Hybrid Account Clerk I/II bei City of Santa Maria, CA

About the Department

Under the general direction of an assigned supervisor, the Account Clerk I/II performs a variety of complex and responsible clerical work in connection with keeping and/or checking financial and/or statistical records. This classification is currently in multiple divisions and departments across the City and may be flexibly staffed at the discretion of the Department Director. Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification but may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees or special projects.

The Account Clerk I/II position is an Individual Contributor role that provides courteous and efficient service to both internal and external customers. Their role enables the department to maintain accurate financial records to ensure compliance with fiscal policies and priorities.

The ideal candidate for this support position will have one or more years of experience in clerical or financial recordkeeping and demonstrate strong organizational skills in executing tasks. Preferred qualifications include relevant experience or college-level coursework in financial-related record preparation or maintenance. The successful candidate must be adaptable, able to manage competing priorities, and navigate shifting demands in a team environment. They will thrive in collaborative settings, ensuring clear and effective communication across all levels. Customer service skills and the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently are critical to success in this role.

1. Online application
2. A cover letter that explains how your education, training, and experience align with the Ideal Candidate Statement

Position Duties

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization.   This position:

• Account Clerk I
  • Performs complex and technical clerical and recordkeeping work associated with assigned area(s). 
  • Responds to customer inquiries.
  • Posts, balances, or adjusts accounts, maintains ledger systems, and compares data.
  • Prepares or checks invoices, time records, requisitions, purchase orders, and similar fiscal documents; assists in preparing accounting and statistical reports, payrolls, and schedules.
  • Makes arithmetical calculations and checks various statistical or accounting tables and reports.
  • May receive and receipt money, reconcile cash receipts, and prepare daily deposits.
• Account Clerk II
  • Trains and assists clerical support staff in the proper operations and procedures of assigned desk; may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees or special projects.
  • Prepares correspondence; researches, compiles, and organizes information for use by the division head in the completion of reports, recommendations, and special projects.
  • Relieves the division head of routine personnel, budget, timekeeping, and purchasing tasks and other operational details, including assisting in compiling division budget data and coordinating the clerical work required to prepare division budget documents.
• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the Director.
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Individual Contributor:
Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance (click the hyper link to see the full definition Individual Contributor Competencies):

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs. 
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources  and  disseminate  it  in  a variety  of  ways.  They  use  modern  technologies  to  access  and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen. 
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

Minimum Qualifications

• Account Clerk I
  • Ideally, one year of clerical experience including the preparation and maintenance of financial records; and
  • Graduation from high school.
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

• College level coursework in accounting is desired.
• Account Clerk II
  • Ideally, two years of clerical experience including the preparation and maintenance of financial records; and
  • Graduation from high school.
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
  • College level coursework in accounting is desired.
  • One year of recent experience in a lead or supervisory capacity is desired.
  • Employees may be considered for a level II advancement after completion of one year in their current assignment, at the Department Director discretion.
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  • Basic accounting; financial and statistical record keeping.
  • Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent). 
  • Use computer and other office equipment effectively. 
• Desired licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment.

Other Qualifications

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Possession of a valid and appropriate Driver License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business.  
• Requires completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.
• The incumbent must meet the physical requirements of the job class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• May require completion of a pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the City.
• Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

APPLICATION RANKING

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for this recruitment will be certified to an eligibility list. Your online application materials will be thoroughly evaluated and scored to determine your rank on this list. The Hiring Department will then select and interview those candidates from the eligibility list whose qualifications most closely align with the Department's specific needs.