Senior Finance Assistant

SENIOR FINANCE ASSISTANT

DEFINITION

Under direction, provides technical and functional direction to lower-level staff and performs a variety of clerical, fiscal, and customer service duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and financial transactions, including, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cashiering, utility billing, and business licensing; maintains financial accounts and records and assists in the preparation of financial reports; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises technical and functional direction over and provides training to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Finance Assistant series responsible for performing the most complex work assigned to the series. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment to perform a variety of record-keeping, reconciliation, and accounting support activities. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to complete assignments.

Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements.  

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Provides technical and functional direction to assigned staff; gives work assignments; reviews and controls quality of work; participates in performing complex account processing duties.

* Trains employees in work principles, practices, methods, policies, procedures, and applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations; participates in the selection and hiring of staff.

* Assists other accounting and finance personnel in performing a variety of customer service and accounting support duties in the preparation, maintenance, and processing of accounting records and financial transactions, including utility billing, business licensing, cannabis ordinance regulations and tax, accounts payable, and/or accounts receivable.

* Responds to a variety of customers, departments, and employees' questions regarding specific account information, discrepancies, general accounting procedures, and/or department specific issues and problems; researches issues regarding specific transactions; and updates related files and departments on action items.

* Sets up new accounts or closes out terminated accounts; notifies Public Works Utilities & Operations (PWUO) Department of excessive water usage, collaborates with PWUO Department to investigate potential leaks and broken utility meters; calculates and processes billing adjustments due to leaks, penalty adjustments, or overestimating. May also provide oversight for listed tasks when performed by others.

* Processes, prints, and mails utility billings; receives, processes, and posts payments and issues receipts; handles and balances cash and credit card payments; sends out late and final notices, collection notices, and performs necessary collections and delinquency processing; reconciles reports; researches problems and makes adjustments; participates in implementing new utility rates.

* Processes final inspections, escrows, demolitions, and escrow demand sheets to title companies for escrow close; prepares refunds upon close of escrow.

* Records delinquent utility balances with Yolo County through filing of a property lien.

* Accepts and processes payments at the front counter, over the phone, and by mail, in cash, by check, or by credit card; makes change as necessary and maintains cash drawer as appropriate; balances payments and posts transactions in the accounting system daily.

* Communicates with City personnel, customers, various outside agencies, contractors, and the public to exchange information, coordinate activities and programs, and resolve issues or concerns; schedules meter readings in coordination with PWUO Department.

* Provides internal control for assigned function; reviews and implements approved internal control methods, office procedures, and related quality control measures.

* Maintain confidentiality of records and information as required.

* Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

* Principles of providing functional direction and training.

* Terminology and practices of financial and account document processing and record-keeping, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, utility billing, and business licensing.

* Record keeping, information processing requirements, and rules and policies related to business licenses, accounts payable and utility billing.

* Cash handling procedures.

* Business arithmetic and basic financial techniques.

* Methods and techniques of researching…