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The next challenging career opportunity awaits you! The Accountant position is an outstanding opportunity for a dedicated and skilled professional with experience in performing journey to complex accounting finance work preferably in a municipal setting. Competitive candidates will possess the ability to prepare, maintain, analyze, verify and reconcile complex financial transactions, statements, records and reports; maintain accuracy of the City’s ledgers and subsidiary financial systems; assists in the preparation of assigned budgets, annual audit, and year end closing; and provide staff assistance to management staff.   

Summary Description

Under direction, performs a variety of professional level accounting duties involved in preparing, maintaining, analyzing, verifying, and reconciling complex financial transactions, statements, records, and reports; maintains the accuracy of the City’s ledgers and subsidiary financial systems; assists in the preparation of assigned budgets, annual audit, and year end closing; and provides highly responsible staff assistance to assigned management staff.

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.

1.      Perform a variety of professional accounting functions supporting City-wide operations; maintain accuracy of general, revenue, and expenditure ledgers and subsidiary financial systems.

2.      Reconcile financial ledgers and records; prepare financial statements and reports, general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules; research and resolve discrepancies.

3.      Review and audit all accounts payable, purchase orders, cash receipts, business licenses, payroll, utility billing, and other accounting records and transactions; ensure money is posted to correct accounts and that all accounts balance.

4.      Provide assistance in the development of the annual budget; assist in the review and validation of the annual City budget; create a variety of spreadsheets, documents, and graphs; assist in preparing the final budget document for approval by City Council.

5.      Prepare bank reconciliations and related journal entries for a variety of accounts.

6.      Prepare a variety of monthly, periodic, and annual financial and statistical reports and account summaries; prepare treasurer reports; prepare and file annual State Controllers Report.

7.      Assist in preparation of year end closings and accompanying financial reports.

8.      Perform grant accounting work related to federal, state or grant agency funding; maintain records for audit purposes.

9.      Maintain and track fixed asset inventory control records for the City.

10.   Participate in the year-end audit; compile and prepare supporting schedules, work papers, and financial reports as requested by auditors.

11.   Prepare property tax remittances for payment.

12.   Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within the area of assignment; resolve issues in an efficient and timely manner.

13.   Provide responsible staff assistance to management staff; perform special department projects as assigned.

14.   Serve as department liaison to various City committees as necessary.

15.   Perform related duties as required.

POSITION

The City of Seal Beach is seeking a skilled Accounting Technician that will serve as the liaison between the City, vendors, customers, and staff regarding invoices. The Accounting Technician will process accounts payable and/or accounts receivable invoices, business expense reimbursements; warrant requisitions; and generate bank transmission files and warrant registers.  Under general supervision, performs difficult and responsible accounting support and administrative work in the Finance Department; participates in the preparation, review and adjustment of accounting records related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, payroll, utility billing, insurance billing, budgeting, and other functions; and does related work as required.  

The ideal candidate for this position will provide excellent customer service, demonstrate strong attention to detail, and be a team player. The Accounting Technician should possess strong technical skills and have experience working with various software systems in order to analyze data and conduct research. This person should also have excellent communication, accountability, and organizational skills.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Accounting Technician is distinguished from accounting clerical personnel by its specialized knowledge of technical accounting methods and procedures. The Accounting Technician is differentiated from the Senior Accounting Technician, which exercises lead direction over accounting clerical staff and has responsibility for the preparation and reconciliation of a broader range of accounting and financial reports and audit schedules. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

1. Processes Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable invoices, verifies  authorization signature, and balances weekly totals. Verifies accuracy of invoices and related supporting documents.
2. Inputs and edits vendor/customer invoices, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) billings and utility billings. Verifies batch edits for accuracy, reconciles and posts batch edit reports. Researches and matches vendor invoices to receiving documents for payment.
3. Reviews, prints, and processes warrant requisitions. Ensure accounts are coded correctly and recorded.
4. Prints checks, remits payments, balances and distributes check registers. Audits check copies for errors and appropriate back-up. Matches supporting documentation with checks to validate check issuance.
5. Acts as liaison between the City and its vendors/customers. Obtains information from vendors/customers regarding statements and invoices. Provides information regarding payments and related issues. Research questions and resolves problems.
6. Processes monthly journal entries. Reviews and distributes aging reports.
7. Handles the cashiering function for all City revenue; receives payments from mail and walk-in customers; records incoming revenue for the city including utility bills, accounts receivable, invoices, collects and accounts for money; issues receipts; reconciles cash receipt batches and prepares daily deposits.
8. May support utility billing for utility service by telephone, correspondence and in person; analyze customer records to establish appropriate deposit amounts from written guidelines for new and existing utility users and prepare deposit refunds for manager approval.
9. Use various computer systems extensively to post payments; enter data of new utility customers and make data changes; interact with customers, coordinate with service and billing divisions, obtain other information to assist customers, research, and use discretion to determine deposit and restoration of service requirements.
10. Perform financial transactions including processing or transferring payments, refunding credit amounts or deposits, adjusting charges and/or deposits, reversing payments, issuing refunds, and adjusting service fees.
11. Reviews and adjusts accounting and budgeting entries; assures that proper account numbers, rates and deductions, purchase orders, or payment information has been provided.
12. May audit fee payments and aging reports for cash and electronic transactions.
13. May conduct business research to identify entities requiring licenses, including analysis of sales records, tax returns, and other data sources.
14. May train other accounting and office personnel regarding accounting procedures.
15. May perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is constantly required to sit, and frequently to stand and walk to counter areas.  The sensory demands include the ability to talk, and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate computer hardware and standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee occasionally lifts and carries records and documents weighing less than 20 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and projects concurrently; and interact appropriately with staff, management, vendors, and the general public in the course of work.

