Accounting Tech III

Overview

The City of Seward is recruiting for an Accounting Technician III. This position is responsible for performing, under general supervision, moderately difficult accounting clerical work. It is distinguished from Accounting Technician II by an understanding of fund accounting, the distinction between governmental and proprietary funds, and the proper treatment of transactions involving multiple funds of the City.

• Performs all duties of Accounting Technician II, AP and Payroll in their absence in addition to other duties as listed.
• Reconciles various government funds, balances general ledger accounts, prepares work papers and schedules, aids others relative to the proper accounting treatment of various transactions, and responds to auditor inquiries.
• Prepares and balances investment schedules, cash flow, and other tasks as assigned. Reviews records and source documents to identify sources of discrepancies, determines the entries required to bring accounts into balance, and identifies significant changes in account balances and the actions that caused the changes.
• Performs a wide variety of regular and recurring accounting procedures including calculating, posting, verifying, preparing, and reconciling designated accounts to ensure completeness, accuracy, and conformance with uniform accounting classifications and generally accepted accounting principles; prepares, verifies, and posts monthly general and budget journal entries; prepares schedules and reports for internal and external distribution.
• Materially participates in the annual audit process and grants management.
• Assists in the preparation of schedules and reports for the annual budget process.
• Contributes to maintaining a high quality of work within the department and facilitates cross training by suggesting policies and procedures to promote efficiency and accountability.
• Coordinates assessment billings with the City Clerk and other related departments, ensuring that bills are consistent with the approved assessment roll.
• Maintains the purchase order system, including reviewing account codes on requisitions, ensuring proper authorization, inputting data into the computer system, printing and distributing purchase orders, and reconciling encumbrance data.
• Serves as backup to the Utility position, including processing payments, balancing till, answering customer inquiries, and communicating with electric linemen regarding job orders.
• Prepares and/or reviews monthly, quarterly, and annual grant financial reports and other reports required by outside agencies in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintains the City’s fixed asset records, prepares journal entries to properly account for the acquisition, donation, or disposal of such assets, maintains accurate listing of all city-owned property, and is responsible for learning fixed asset software and producing fixed asset reports as necessary.
• Provides effective and efficient customer service and promotes and maintains responsive community relations.
• Follows safe work practices.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

• Associate degree, preferably in accounting-related coursework, supplemented by at least two years of experience in accounting, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, skills and ability:
• Standard accounting transactions and accounting systems, accounting codes, classifications, and terminology related to job duties.
• Oral and written communications.
• Troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Perform arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately.
• Learn and apply existing accounting systems, policies, procedures, methods and techniques; reconcile accounting data and transactions; keep accurate and timely records; compile information and prepare reports.
• Work with computers and technology, including various software such as spreadsheets, word processing, graphics, accounting and other types as needed.
• Speak and write effectively.
• Demonstrate initiative and self-motivation in performing job duties, including planning workflow, setting and…