Accounting Technician - Extra-Help Accounting Technician

Merced County
Merced, CA

This recruitment is being established to obtain a current eligible list for both Full time and Extra-Help vacancies. Extra-Help are not entitled to county benefits and are limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week. Extra-Help pay is $24.19 per hour.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

When working within the general County departments, the incumbent may be responsible for the following duties:
  • Compiles data and interprets such data for budget preparation purposes in a large department.
  • Supervises and participates in the maintenance of records in accounting systems for fund appropriations and expenditures, accounts payable and accounts receivable, purchasing and similar financial and statistical activities.
  • Assists in developing forms and methods of financial record keeping, or accounting systems.
  • Initiates fund transfers, interdepartmental billing and other administrative adjustments in budget appropriations.
  • May prepare technically difficult statistical and/or accounting reports from a variety of sources.
  • May prepare grant expenditure claims and reports.
  • Reviews timecards of the employees and tracks vacation, holiday, and time off earned and taken.

When working within the Auditor/Controller Department, the incumbent may be responsible for the following duties:
  • Assists in reviewing and auditing computer-based accounting input documentation for accuracy, adequacy and conformity to instructions or prescribed work methods.
  • Balances accounts and research errors by checking previous entries, records and supporting documents.
  • Notifies departments of errors and corrections made or to be made.
  • Reviews various account balances before releasing payment where high rate of expenditures or periodic reallocation of fund exists.
  • Contacts departments or divisions because of insufficient appropriations and holding warrants until budget transfers are made.
  • Assists in maintaining general ledger, appropriation and revenues ledgers, encumbering funds by department and budget classification.
  • Posts expenditures and appropriations charges; liquidates encumbrances; assists in verifying accuracy of multiple data entries that go into the overall computerized accounting systems.
  • Interprets and applies detailed and extensive instructions.
  • Functions in a specialized area such as in warrant control and processing or encumbrance/purchase order control, and solving problems related to input and output of data.
  • Contacts other staff, public, and vendors regarding difficult and complex transactions and problems in the accounting or bookkeeping system.
  • Explains laws and regulations and procedures, and answers inquiries from departments using independent judgment.

Acts in a lead capacity and is responsible for performing the more difficult work which may include:
  • Prepares and submits periodic payroll reports.

  • Audits and verifies the employee appointment and status change action.
  • Computes and processes payroll deductions, and voluntary payroll deduction.
  • Processes vacation accrual, sick leave and other types of time off; reviews and assists in the preparation of complex and large periodic IRS, unemployment, and similar reports required in the payroll function.
  • Reviews work of lower-level Account Clerks and related account payable and claims processing; trains new employees.
Experience:
Three (3) years of responsible technical experience in financial, accounting, or statistical record keeping activities. Formal education in basic accounting, bookkeeping may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.
  • Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
  • Communicate effectively with others in person, in writing and over the telephone.
  • Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
  • Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.
  • Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
  • Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
  • Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
  • Kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.
  • Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
  • Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
  • Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
  • Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.

  • Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:
  • Basic budget preparation procedures.
  • Methods, practices and technology used in the development, maintenance and control of fiscal and accounting work.
  • Basic governmental accounting principles and procedures.
  • Purposes and methods of financial record keeping.
  • Data processing procedures as integrated with accounting systems.
  • Employee training.

Ability to:
  • Prepare clear and accurate financial statements and reports and analyze accounting and budgetary data.
  • Perform a wide variety of difficult sub-professional accounting clerical work without continuous supervision.
  • Perform a variety of arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately.
  • Interpret and apply laws, regulations and policies.
  • Maintain complex records and analyze data.
  • Coordinate, train and direct the work of others.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
  • Resolve work problems related to the maintenance of county financial, accounting and personnel records.
  • Read and write at a level required for successful job performance.
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