The City of Auburn is hiring a Finance Technician in the City's Finance Department. This is a newly added position to the department and we are looking for an experienced and dynamic finance professional to join our team!
This position will primarily focus on payroll. Upon hire, the incumbent will jump right into learning the City's payroll processes and work regularly with human resources each payroll. In addition to payroll, the incumbent will perform work in various finance and accounting duties of the department.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Finance Technician works under general supervision of the Finance Director to perform a variety of clerical and technical accounting work; including assisting in the preparation, maintenance and processing of accounting records and financial transactions related to payroll, licensing, accounts payable and accounts receivable; assisting in budget preparation and monitoring; verify balances and adjust accounts; prepares various fiscal reports and provide information and assistance to City staff and the general public.
Duties include programmatic general accounting (general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll), support of budget planning and development, and preparing journal entries; assisting with the annual audit, and other administrative activities in the Finance Department. Providing information and assistance to City staff and the general public, and to provide administrative support to assigned supervisor.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the entry-level professional class in the Finance series. Positions in the class initially work under close supervision while learning job tasks and perform the more routine duties while learning City policies and procedures, and specific techniques and regulations related to finance. As experience is gained, duties gradually become more diversified and are performed under more general supervision. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Finance Analyst level by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the journey level class within the series.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
- Perform a variety of clerical and technical accounting work involved in assisting in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and financial transactions including those related to payroll, licensing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or assisting in budget preparation and monitoring.
- Participate in maintaining accounting, financial, and statistical records; post information to ledgers, journals, logs, and reports; total and balance figures; proof data and make corrections as required; participate in the preparation, reconciliation, balancing, and submittal of a variety of periodic and special reports.
- Utilize various computer programs; enter and maintain data; generate reports from a database or in-house system; create spreadsheets and generate reports using spreadsheet software; create documents using word processing software.
- Participate in the design, testing and implementation of new technology systems and processes.
- Identify and resolve problems, differences, and inconsistencies between accounting records and computerized reports; determine corrective entries involved in maintaining accounting controls and reconciling differences.
- Provide public assistance at the counter and over the phone; answer questions and provide information; research problems and prepare necessary adjustment; collect payments as necessary.
- Participate in the City’s treasury function; assist public at service counter and record revenue receipts through operation of cash register; prepare and complete daily revenue deposits including to balance cash drawer, code data input documents, and sign checks with check signer.
- Process accounts receivable; prepare statements for City services, rental, and lease obligations; receive, process, and balance payments received; input data; audit accounts receivable; prepare and process bad debt collections.
- Receive, review, and process applications for licenses and other permits; answer questions and provide information and documents related to licensing requirements and procedures; collect fees; input licensing information into computer system; assist in the maintenance of computerized and manual record keeping systems.
- Review, prepare and process annual fees and/or levy schedules for preparation and inclusion on annual tax rolls in coordination with the County Assessor’s Office.
- Process accounts payable; review invoices and claim documents received from various departments; input information into computer system; review and analyze check registers and transaction reports; distribute checks including to match remittance documents to payments; file documents and reports.
- Develop, monitor, input, and process records in the City’s payroll system; calculate and record payroll; review, verify, and audit payroll data; analyze payroll reports; enter PERS contributions; extract data and provide information as requested.
- Maintain compliance with Local, State and Federal laws and regulations, PERS rules and regulations, and Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs).
- Assist in budget preparation; gather information from accounting ledgers; assemble and copy documents; type statistical schedules and reports; assign and/or create budget accounts.
- May assist the budget process during the execution and implementation phase; identifying variances requiring corrective action; making appropriate corrective action as directed.
- May assist in the review and approval of purchase requisitions and budget transfers.
- May assist in the development of the 5 year Capital Improvement Program publication; including but not limited to, document project management, department communications, template structure design and development, schedule development and financial reporting.
- Ensure 1099s are properly prepared.
- Assist in financial record keeping and reporting; prepare a variety of schedules, statements, and reports from a variety of data and records; process quarterly and annual reports and expense allocations; copy and distribute financial reports.
- Assist in administrative matters; provide support to the Finance Director as needed; assist other department staff members as necessary.
- Provide technical information and assistance to other City staff regarding procedures and methods; confer with City departments and individuals regarding changes and corrections; interpret and explain rules and regulations; provide statistical data upon request.
- Perform related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
Basic principles, procedures, and methods used in the performance of clerical and technical accounting duties; basic principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting. Basic principles and practices of report preparation; mathematical principles; modern office procedures, methods, and related computer equipment and software applications. Principles and practices of customer service; proper phone techniques and etiquette; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; policies, procedures, and functions of the City’s Finance Department.
Ability to:
Perform a variety of financial and statistical record keeping duties in support of assigned functions and services; receive and process information and documents according to established guidelines and procedures; collect, compile, and research information and data; review and interpret accounting transactions and records; create and maintain spreadsheets, financial records, and files. Prepare routine financial and statistical reports; reconcile various financial statements and balance as necessary; provide customer service and deal tactfully and courteously with the public, other City employees, and other agencies; perform mathematical calculations; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications; type and enter data at a speed necessary for successful job performance; enter and retrieve data from computer systems; use 10-key adding machine by touch; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein 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 job functions.
Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with extensive public contact and frequent interruptions. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard and calculator; and to verbally communicate to exchange information; vision to read printed material and computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone with or without correction.
