Accounting Assistant II

County of Thurston•Olympia, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Accounting Assistant II for our Fiscal Division. As an Accounting Assistant II, you will play a key role in supporting both departmental and County-wide financial operations. You will dive into everything from maintaining specialized accounting records and reconciling accounts to preparing critical financial reports and testing new accounting programs used throughout the department. If you are a detail-driven accounting professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you! Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Assume responsibility for departmental accounting records or assist with a County-wide bookkeeping function such as payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable Maintain specialized accounting records such as bonded debt records Record, balance, and classify all income and expenditures to proper accounts in accordance with BARS and County procedure Prepare and review entries and documents prepared by others to ensure accuracy, propriety, proper account coding, adequate explanations, and other applicable information in accordance with federal and state regulations Reconcile accounts and adjust irregularities Train or consult with other County staff and responds to questions Audit subsidiary journals, registers, and other original entries Develop and prepare departmental financial reports and budget Assist with or prepare County financial reports Perform special projects requiring extensive research, interpretation, or auditing of statistical data Review the various accounts, financial summaries, and statements to recommend improvements or revisions in the accounting system or its procedures Assist in testing computer accounting programs used in the work unit Provide clerical assistance as needed May audit subsidiary journals, registers, and other original entries Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations To view the full job classification, click here: Accounting Assistant II WORKING CONDITIONS: Work Environment - Quiet office setting in Olympia, Washington Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, in-person Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public WHO WE ARE: Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances. Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES: Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information. Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays . Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences. Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of including alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working. Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan. Flexible Spending Account (FSA ) : Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com . Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED and one year of college level accounting courses. Additional experience may substitute for college level courses on a year-for-year basis.
Two years of general accounting experience.
Ability to utilize a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the double-entry bookkeeping and governmental accounting principles and procedures
Knowledge of the BARS governmental accounting system
Ability to make arithmetic calculations rapidly and accurately
Ability to organize and prioritize accounting projects with minimal supervision
Ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with team members and other County staff
Strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing
Excellent customer service skills
Respect and Organizational Culture Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment
Communication Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors
Goal Setting and Accomplishment Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

Responsibilities

Assume responsibility for departmental accounting records or assist with a County-wide bookkeeping function such as payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
Maintain specialized accounting records such as bonded debt records
Record, balance, and classify all income and expenditures to proper accounts in accordance with BARS and County procedure
Prepare and review entries and documents prepared by others to ensure accuracy, propriety, proper account coding, adequate explanations, and other applicable information in accordance with federal and state regulations
Reconcile accounts and adjust irregularities
Train or consult with other County staff and responds to questions
Audit subsidiary journals, registers, and other original entries
Develop and prepare departmental financial reports and budget
Assist with or prepare County financial reports
Perform special projects requiring extensive research, interpretation, or auditing of statistical data
Review the various accounts, financial summaries, and statements to recommend improvements or revisions in the accounting system or its procedures
Assist in testing computer accounting programs used in the work unit
Provide clerical assistance as needed
May audit subsidiary journals, registers, and other original entries
Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations