Accounting Technician/Sr. Accounting Technician

Job Description:

Accounting Technician/Sr. Accounting Technician

Description

Description

THE POSITION

Accounting Technician: Under general supervision, performs full-charge bookkeeping and para-professional accounting work requiring evaluation and analysis of financial or fiscal data for a specified assigned area; examines, reconciles, and adjusts accounting records from subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger; makes adjustments to correct posting errors and misclassified transactions; prepares periodic summaries of financial transactions including trial balances, revenue and expense statements, and statistical, cost and operating reports to support annual reports to federal and state agencies.

The Accounting Technician is the fully experienced/journey-level classification in the Accounting Technician series, competent to independently perform the full range of duties assigned to the classification. This classification performs the full range of duties as a journey level full-charge bookkeeper in the maintenance of a departmental or agency accounting system.

Senior Accounting Technician: Under direction, performs complex full-charge bookkeeping and para-professional accounting work requiring evaluation and analysis of financial or fiscal data for assigned fiscal program area; plans, leads, schedules, assigns, monitors and reviews the work of assigned technical and clerical staff; examines, reconciles, and adjusts accounting records from subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger; makes adjustments to correct posting errors and misclassified transactions; prepares periodic summaries of financial transactions including trial balances, revenue and expense statements, and statistical, cost and operating reports to support annual reports to federal and state agencies.

Senior Accounting Technician is the advanced journey level in the Accounting Technician series; positions at this level perform the more complex duties and responsibilities, exercising a significant level of independent judgment in the performance of their duties; work assigned to this advanced level requires a specialized technical or functional expertise beyond the journey level, requiring a higher level of analysis and evaluation such as more complex bank and trust account reconciliations, cost apportionments and cost analyses; positions may also be assigned functional, technical and lead supervisory duties over lower level staff when such assignments are a formal organizational responsibility, supervising at least three subordinate staff members.

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Merit Increases -New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Educational Incentive -An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive -Based on agency need,proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule - We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 or 4/10 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for most positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Annual Leave Redemption - After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $ 25,558 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
  • Employee only - $509 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus one dependent - $779 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus family - $983 per biweekly pay period
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits -Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY: Various

Accounting Technicians and Senior Accounting Technicians are represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