The employee frequently works in office conditions where the noise level is usually moderate, at and below 85 decibels.  

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The position is responsible for the performance of both the day-to-day power settlements among NCPA members, Western, California, and Federal electricity markets, local balancing authority area operators (CAISO, BANC, EIM), as well as settlement activities associated with NCPA Power Management’s Service Customers. Other responsibilities include tracking and meter data management validation duties, GHG (Greenhouse Gas) monitoring and analysis, analysis and testing associated with new CAISO market initiatives, and comprehensive analytic or technical studies, as required, including proceedings before state and federal regulatory agencies and public officials. This is a full journey-level position capable of performing all the duties and responsibilities of the Settlements Analyst I. Performs the full range of duties as assigned, receiving only occasional instruction, training, or assistance as new or unusual situations arise. Additionally, incumbents perform a variety of assigned complex technical and professional work in the areas of power accounts settlements, budgeting, systems development, and audit. Incumbents also provide technical analysis and assistance to staff, Members, contractual participants, and others, as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position requires that the incumbent report for work on time and maintain satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives to meetings and appointments on time; Performs special assignments as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Responsibilities:
Provides technical advice, functional instruction, and guidance to less experienced Power Settlement staff as needed. Trains new Power Settlements Analysts and cross trains as roles evolve. Recommends personnel actions. Prepares and presents training/tutorials on All Resources Bill, Pre-Bill process, Power Settlement processes overall, and various other topics, as needed, in person or via webinars (s) to NCPA Members and Project Participant staff.

Serves as subject matter expert, working with Information Services, on Power Settlements application requirements, such as All Resources Bill enhancements, and testing system enhancements in development.

Implements and operates complicated power settlements systems. Prepares complex analytical reports and supporting documentation.

Provides analysis, integration, and implementation of new energy market initiatives and/or customers/Scheduling Coordination accounts (e.g., ISO, Western Energy Imbalance Market (“EIM”), renewable generating resources, Community Choice Energy/Aggregators (“CCE”).

Monitors settlements associated with Renewable Energy Credits and acts as or provides support to NCPA’s Qualified Reporting Entity representative; registers credits on the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (“WREGIS”) or its successor.

Monitors settlements functions of Western capacity and energy allocations, market purchases and sales, Pool transmission activity, and other transactions as they occur; Prepares or reviews power settlement transactions for proper budget classification.

Conducts special studies requiring complex, voluminous, and detailed analysis of power costs and revenues. Recommends operational changes that provide better value to Members and Participants.

Coordinates and participates in the development, analysis, and monitoring of the Agency's power supply budgets. Acts as power settlements representative to other department managers and supervisors in regard to cost summary and budgetary reports.

Assists with the implementation of systems, policies, and procedures and special projects requiring highly technical study and analyses. Recommends changes or modifications to methods or systems as applicable.

Assists with formal budget and other presentations to upper management and the governing body.
Performs special assignments for the Power Settlements Supervisor or others as assigned, including preparation of testimony and exhibits for presentation before state and national regulatory proceedings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from a four-year college or university with an emphasis on quantitative analysis, plus four (4) years of prior experience as a Power Settlements Analyst I or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES 
Knowledge:
Knowledge of California Independent System Operator settlements procedures for tariff services and Metered Subsystem services; NCPA settlements procedures for scheduling coordinator services and the ten-member power pool; California Energy Imbalance Markets; NCPA’s Western (WAPA) contracts
California’s Green House Gas rules; CARB renewable energy credits; Knowledge of NCPA settlements procedures for scheduling coordinator services and the ten-member power pool.

Abilities:
Ability to retrieve detailed records and summary-level data from NCPA’s Oracle database systems through the use of Structured Query Language (“SQL”) statements in proprietary software (e.g., SAS, Toad, SQL Developer, Oracle Database Connection [“ODBC”]) and process through proprietary or open-source software programming applications (e.g., SAS, Visual Basic for Applications [“VBA”], R, Python, Excel workbooks); Ability to read, analyze, and interpret CAISO tariff, NCPA operating agreements, and contracts, standard industry power purchase agreements, technical procedures, and governmental regulations; Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public; and the Ability to analyze and interpret settlement formulas expressed in summation notation.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid California Driver's License and insurance. 

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences and is free from discrimination.
 

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