Senior Accounting Assistant

Salary : $69,883.08 - $85,262.64 Annually
Location : Healdsburg, CA 95448
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2024046
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 10/09/2024
Closing Date: 11/8/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
Join the City of Healdsburg as a Senior Accounting Assistant ! The Finance Department is seeking a professional who thrives in a fast-paced customer facing work environment. In this role, you'll be responsible for processing utility billing and engage with members of the community on questions about utility billing, and business licenses. You'll also have the opportunity to be a mentor within the Finance Department and contribute to the efficiency of the City by working collaboratively with the Electric, Public Works, Water and Wastewater Utility departments. If you're detail-oriented, have a curious mind, and are passionate about providing excellent customer service, this position is perfect for you!
About the Senior Accounting Assistant:
To organize, assign and review the work of assigned staff engaged in financial and accounting office support duties; to perform complex clerical support accounting and financial duties requiring specialized knowledge; and to provide highly responsible clerical support to assigned supervisor.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, prioritize, and review the work of staff assigned to a variety of a variety of financial and accounting office support duties.
• Develop schedules, including billing and meter reading schedules, and methods to accomplish assignments ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Participate in evaluating the activities of staff, recommending improvements and modifications.
• Assist with coordination of clerical staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies.
• Make computer entries, recording a variety of accounting transactions in various ledgers and accounts; gather data and prepare financial statements and balances for various state and federal financial reports; analyze past expenditures, project economic trends and estimate revenues.
• Administer and account for special revenues and restricted fund monies to ensure that provisions are adhered to; maintain ledgers and provide support for auditor's review.
• Oversee meter reading tracking for all meters that the City owns; create monthly meter reading schedule for the Meter Reading Department; adjust schedule for the correct number of billing days allowed; perform daily edits to meter reading reports to identify variances and missed readings; create re-read service orders.
• Process monthly Utility Billing for the City including residential, commercial customers for electric, water, sewer and storm drain services; prepare and enter utility billing adjustments based on customer requests or re-read findings; create, review and implement annual seasonal sewer adjustments for residential customers; prepare, approve and process credit balance and utility deposit refunds after verification.
• Create, prepare and process electric and water meter change-outs service orders; track monthly water hydrant and solar readings for billing and create annual true up cost adjustments.
• Create, calculate, review and verify journal and postings for monthly, annual, final and adjusted billings; create sewer adjustments for residential customers after final billings.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Foster an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, trust, and respect.
• Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation, and communication.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of :

• Principles and practices of technical and functional supervision and training.
• Government accounting principles, financial record keeping processes and municipal utility billing services.
• Utility and related municipal services provided to residential and commercial customers.
• Office procedures, cash handling and reconciliation procedures.
• Principles of providing customer service in person, on the phone or via email.
• Relevant local, State, and Federal laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment.

Ability to :

• Perform complex duties related to accounting and financial office clerical support duties and to maintain and oversee detailed accurate record keeping; issue accurate bills and detailed reports; and provide customer service.
• Intermittently, review documents related to department operations; observe, identify and problem solve office operations and procedures; understand, interpret and explain department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve issues for the public and with staff.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift or carry weight of 10 pounds or less.
• Provide technical and functional supervision over assigned staff; effectively train staff.
• Balance payment records; conduct research and reconcile discrepancies.
• Use sound judgment in recognizing scope of authority.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computers and applicable software.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to prescribed work schedule to conduct job responsibilities.
• Utilize appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Experience and Training - Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience : Three years of accounting, financial office support service, customer support service in a related field within a public or private agency/utility.
Training : The completion of two years of college in an accounting support field or an Associate's degree in accounting is highly desirable.
License and Certificate
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain such required license(s) may be cause for disciplinary action. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be considered for accommodation on a case-by-case basis.
Supplemental Information
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must submit a clear, concise, completed online City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your online application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. All applicants will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Resumes, CVs and cover letters may not be reviewed as part of the application screening process, unless the application specifically requests supporting materials.
HELPFUL TIPS WHEN APPLYING:

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• List all employers and positions held within the last ten (10) years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten (10) years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one (1) employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

BACKGROUND SCREENING:
Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to fingerprinting and a background investigation prior to employment. Failure to comply with the background will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer are contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The City of Healdsburg values diversity and is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace environment that is representative of the community. The City is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces and diversity of our employees where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by contacting Human Resources within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. You may also contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 431-3322.
The City of Healdsburg has a comprehensive set of benefits. Read more about these here
01
The purpose of the supplemental questions is to provide applicants the opportunity to elaborate on their experience, education, and training for the Senior Accounting Assistant position and to assist the Human Resources Department in assessing each applicant's qualifications. Your responses to the questions will be used to better understand your relevant experience, education, and training to determine which applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the recruitment process.

• I understand.

02
How many years of experience do you possess completing utility billing, and/or processing accounts receivable?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 2 years
• 2-5 years
• More than 5 years

03
Please elaborate on the experience indicated in the previous question (#2). Include where you gained each type of experience and your level of responsibility.
04
Do you possess cash handling experience? If so, please elaborate on where you gained the experience and your level of responsibility.
05
Please describe your experience with general office and financial software and include your level of proficiency.
06
How many years of experience do you have working in a position that involved frequent, direct contact with the general public, where you were responsible for providing excellent customer service?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 2 years
• 2 - 3 years
• More than 3 years

07
Are you bilingual in English and Spanish?

• Beginning
• Intermediate
• Fluent
• N/A

Required Question