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ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT I

Finance Department

$5,215.33 – $7,338.42 Monthly, Plus Excellent Benefits
Salary steps—Steps F, G, and H, within the range listed above—are available after 5, 10, and 15 years of service, with one year at the prior step and a satisfactory performance evaluation. Initial placement is typically at the entry step, though candidates with relevant public agency accounting or finance experience may qualify for a higher step based on qualifications and job alignment.
 

Opportunity to work a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off. This is a full-time, on-site position, designed for direct collaboration with the team and active participation in daily operations.

The City of Gilroy is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion. Join our team! 


ABOUT THE POSITION

The City of Gilroy is recruiting for a full-time Accounting Assistant I in the Finance Department. This position will primarily be assigned to the Utility Billing/Information Desk area, providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers, and performing cashiering and accounting-related work. The Finance Department’s goal is to provide timely and accurate financial information to City Management, City Council, and the public, while responsibly managing the City’s assets, including cash and investments.

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Manager or Supervising Accounting Technician, the Accounting Assistant will perform a wide variety of accounting and statistical record-keeping assignments related to maintaining financial and statistical records. This position may provide support in one or more of the following areas: accounts receivable, accounts payable, utility billing, and/or the front information desk.

This role offers opportunities to build foundational experience in municipal finance and may serve as a steppingstone to the Accounting Assistant II classification, depending on performance and experience gained.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Finance Department is committed to delivering timely, accurate financial information to City leadership and the public, while responsibly managing the City’s assets—including cash and investments—with integrity and transparency. The team also takes pride in providing friendly, efficient utility billing services to our water and wastewater customers.  

If you’re looking to join a team that values professionalism and community impact, the Finance Department is the place to be!


CANDIDATE LEARNING PERSPECTIVES 

If you're looking to join a hard-working team in a fast-paced environment—where you can gain hands-on experience in Finance, Accounting, and Customer Service—this position could be a great fit for you!

As an entry-level Accounting Assistant, you'll be supported with the tools and training needed to succeed and contribute to the department’s goals.   You’ll work closely with the Finance team, other departments, and members of the public, developing strong customer service skills along the way. This role offers valuable exposure to municipal operations and the potential to advance to an Accounting Assistant II position. 

EXAMPLES OF FIRST YEAR PROJECTS/ ASSIGNMENTS

• Learn the new Utility Billing/ ERP System – Tyler Munis 
• Support implementation and rollout of new Utility Customer water usage reports and portal. 
• Assist customers with billing inquiries and account support
• Develop knowledge of utility billing processes and account management. 

The Department: 

The Finance Department administers the financial affairs of the City of Santa Clara, including City-owned public utilities. The department is comprised of five divisions: Administrative Services, Budget and Treasury, Accounting, Municipal Services, and Purchasing. Together, these divisions carry out the mission of the Finance Department to ensure that the City's financial and fiscal activities are performed, recorded, and presented in compliance with professional and ethical standards.

The Position: 

The Finance Department seeks to recruit a Meter Reader with experience working independently, with a high level of motivation, integrity, and customer service. This position will read between 500 and 1,200 analog and digital residential, commercial, and industrial water and electric utility meters to ensure the accuracy of readings entered into a hand-held data entry terminal. This position plays a key role in ensuring accurate utility billing and revenue integrity by collecting and recording meter data while providing courteous, professional interactions with customers in the field.

Additional Information: 

Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of April 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM. 

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED ABOVE.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT.MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR POSITIONS ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CMD 033- EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.

The annual salary range for this position is $87,161.88 - $111,436.32.  This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range. 

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Education Requirements: 

Graduation from high school or possession of a GED

Minimum Experience Requirements: 

One (1) year of public contact experience

Acceptable Substitution: 

None

License/Certifications: 

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment and for the duration of employment.

Desirable Qualifications: 

Experience working on a route and using a handheld device is desirable.
Knowledge of basic computer skills is desirable.

Other Requirements:  

Eyesight capable of reading meters from a distance.
Incumbents may be required to work in inclement weather.
May be required to work shifts, weekends, and odd and unusual hours in the performance of duties and emergency situations.
Frequent daily contact with dogs.
Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. 

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: This position qualifies for Veteran’s Preference Points.  Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score.

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov. 

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL OR JOB ANNOUNCMENT PDF BELOW.

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.