Account Clerk

The City of Vista takes great pride in being a fiscally responsible public agency and has implemented rigorous accounting processes and financial reporting procedures to monitor expenses, encumbrances, grant funds, and project budgets, and accurately document various types of financial transactions. The City has been awarded the Government Finance Officers’ Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the past 28 consecutive years.

The City of Vista’s Finance Department is searching for candidates who are detail-oriented and organized. These positions perform high-volume clerical accounting work of average difficulty and require a high-level of initiative and excellent customer service in order to gather and verify information, interact with the public and other employees, and adhere to control processes developed to ensure accuracy, quality, and timeliness. Successful candidates will be detail-oriented and organized with a professional attitude and helpful disposition, and have demonstrated, recent experience in a high-volume and heavy internal control environment with strict policies and procedures. Excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to utilize sound judgment and confidentiality is essential to these positions.

This recruitment is being opened to fill two current vacancies. One vacancy is primarily responsible for the City’s accounts payable function, whereas the second vacancy is primarily responsible for accounts receivable/cash receipt and collections duties.

EXAMPLES OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE DUTIES:

Prepares high-volume vendor checks on a weekly basis and provides associated research and account record keeping, account reconciliation, proofing data entry of accounts payable invoices, purchase orders, and employee timecards, processing accounts payable invoices and purchase orders for payment, preparing journal entries, data entry, and various other clerical tasks. This position creates and maintains a variety of spreadsheets and databases, works with computerized accounting systems, and provides significant customer assistance over the phone and in person. Work activity frequently involves high-volume distribution of mailings and electronic scanning of documents with frequent interruptions from telephone calls, emails, and employees.

EXAMPLES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE/CASH RECEIPT AND COLLECTIONS DUTIES:

Prepares high-volume accounts receivable and performs cash receipts and collection efforts through the City’s external collection agency and State Intercept, associated research and account record keeping, account reconciliation, preparing journal entries, data entry, and various other clerical tasks. This position creates and maintains a variety of spreadsheets and databases, works with computerized accounting systems, and provides significant customer assistance over the phone and in person. Work activity frequently involves high-volume distribution of mailings and electronic scanning of documents with frequent interruptions from telephone calls, emails, and employees. This position may serve as a backup cashier.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience, which demonstrates an ability to perform the duties of the position.

A typical qualifying background includes education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, including or supplemented by specialized training in account record keeping, bookkeeping, or a closely related field, and three years of recent clerical experience providing support for a variety of high-volume accounting transactions and excellent customer service. Specialized training or college level course work in accounting, business, finance, or a related field is highly desirable.

LICENSES: Possession of valid Class “C” California Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Accounts payable and/or accounts receivable/cash receipt/collections record keeping;

Data entry and proofing methods;

Mathematical computations;

General office equipment including computers and photocopiers;

Microsoft Office Suite software applications;

Proper English grammar, punctuation and spelling;

ABILITY TO:

Perform high-volume, basic financial accounting clerical work while providing excellent customer service;

Prepare regular, accurate, and timely accounting transactions by receiving and organizing the documents needed to process the accounting transactions in an accounting software system;

Verify or prepare account coding and ensure payment authorization on incoming invoices, purchase orders, expense reimbursement claims, and/or accounts receivable/cash receipts;

Review for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with established policies and procedures;

Research accounting transaction issues,problem solve, and provide recommendations for resolution;

Effectively manage time, maintain organization and prioritize multiple tasks in order to ensure timely processing;

Operate within established internal controls, policies and procedures and adapt to changing processes;

Operate a computer terminal and keyboard accurately at a speed necessary to perform high volume assigned duties;

Make mathematical computations quickly and accurately;

Understand pertinent procedures and functions quickly and apply them without immediate supervision;

Operate a calculator quickly and accurately;

Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;

Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supplemental Information:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Positions in this class perform work which is primarily sedentary and may involve prolonged periods of time in front of a computer or scanning terminal.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A City application form and supplemental questionnaire must be submitted and received by the closing date. Application materials may be obtained from the City of Vista, Human Resources Office, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, CA 92084 OR applicants can apply online at www.cityofvista.com

. Telephone: (760) 726-1340 Fax: (760) 639-6146.
SELECTION PROCESS
Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application materials that they meet the employment standards outlined above. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the position may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant’s skill, training, and experience for the position. Successful applicants will be placed on an eligibility list. The City may also merge lists. The selected candidate(s) must successfully complete pre-employment clearances which may include a physical, drug screen, and fingerprinting.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.