Accounting Technician

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

Placer County is currently accepting applications for Accounting Assistant - Senior & Accounting Technician.  Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications.  To be eligible for more than one level in the series, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment: 

Accounting Assistant - Senior        #2024-12404-02

Accounting Technician                   #2024-12406-02

To be considered for the first priority screening deadline and referral for upcoming vacancies, please submit your application materials by November 6, 2024 at 5:00pm. 

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To plan, organize, direct and supervise the performance of accounting, financial and statistical recordkeeping work in support of assigned functional areas which may include accounts receivable, accounts payable, department payroll processing, treasury, tax billing and collections, and contract administration; to perform technical, sub-professional, accounting, finance and fiscal recordkeeping; to prepare and review financial and statistical records; and to perform a variety of specialized technical tasks relative to assigned area(s) of responsibility.

This is the full journey level technical accounting class.  Employees within this class are distinguished from the Accounting Assistant series by the performance of work that typically requires specialized college-level training in accounting and finance rather than bookkeeping, by performing a broad range of duties as assigned and typically including responsibility for a program area of accounting and/or supervision of Accounting Assistants.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.
 

This class is distinguished from the Accountant  series and Auditor series in that the latter are professional levels, requiring completion of a Bachelor's Degree in accounting or a closely related field.

Receives direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel.

May exercise supervision over Accounting Assistant classifications or general clerical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives related to assigned functional area; establish schedules and methods for clerical and technical financial, accounting and bookkeeping operations; prepare and implement clerical and technical financial and accounting policies and procedures.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of assigned staff; prepare and monitor schedules of assigned staff.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned programs or functions; recommend improvements and modifications; ensure compliance with appropriate laws and regulations.
• Perform and/or supervise the maintenance of journals and subsidiary ledgers, general ledgers, tax billing and collection, accounts receivable, accounts payable, department payroll processing and similar accounting records.
• Personally perform technical, complex accounting and financial transactions.
• Research and resolve the more complex matters with vendor and customer accounts.
• Supervise and/or participate in the review and processing of department payroll ensuring accuracy; research and correct errors; process leave requests; and respond to questions from department staff.
• Supervise and/or participate in the processing of accounts payable involving the review and coding of invoices to appropriate contracts; verify materials are received and charges are accurate; monitor contracts to ensure sufficient funds for payment.
• Assist with the collection and compilation of data for budget purposes, ensuring correct revenue and expense reporting.
• Prepare and maintain computerized financial spreadsheets for ledgers, trusts and statistical records; prepare reports from spreadsheets summarizing information and financial records.
• Review Board of Supervisor agenda and Final Summaries for the approval of new contracts; set up new suppliers; analyze and reconcile supplier contract budgets; audit payments to ensure compliance with budget spending authority.
• Analyze expenses and allocate to specific programs and activities.
• Compile and submit required documentation for grant reimbursement and annual audit.
• Process complex claims which involve gathering and reviewing large quantities of data from a variety of sources and reports; calculate, create and send invoices and track payments; balance accounts.
• Maintain County fuel cards; review and analyze reports to ensure proper controls and adherence to County policies; conduct audit of card inventory and use.
• Participate in the Auditor-Controller’s Office audit process; respond to questions and requests for documentation.
• Receive, verify, track and distribute court fines and fees to County departments and State.
• Audit annual tax roll extension to ensure property values are correct; verify tax rates to tax schedule; process changes to taxpayer assessment based on changes in the tax code.
• Receive and process business license applications; prepare correspondence requesting additional information; track, record, maintain, calculate and distribute business license fees.
• Prepare bulk transfers for the sale of businesses; research ownership and tax liabilities; prepare required documents; create refunds for overpayments.
• Create notice of intent to lien as it relates to delinquent taxes; track collection notices, liens filed, and vessel holds and releases.
• Prepare parcel splits which involves researching, verifying, calculating, estimating and preparing reports for developers and property owners.
• Classify receipts and expenditures and record them to the appropriate project, accounts, funds, trusts, etc.; reconcile ledgers and accounts.
• Balance financial information system controls; balance and post cash receipts, payments and registers; and balance various other statistical and financial transactions with source documents and controls.
• Perform tax default processing and collections.

• Compile statistical data and prepare reports or summaries for submission to other departments in the County or outside agencies.
• Interpret and apply County, State and Federal regulations concerning financial and statistical transactions and reports; prepare financial and statistical reports for submission to State and Federal agencies.
• Transfer unclaimed funds in accordance with government code and County policy. Maintain and reconcile inventory records, removing or adding items as requested; assist with inventory counts.
• Meet with the public to obtain data, interpret information and answer questions; prepare correspondence independently to answer questions, request information, or provide explanations.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. Positions may require traveling to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting materials and supplies of light weight.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

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: Two years of responsible journey level experience performing duties similar to an Accounting Assistant – Journey with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level coursework in accounting or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required. 

Knowledge of:

• Principles and procedures of accounting and finance, and their application to governmental financial transactions.
• Principles and practices of computer hardware and software including word processing, spreadsheets and database packages.
• Principles and practices of supervision, leadership, training, and performance management. 
• Laws, ordinances, rules and regulations affecting accounting and assigned areas of responsibility in Placer County.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct clerical financial and accounting operations/activities.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk and/or stand at a counter for long periods of time.  Intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write and use keyboard to communicate through written means; run errands; lift light weight.
• Intermittently, review documents related to Department operations; observe, identify and solve problems of office operations and procedures; understand, interpret and explain Department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve office issues for the public and with staff.
• Supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Identify problems and recommend appropriate action.
• Perform complex and varied accounting and financial recordkeeping.
• Interpret, explain, and apply operating policy, rules, and procedures of assigned function. 
• Operate a 10-key adding machine by touch.
• Prepare complex financial reports and statements.
• Apply accounting principles to the maintenance of accounting, financial and payroll transactions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and fellow employees of the County.
• Use modern office equipment and computers.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking.

Training & Experience Rating (30%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Online Examination (70%) - Tentatively Scheduled for the Week of November 11, 2024 and the Week of December 16, 2024. 

After the posted filing deadline, qualified candidates will receive a notification via email when the examination is available. The online examination may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, matching, and/or essay type questions directly related to the required knowledge and abilities for this classification.

Note: Candidates will have approximately three (3) calendar days from the date of notification to complete the online examination. Only one attempt will be permitted.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.