Finance Technician I/II/III

Eastern Municipal Water District•Perris, CA

11d•$35 - $43

About The Position

The Finance Technician I/II/III performs accounting support, technical, and administrative duties in preparing, processing, and maintaining accounting and financial records. Areas of responsibility may include accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, capital asset and project accounting, inventory, general accounting, remittance processing, cashiering, payment processing, and cash balancing. The role also provides customer and departmental support, maintains financial records and reports, and performs related duties as assigned. Finance Technician I is the entry-level classification, learning and performing routine work under close supervision. Finance Technician II is the fully qualified journey-level classification, performing the full range of assigned duties independently with occasional guidance. Finance Technician III is the advanced classification, handling the most complex work with considerable discretion and independent judgment; a Technician III may provide functional direction and training to lower-level staff. The series is flexibly staffed, and advancement depends on management approval, satisfactory performance, and meeting the next classification’s qualifications. The positions perform duties such as processing and reconciling financial transactions; maintaining ledgers, registers, journals, spreadsheets, and accounting records; preparing reports; reviewing source documents; researching discrepancies; and responding to questions from customers, vendors, employees, and departments. Functional assignments may include processing invoices, payments, payroll documents, project entries, inventory transactions, customer receipts, deposits, and collections. The recruitment is for two positions in the Finance Department, predominantly in accounts payable. The position works in a standard office environment with moderate noise, controlled temperatures, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Work is primarily sedentary and uses standard office equipment and computers, though occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, and handling materials may be required. Employees may interact with upset staff or members of the public and private representatives.

Requirements

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
Finance Technician I: Three years of progressively responsible experience providing technical support to a fiscal program.
Finance Technician II: Four years of progressively responsible experience providing technical support to a fiscal program, or one year of experience as a Finance Technician I with the District.
Finance Technician III: Five years of progressively responsible experience providing technical support to a fiscal program, or one year of experience as a Finance Technician II with the District.
Knowledge of financial and accounting document processing and recordkeeping, including accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Knowledge of public agency finance and accounting functions, payroll processes, and techniques.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; journal-entry methods; cash handling; District procurement policies; financial document auditing; and safety rules and protocols.
Knowledge of customer-service techniques for dealing effectively with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
Knowledge of English language structure, vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of computers, relevant software, and modern business equipment and communication tools used for business functions and coordination.
Ability to perform detailed accounting and financial support work accurately and on time; review documents; post, balance, reconcile, and maintain records; and make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
Ability to establish and maintain filing, recordkeeping, and tracking systems; follow instructions; prepare accurate financial records; and interpret and apply relevant laws, policies, procedures, and standards.
Ability to organize work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, follow up on assignments, and use relevant computer systems, applications, and business equipment.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally and maintain positive working relationships.
Finance Technician III: Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate assigned staff’s work and provide staff leadership and work direction.
Finance Technician III: Knowledge of functional direction and training principles and account reconciliation methods, including inventory and cash transactions.

Nice To Haves

Finance Technician III: Completion of college-level coursework is desirable.

Responsibilities

Perform accounting and financial support duties in areas such as accounts payable, billing and accounts receivable, payroll, capital asset/project accounting, inventory, general accounting, payment processing, remittance processing, cashiering, and cash balancing.
Post, balance, adjust, reconcile, and maintain manual and computerized accounting and financial records according to established policies and procedures.
Generate and assist in preparing periodic, special, month-end, and year-end financial reports.
Maintain ledgers, registers, journals, spreadsheets, and related records; reconcile transactions, resolve differences, and preserve record accuracy.
Verify and record financial transactions, and review source documents for accuracy, completeness, required information, and compliance.
Research account and transaction issues, discrepancies, and unusual circumstances; communicate with customers, vendors, departments, and employees and provide relevant account or procedural information.
Process accounts payable transactions, including auditing and coding invoices, matching purchase orders and supporting documents, obtaining approvals, preparing payment requests, producing payments, and resolving discrepancies.
Process miscellaneous billings and delinquent accounts, monitor collection activity, reconcile collection accounts, and prepare year-end write-offs for uncollectable accounts.
Process and maintain payroll documents and timesheet data; assist with bi-weekly payroll processing and participate in HR/Payroll and Timekeeping system upgrade testing.
Reconcile project purchase orders, contracts, encumbrances, and expenditures; prepare project journal entries, account reconciliations, closures, and refund requests.
Reconcile inventory transactions and receipts, returns, and issuances to the general ledger; review purchase orders and invoices and, at the Technician III level, observe quarterly warehouse inventory cycle counts.
Receive and balance payments, prepare receipts, deposits, and Daily Cash Analysis Reports, research customer payment records, and resolve misapplied payments and other payment issues.
At the Technician III level, audit reports, invoices, check requests, and project-related payment requests; prepare posting and warrant listing reports; and provide functional direction and training to lower-level staff.
Perform general office support, including routing mail and deliveries, preparing correspondence, filing, record keeping, distributing written materials, and ordering and tracking office supplies.
Comply with District and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Perform related duties as assigned.