Accounting Technician

County of Monterey•Salinas, CA

About The Position

The County of Monterey Cooperative Extension and Health Department are hiring full-time Accounting Technicians. The role supports day-to-day financial operations by processing accounting, payment, and purchasing activity accurately and promptly; maintaining and reconciling financial records; researching discrepancies; and providing responsive customer service. At Cooperative Extension, the technician establishes, maintains, and oversees complex financial and statistical records, performs financial analysis, and supports University-related expense reconciliations, ledger management, cost transfers, travel report payments, purchasing, and grant-based accounting. The department is a partnership between the County and the University of California, with a mission to provide science-based research, education, and public services in agriculture, natural resources, livestock, food safety, and human community development. At the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau, the technician processes staff reimbursements, vendor and professional service payments, and Bureau purchases in accordance with County fiscal policies and procedures. The position maintains and reconciles financial records, researches and resolves discrepancies, and serves as a key contact for staff and vendors. This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at a lower level may be promoted to the higher level after meeting its employment standards and receiving a recommendation from the appointing authority. The eligible list may be used to fill current and future regular and temporary vacancies.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of bookkeeping principles and practices.
Knowledge of methods, practices, and terminology used in financial and statistical clerical work.
Working knowledge of office practices and procedures.
Working knowledge of personal computers and related software, such as spreadsheets.
Working knowledge of intermediate mathematics, including whole numbers, fractions, percentages, and decimals, for fiscal and statistical calculations.
Some knowledge of cost accounting principles and practices.
Ability to maintain financial recordkeeping systems and reconcile differences.
Ability to make mathematical computations quickly and accurately.
Ability to read and write clearly and effectively and prepare accurate, complete records and reports.
Ability to operate a calculator, typewriter, personal or mainframe computer, and other office equipment.
Ability to review, code, post, adjust, and summarize fiscal transactions or statistical data.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and understand and carry out complex oral and written policies and procedures.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and critical or changing priorities and maintain effective working relationships with employees, the public, and others.
Qualifying experience, education, and training may be combined. One example is 18 months of experience performing duties equivalent to a Senior Account Clerk in Monterey County; alternatively, completion of a training course leading to a bookkeeper certificate and six months of supervised on-the-job training.
Some positions may require successful completion of a background check, including fingerprinting.
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver's license or provide suitable transportation approved by the appointing authority.
Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during disasters or emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of local agriculture or experience working in an academic setting.
Strong customer service skills and ability to work well with internal and external clients.
Ability to learn the fiscal practices and policies of both the County and the University of California.

Responsibilities

Post financial and statistical information to logs, journals, ledgers, and other records, using manual techniques or computers.
Review source documents for accuracy and assign appropriate account codes.
Examine, reconcile, and adjust accounting records; identify and resolve problems and make corrective entries.
Maintain cost accounting records, compute and allocate costs and depreciation charges, and prepare summaries and cost statements.
Coordinate, evaluate, and modify financial recordkeeping with departmental personnel and representatives of other departments and agencies.
Prepare periodic transaction summaries, including trial balances, worksheets, and revenue and expense statements.
Gather, compile, analyze, and evaluate financial, statistical, and operational data; respond to questions by locating and explaining relevant data, policies, and procedures.
Assist administrative personnel in analyzing financial and statistical data and preparing special reports.
Support Cooperative Extension financial operations, including University-related expense reconciliations, ledger management, cost transfers, travel report payments, purchasing, and grant-based accounting.
Support Health Department Behavioral Health Bureau operations by processing reimbursements, vendor and professional service payments, and purchases in accordance with County fiscal policies.
Maintain and reconcile financial records, research and resolve discrepancies, and serve as a point of contact for staff and vendors.