Examples Of Duties

The following duties are considered characteristic but not inclusive and are examples only. Specific assigned duties may differ depending on the needs of the department/agency. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepares and processes revenue receipts and facilitates banking services including balancing bank statements, transmitting wires, placing stop payments, and providing banking information; reconciles checking accounts with bank balances; researches exceptions and advises parties on necessary corrections; prepares cash receipts.
• Performs a technical review of accounting records and accounts; reviews and verifies source documents used in the receipt, distribution, collection and disbursement of monies to ensure proper coding and classifications, accurate accounting treatment and compliance with provisions of contracts/programs/legal requirements.
• Reviews a variety of reconciliations and transactions for compliance with policy and procedures; monitors cash positions; analyzes projected cash flow to anticipate fund expenditure requirements to ensure sufficient cash in on deposit (Sr. only).
• Receives, posts and reconciles money received which is placed in the Trust Account; provides coding; recognizes grant revenue and transfers revenue to the General Fund by preparing journal vouchers and placing data into the financial management system.
• Reconciles daily bank statements; researches outstanding and/or misrouted deposits; prepares journal vouchers to adjust accounts accordingly; performs posting functions; enters fiscal information into automated system.
• Resolves complex vendor and billing issues; monitors past due invoices and requests expedited payments; serves as liaison between vendor and County department or agency.
• Examines, reconciles, and adjusts accounting records from subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger; makes adjustments to correct posting errors and misclassified transactions; balances subsidiary ledger totals for the Auditor-Controller's Financial Status Reports.
• Receives, researches and compiles financial data; prepares periodic summaries of financial transactions including trial balances, revenue and expense statements, and statistical, cost and operating reports.
• Receives approved wire requests; reconciles and informs appropriate group on anticipated amounts of wires for next day balancing; coordinates any discrepancies with the Auditor-Controller's office and requesting department or agency.
• Reviews Board Letters for assigned fiscal area; verifies information and that payments are in compliance with any contract provisions and County policy.
• Assists in the interpretation of a variety of policies, procedures, regulations, contracts and agreements to determine if claims are in line with contract provisions; confers with management on policy matters and work problems; assists in the development and revision of accounting manuals to incorporate procedures and guidelines in accordance with state, federal or granting authorities guidelines and requirements (Sr. only).
• Receives, reviews and/or approves outgoing wires, image positive pay, quarterly interest apportionment, general ledgers, and bank statements; reconciles wires for heavy collections; maintains and reconciles adjustment for quarterly interest apportionment (Sr. only).
• Performs a technical review of payroll related transactions including wage garnishments, benefits deductions and related fiscal matters; applies appropriate regulations and laws to such transactions; generates vendor reports; processes claims, journal vouchers, wire transfers and receipts into the financial management system.
• Provides assistance in the Financial Status Report; updates financial data to multiple sub schedules such as revenue, personnel, professional and non-professional services, leases, etc. based on the actual grant revenue and expenses incurred to project the total costs for the department or agency.
• Analyzes all direct and indirect costs incurred in the administration and operation of state, federal or grant funded programs to arrive at the maximum allowable reimbursement/claim; prepares grant draw downs and claims for County and outside agencies; in a cost accounting unit, has responsibility for making complex cost distributions, the apportionment of indirect costs by cost centers, and the setting up of overhead rates in accordance with established bases and techniques; assists in the research and compilation of information needed to set rates; prepares cost, staffing, and utilization analysis as requested (Sr. only).
• Sets up subsidiary records for individual grant billings; researches and analyzes incurred costs; makes necessary adjustments for staff time and operating costs; converts total units of service and calculates revenue; coordinates with program management for any updates in personnel and operating costs; submits grant billing in a timely manner.
• Reviews work prepared by assigned fiscal staff including investment and financial statements and supporting documentation for reports; plans, leads, schedules, assigns and monitors the work assigned technical and clerical staff in assigned program area (Sr. only).
• Reconciles investment purchases, sales and exchange of securities with County investment custodian and brokers; writes investment trade tickets for submission to custodial bank.
• Monitors credit worthiness of financial institutions; maintains contact with investment brokers with regard to research, purchases and sales of investments; reviews the portfolio's performance on a regular basis, and makes recommendations to the Treasurer for updating the Investment Policy and Guidelines as necessary (Sr. only).
• Summarizes actual expenditures for grant budgets including personnel and operating costs; based on historic trends and forecasted needs, prepares annual grant budget proposal; updates worksheets for grant revenue projections and accrual for current year billings and forecasts total billable for year supporting the department or agency's Financial Status Report and the Annual Department Budget.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Accounting Technician: Two (2) years of progressively responsible accounting or full-charge bookkeeping experience with responsibility for the maintenance of books through trial balance;
OR
Two (2) years of experience as a Senior Accounting Assistant for the County of Ventura.

Senior Accounting Technician: Three (3) years of progressively responsible accounting or full-charge bookkeeping experience with responsibility for the maintenance of books through trial balance;
OR
Two (2) years' experience as an Accounting Technician for the County of Ventura.

Education/Experience Substitution
Six (6) semester units of college-level accounting coursework may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
If you are substituting education for experience (up to one year), verification of the college-level coursework is required. Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect passing grades in related subject areas must be submitted to County of Ventura, Human Resources within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing date.

If transcripts or grade reports are not submitted, your application may be screened out and you will not be allowed to continue in the process. You may attach the transcripts or grade reports to your application or mail to: Attn: Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

You must submit this documentation with your application, either as a hard copy with a paper application or a scanned PDF copy as an attachment for an online application. If you submit a hard copy with a paper application, be sure it is a copy. Whatever you submit will not be returned to you. To attach a PDF scanned copy to an online application, use the Add Attachment(s) link in the Attachments section of your application.

If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
Knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program in assigned department or agency; the principles of double entry and accrual accounting; budgeting and funding regulations, practices and procedures; accounting principles and techniques; the accounting structure and financial guidelines of the department served; principles and practices of grant billing.

Skill in: reconciling subsidiary to control accounts and maintenance of books through trial balance; use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to work performed.

Ability to: interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures involved in fiscal record keeping and accounting functions; compile, analyze, and evaluate financial transactions and reports; reconcile differences with financial record keeping systems; understand the relationships among a wide variety of accounting records, documents, and systems; prepare financial summaries and maintain ledgers and journals; make complex arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately; write basic business letters and procedures; exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of work.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025.

To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%: An un-proctored, internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test applicants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to the position, including accounting, math and computers. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future regular, temporary, fixed-term, intermittent, and extra-help vacancies.

VALIDATING PROCTORED WRITTEN EXAM: Offers of employment may be conditional to the candidate until taking and passing an on-site, proctored exam similar to the un-proctored, internet-based exam.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough post offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record will be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Blake Nespica by email at Blake.Nespica@ventura.org .

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the County of Ventura to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for county employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ,UPT, UWS

Closing Date/Time: 4/25/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$52,304.52 - $78,718.31 Annually