Accounting Technician

City of Kent, Washington • Cocoa, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Kent is seeking an Accounting Technician for its Information Technology Department. This role involves performing a variety of complex accounting and administrative duties, including payroll, journal entries, and cost accounting. The position requires meticulous record-keeping, strong accounting skills, and problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced environment. The selection process includes a phone screen, panel interview, and an Excel assessment, with interviews tentatively scheduled for mid-to-late May. This is a full-time, AFSCME union-represented position. An eligibility list may be established for up to 12 months. A cover letter and resume are required with the online application.

Requirements

• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible administrative support, accounting, bookkeeping or related experience involving the processing and maintenance of complex financial and statistical records and/or work in related computer software applications.
• Graduation from high school, general education degree (GED), or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of college-level courses in business, bookkeeping, accounting, or a related field.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of general bookkeeping, statistics, and accounting.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Knowledge of Windows-based computer software applications, accounting, and payroll systems.
• Knowledge of municipal organization, operations, policies, and objectives; and applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Knowledge of basic administrative research and analysis methods and practices.
• Knowledge of interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Knowledge of correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary as it pertains to the job.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; computing rate, ratio, and percent.
• Ability to perform complex payroll-related calculations in accordance with applicable rules and standards.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, employees, and customers with diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to perform clerical and administrative duties of above-average difficulty.
• Ability to work independently with little direction.
• Ability to plan and organize work.
• Ability to provide technical software assistance to department staff on the web work order and accounting system.
• Ability to work confidentially with discretion.
• Ability to apply specific rules, policies, and procedures of the City and IT Department.
• Ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read, comprehend, interpret, apply, and explain appropriate rules, regulations, instructions, procedural manuals, policies, and contracts.
• Ability to accurately prepare, proofread, and edit reports, correspondence, memoranda, and procedural manuals.
• Ability to complete work in spite of many interruptions.

Nice To Haves

• Valid Washington State driver’s license is desirable.
• Web work order and accounting software support experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of difficult and complex technical, accounting, and administrative duties, including payroll, journal entry, and cost accounting functions.
• Provide technical software support and training for the web work order and accounting system.
• Perform administrative support duties not requiring the immediate attention of the supervisor.
• Collect and organize information from multiple sections of IT, such as timesheets, work orders, and other documentation.
• Validate and cross-reference timesheets, work orders, and other documents to prepare for processing.
• Facilitate proper recordkeeping in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and standards.
• Respond to questions from employees when verifying documentation.
• Perform payroll entry into the automated payroll management system, calculate adjustments, and verify accuracy.
• Perform complex data processing for the web work order and accounting system, including data creation, maintenance, retrieval, and deletion.
• Handle job costing and ordering support activities, as well as daily, monthly, and yearly billing and reporting activities.
• Create, run, and maintain standard and custom reporting of city desktop printer and multi-function device fleet usage and costs.
• Analyze costs and trends as required through established processes and procedures.
• Review and verify labor distributions and equipment cost distributions and allocate appropriate costs by preparing month-end journal entries.
• Prepare inter-fund billings and account receivable invoices.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of financial, payroll, and benefits records, reports, data, files, and correspondence.
• Copy and distribute monthly cellular phone bills on a citywide basis.
• Set priorities on high volumes of work, perform numerous task assignments simultaneously, and coordinate with others to meet strict deadlines.
• Provide technical assistance to staff regarding the web work order and accounting system.
• Resolve problems, provide information, and explain procedures related to the payroll software.
• Serve as a resource to other staff members utilizing the payroll software.
• Reconcile month-end journal entries and transfer charges to appropriate budgets.
• Review and monitor purchase orders and expense codes.
• Assist in preparing financial data related to the department budget as needed.
• Type correspondence, memoranda, forms, and other documents; proofread and edit materials.
• Respond to questions regarding employee time entries, leave banks, benefits records, and related information.
• Perform special projects and research.
• Provide customer service duties for the department, such as answering telephones, greeting visitors, and providing information and assistance to callers.
• Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and the City.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• For a listing of benefits, please use the following link: Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)
• Additional information may also be found in the AFSCME contract, which you can access at Human Resources | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree