payroll Supervisor, this position coordinates the daily operations of the City's full-cycle payroll system, including public safety; compiles, reviews and audits changes in payroll information for completeness and accuracy; reviews payroll records to ensure compliance with City policies, procedures, and regulations; reconciles California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) reports to payroll, and verifies changes to earnings reported to CalPERS; documents payroll changes in payroll ledgers and payroll master files.

Schedule: This position works on-site and has a 9/80 work schedule. The work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on alternating Fridays. City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.

You'll be awesome at:

• Professional integrity and ethics
• Professional and technical expertise
• Customer focus
• Self-management
• The ability to plan and prioritize
• Administrative skills and attention to detail
• Responsibility and dependability
• Strong organizational skills

Apply now to be part of the first review! Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, with the first review on May 20, 2026.

Qualifications: Any combination of education and experience demonstrating the ability to effectively and successfully perform the duties of the position is considered qualifying. A typical combination is as follows:

Education: Education and/or experience equivalent to graduation from high school and completion of college-level coursework in basic accounting, bookkeeping, or finance. An Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in accounting is highly desirable.

Experience: Three years of full-time progressively responsible accounting experience in an accounting environment, preferably in a municipal setting; or two years of full-time experience with the City as an Office Specialist. One year of technical and clerical accounting experience, preferably processing accounts payable transactions in a fast-paced, high-volume organization is highly desirable.

Application Process: All interested applicants must submit a completed online city application. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with a first review on May 20, 2026. Applications will be screened carefully and selected applicants will be invited to undergo a Structured Panel Interview to evaluate their knowledge, skills and abilities. The appointing hiring authority will further review the job-related qualifications of applicants deemed eligible before making selection decisions and may require a written exam. The selection process may be modified based on the needs of the City.

Pre-employment Process: Selected candidates must successfully pass a fingerprint check with the State Department of Justice. Education and employment verification and reference check(s) will also be conducted.

Why work for Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is a beautiful coastal city located in Orange County, California, with a vibrant art scene and cultural events. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, including City paid health insurance for employees, retirement plans, and paid time off. The City has a strong commitment to its employees, providing opportunities for professional growth and development through training and education programs.

The Department: The Finance Department performs all finance, accounting, business licensing, and cashiering functions for the City. The department prepares and monitors the City's annual budget, administers transient occupancy tax and business improvement district collections. Primary responsibilities include daily processing of accounts payable, accounts receivable, capital assets, and payroll. This department is also responsible for City Hall cashiering, incoming and outgoing mail, and issuing 13,000 parking permits biannually. Annually, the department issues more than 9,600 payroll and 7,200 vendor checks. The department also provides the accounting for approximately $137 million in revenues and $136 million in expenditures and coordinates inventory of the City's general capital assets. And is responsible for closing the City's financial records at year-end and the computation, review, and placement of assessments for sewer, solid waste management, and weed abatement on the County of Orange Tax Roll. An annual audit by an independent certified public accountant is administered and financed through this department's contractual service account.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Laguna Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to inform Human Resources at least two business days prior to the first phase of the selection process if you have a disability that may require an accommodation. EEO/ADA.