County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direction, to perform difficult and complex accounting clerical work in connection with the maintenance of financial records and the preparation of financial reports; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Incumbents in the class of Accounting Specialist I are in a specialized, accounting class. This class is distinguished from incumbents in the class of Account Clerk II in that the former performs duties in connection with the largest County accounting system, such as in the Auditor Agency, Public Works Agency, Health Care Services Agency and Social Services Agency. Incumbents in the class of Accounting Specialist I may direct the work of others, but the class of Accounting Specialist I is not considered a supervisory class. Incumbents may process sensitive documents, such as employee claims. Accounting Specialists I are required to apply accounting principles in establishing and revising accounting procedures and in analyzing fiscal data. The duties of Accounting Specialists I require the ability to work without direct supervision and with some authority to deviate from established work methods when doing so.

The class is further distinguished from the class of Accounting Technician in that the latter class supervises employees.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Posts to, verifies and reconciles accounts consisting of agency journals, general ledgers, receipts and claims registers; reconciles agency accounts with Auditor's Office accounts; prepares periodic and mandated special reports, including claims to Federal and State agencies; reconcile Accounts Receivable sent to Central Collections; prepare journals accordingly, i.e. Central Collection charges and revenue distribution.

2. On the basis of general instructions, identifies and locates fiscal information for agency financial studies; determines the most appropriate methods of presenting data in special reports.

3. Records deposits of large amounts of Federal and State funds to agency trust accounts; prepares periodic reports of trust account balances; audits collections and accounts receivable from agency family support and collection units; prepares reports of such audits.

4. Records financial transactions consisting of encumbrances for purchases, general payroll, employee benefit expenses, and special warrants to budgetary accounts in the Auditor's Office; checks posting of financial transactions done by account clerical personnel; prepares postings of changes and corrections to budgets accounts; provides information to County departments concerning Auditor accounts and reconciliations with department records.

5. Develops procedures for the computer posting of tax payments for secured and unsecured assessment rolls; checks the accuracy of computer postings and apportionment of such payments to city, school, and special district accounts; prepares change memos and other entries for posting of receipts rejected for various reasons by the computer; reconciles periodic computer reports with records of payments received; posts to various Treasurer-Tax Collector trust funds.

6. Prepares daily reconciliation and disbursement reports of all county paid warrants in the Auditor’s Office; analyze, identifies and corrects county bank reconciliation errors against warrants issues from County financial systems. Reviews and processes claim affidavits on forgeries received from various County departments and outside vendors; works under daily and multi-daily time constraints.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience in the class of Account Clerk II or in an equivalent or higher level clerical class, or the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the class of Account Clerk I in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

The equivalent of three years of full-time responsible financial record-keeping experience. (Completion of a bookkeeping or accounting curriculum in a recognized business or accredited junior college may be substituted for two years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.)

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• The purposes, methods, and practices of financial record-keeping work.
• General governmental accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office methods and equipment, including commonly used computer spreadsheet programs.

Ability to:

• Locate and provide basic analysis of data found in large accounting systems, such as those maintained by large County agencies, Auditor Agency, or Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office.
• Prepare periodic and special financial reports.
• Identify and correct errors in a variety of mathematical computations and financial documents.
• Work independently in the absence of specific instructions.
• Operate standard office equipment.
• Apply rules and regulations to specific cases.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with the public.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Old doc: JGS:sw 9/21/93
Revised 11/9/93
VS:lm Revised: 9/97
New doc: 1314.doc
ys/12/00
CSC Date: 10/29/97
RE:po Rev/Retitle 12-14-05-Clerical Study-Admin. Change 4/19/04
{old title: Accounting Specialist}
CSC Date: 5/24/2006

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.