Senior Accounting Specialist bei City of Tustin, CA

About the Department

The City of Tustin is currently seeking qualified and motivated candidates for the position of Senior Accounting Specialist with a focus on Water Utility Billing and Business License.

In this key role, you'll perform a variety of technical accounting duties and provide essential support and guidance to lower-level staff. This advanced journey-level position offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment where your expertise in areas such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and utility billing will be highly valued.

If you're an experienced accounting professional ready to take on greater responsibility and make a meaningful impact in your community, we encourage you to apply!

Position Duties

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

•  Processes new business license applications, delinquent licenses, and license renewals in accordance with established procedures; assists customers with the completion of forms; reviews applications for completion, accuracy, and compliance with City guidelines 

• Assists customers at the counter and on the telephone, answering inquiries, providing information, and explaining City and department policies and procedures

• Provides quality customer service in answering questions, furnishing information and completing applications for City services and taxes

• Handles the cashiering function for all City revenue; receives payments from mail and walk-in customers; records incoming revenue for the city including utility bills, accounts receivable, invoices, business licenses and building permits; collects and accounts for money; issues receipts; reconciles cash receipt batches and prepares daily deposits

• Take on-and-off orders for utility service by telephone, correspondence and in person; analyze customer records to establish appropriate deposit amounts from written guidelines for new and existing utility users and prepare deposit refunds for supervisor approval

• Answer customer questions, investigate and resolve complaints; compute and prepare water bills; process delinquencies; review, analyze and reconcile customer billing records and prepare adjustments for supervisor approval as needed.

• Use various computer systems extensively to post payments; enter data of new utility customers and make data changes; interact with customers, coordinate with service and billing divisions, check credit ratings, obtain other information to assist customers, research, and use discretion to determine deposit and restoration of service requirements

• Determine and resolve utility payment problems and mis-readings; research, recalculate and adjust incorrect bills

• Perform financial transactions including processing or transferring payments, refunding credit amounts or deposits, adjusting charges and/or deposits, reversing payments, issuing refunds, and adjusting service fees

• Research requests, problems, and complaints and initiate appropriate action; generate service requests to resolve service issues. Assist customers who have had their service disconnected or who have received notice to interrupt service, including granting extensions of service

• Receive, compare and match various documents, such as purchase orders, receiving documents, invoices, credit card receipts, and billings. Process payments against purchase orders, check requests from City departments, and direct payments for contract work performed for various City departments

• Verifies invoices, purchase orders, checks, deposit slips, water payments, computer source documents, and other records for arithmetical accuracy and consistency; checks for proper budget coding and record keeping practices; resolves discrepancies within established procedures

• Responds to inquiries and/or complaints in person or by telephone; answers questions and advises on procedures in preparing accounting transactions

• Issues routine correspondence to vendors, businesses, or the public according to established procedures

• Generates computer or manual billings or refund checks in accordance with established procedures

• Rotates amongst various Accounting Specialist assignments, as directed

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, experience, and training that has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities is required for entry into the classification.  A typical combination includes:

Education and/or Experience:

Graduation from high school supplemented by college level coursework in accounting; and three (3) years of technical accounting experience. An associate's degree is desirable.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles and practices of accounting and financial record keeping

• Pertinent policies and procedures related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, business license, payroll, and utility billing

• Standard businesses software, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs

• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation

• Principles and practices of customer service

• Leadership and training techniques

Skill to:

• Operate modern office equipment, including a personal computer and related word processing, spreadsheet and specialized accounting software

Ability to:

• Interpret, explain, and apply departmental policies and procedures

• Analyze data and draw logical conclusions

• Train, check, and lead the work of assigned staff

• Prepare and maintain accurate and precise written documents such as ledgers, journals reports, forms, and correspondence

• Plan and organize work to meet deadlines

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

• Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative, and effective relationships with staff, supervisors, vendors, contractors, and the general public

• Evaluate situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines

• Perform assignments with a high degree of independence

• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain confidentiality of information

Licenses and/or Certificates: 

None.

Special Requirements: 

Satisfactory results from a background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.

Other Qualifications

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