Finance Specialist

City of El Monte•El Monte, CA

About The Position

Under general direction, the Finance Specialist performs complex technical and administrative accounting support, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, utility billing, and payroll. The role prepares, maintains, processes, balances, and reconciles manual and computerized accounting and financial records and transactions. This is a fully qualified journey-level position that works independently and uses judgment and initiative, receiving only occasional assistance in unusual situations. The position reports to assigned supervisory or management personnel and has no direct supervisory responsibilities. The Finance Specialist supports payroll processing and employee benefits administration, maintains financial records and reports, assists departments and employees with account and payroll questions, and performs clerical and administrative work for the Finance Department. The position requires an equivalent to an associate degree with major coursework in finance, accounting, or a related field, and three years of technical accounting experience. No license or certification is required.

Requirements

Equivalent to an associate degree with major coursework in finance, accounting, or a related field, or a qualifying combination of training and experience.
Three years of technical accounting experience.
Knowledge of public-agency finance and accounting functions, payroll processes, and employee benefits processes related to payroll.
Knowledge of recordkeeping requirements and policies related to employee payroll.
Knowledge of financial-document auditing, mathematical principles, general-ledger transaction posting, and financial reconciliation and balancing.
Knowledge of payroll reporting and payment requirements of state and federal agencies and benefit providers.
Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, procedures, and the City’s bargaining-unit agreements and related contracts.
Knowledge of customer-service techniques, English language conventions, and relevant business equipment and software.
Ability to perform technical accounting duties and interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with accounting and payroll requirements.
Ability to review, post, balance, reconcile, and maintain accurate financial records and verify financial documents for completeness and accuracy.
Ability to compose correspondence and reports, perform accurate arithmetic and financial computations, and enter and retrieve computer data accurately.
Ability to establish and maintain filing, recordkeeping, and tracking systems; maintain integrity and confidentiality when handling sensitive matters.
Ability to organize work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
Ability to use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment effectively.
Ability to communicate clearly in writing and orally and maintain effective working relationships.
Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment; vision, hearing, speech, and finger dexterity sufficient for the described work.
Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials or objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

Perform administrative and technical account-support duties related to utility billing, accounts payable, and payroll, including posting, balancing, adjusting, and maintaining financial records.
Verify, post, and record financial transactions; prepare and maintain databases, records, and periodic or special financial, accounting, and statistical reports.
Maintain ledgers, registers, and journals; reconcile transactions and data, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accounting records are accurate.
Participate in assigning billing rates for utility and other municipal services, make account corrections, and support lower-level staff.
Review, verify, and process time-recording documents; audit them for accuracy and compliance and prepare and balance payroll reports and records.
Process payroll actions and maintain deduction records; prepare payroll warrants, wire transfers, reports, and payments for tax, financial, insurance, and benefit organizations.
Maintain payroll documents and employee records, enter timesheet data, identify issues, and resolve them with employees or supervisors.
Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, personnel rules, tax laws, and related requirements affecting payroll, benefits, earnings, and leave; advise employees and supervisors on time-reporting requirements.
Verify timesheets and available leave balances and enter information into the payroll system.
Prepare reports and payments for employee retirement benefits, quarterly federal and state tax reports, and insurance premium statements; update employee insurance changes.
Provide payroll and accounting information, explain procedures, and answer contract and account questions from employees, departments, customers, and other contacts.
Maintain payroll and general accounting files and records, reconcile transactions, and resolve differences.
Assist with preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), including providing statistical information.
Audit receipts of financial transactions for various departments.
Research account discrepancies and transaction questions, provide information, and update related files and departments on action items.
Perform Finance Department clerical and administrative duties, including answering calls, sorting and distributing mail, and preparing correspondence.
Perform other duties as assigned.