Accounting Technician

City of Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sacramento is seeking an Accounting Technician in the Community Development Department’s Administrative Services Division. The role supports fiscal operations across divisions by processing accounts payable invoices, tracking POs, auditing vendor payments, and assisting with accounts receivable activities.

Ideal candidates will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, with strong written and verbal communication, and proficient in Excel.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of financial record keeping principles and practices.
• Understanding basic accounting principles and modern office procedures.
• Ability to interpret fiscal records and prepare financial reports.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and audit materials requiring analyses of supporting documents ensuring proper entries in the system.
• Identify and resolve problems and inconsistencies; determine corrective entries for accounting controls.
• Examine, reconcile, balance, and adjust accounting records.

Skills

Financial record keeping

Basic accounting

Office procedures

Education

Specialized accounting courses

Tools

Excel

Financial systems

Accounting software

Job description

THE POSITION
THIS JOB POSTING WILL AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE UPON THE RECEIPT OF 50 APPLICATIONS
OR
AT THE FINAL FILING DEADLINE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Community Development Department’s Administrative Services Division is seeking an Accounting Technician to support fiscal operations for multiple divisions. The Accounting Technician processes accounts payable invoices, tracks purchase order spending, audits vendor payments, and assists with accounts receivable tasks such as creating invoices and verifying fees. Additional duties include preparing daily cash deposits, performing ledger reconciliations, and entering journal transactions in the City’s financial system, ensuring all financial activity is accurate, timely, and compliant.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, detail-oriented with strong written and verbal communication skills. They will think independently, resolve issues proactively, and provide thoughtful recommendations in a fast-paced environment. Exceptional customer service, solid understanding of basic accounting principles, comfort using financial systems, and strong Excel skills are key. Governmental accounting experience is a plus.

To maintain an accounting system and to perform paraprofessional accounting duties.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Direction is provided by a Senior Accounting Technician, professional or management personnel. Responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of accounting clerical and general clerical positions.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Prepare and audit materials requiring analyses of supporting documents insuring that all entries and adjustments are entered properly in the system.
• Identify and resolve problems and inconsistencies, determining corrective entries involved in maintaining accounting controls.
• Examine, reconcile, balance, and adjust accounting records.
• Prepare a variety of State, Federal, and local claims, statements, and reports from a variety of sources including preliminary data, accounting records, and computer printouts.
• Answer questions and advise on procedures in preparing accounting transactions.
• Provide data on monies due, collected, and delinquent for accounting information and annual auditors reports.
• Prepare and submit accounting information for data processing; reconcile any differences between accounting records and data processing reports; request reports and end of year printouts from data processing.
• Coordinate accounting activities with other City departments, divisions, and sections.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of financial record keeping.
• Basic accounting principles.
• Modern office procedures and equipment.

Ability To

• Understand and interpret the principles, laws, and procedures involved in fiscal record keeping and accounting functions.
• Prepare financial reports and maintain ledgers and journals.
• Analyze data and draw logical conclusions.

Experience And Education
Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience
Three years of increasingly responsible experience in the maintenance of financial, fiscal and related statistical records.

Education
Specialized courses in accounting and business practices.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

Probationary Period
Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

• Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline or upon the receipt of 50 applications; whichever occurs first;
• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
• If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.
• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• If you’re requesting Veteran’s credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the final filing deadline or upon the receipt of 50 applications; whichever occurs first. Information regarding the use of Veteran’s credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule 4.9C.
• Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.
• Training and Experience Exam: (Weighted 100%) – The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:
• Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.
• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.
• Eligibility: Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate’s eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Accounting Technician examination.
• Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail)– All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
• Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass LiveScan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.
QUESTIONS: For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:


• Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Applicant Support at [phone].
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment;
• Send an email to [e-mail]; or
• Call the Human Resources Department at [phone]
Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.
Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
Additional Information
Civil Service Rules: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/CivilServiceBoardRules62012.pdf
Union Contracts:https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/labor-agreements.html
Salary Schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/SalarySchedule.pdf
01
APPLICATION: I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment

• Yes
02
PROOF OF EDUCATION: To qualify for this classification you may use any combination of education and/or experience as listed to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities. I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position. Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements (https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment) for information on accepted documentation.

• Yes
03
EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: If I am using education to qualify for this position, I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

• No units from an accredited college or university
• Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Associates Degree
• 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate
04
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and/or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring department's review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.
• Yes
05
Describe a time when you identified a discrepancy between a financial transaction and its supporting documentation. What steps did you take to investigate and troubleshoot the discrepancy, what information or resources you review, who did you contact, and how did you communicate or escalate the issue?
06
Describe your process to ensure your work is accurate and complete, particularly when processing detailed financial or accounting transactions?
07
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION: The following questions are the Training and Experience (T&E) Examination. In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, applicants must complete and submit online responses to the T&E questions. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. Therefore, your responses to the T&E Exam questions should be thorough and complete because the exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. In accordance with the City of Sacramento's Racial and Gender Equity Action Plan (RGEAP), this examination contains non-binary names and pronouns. For additional information regarding the City's RGEAP, please copy and paste the following link into a web browser: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/Divisions/ode/workforce-equity-documents/Full-RGEAP.pdf I understand and agree to the above instructions.
• Yes
08
Select the one option that best describes your experience reviewing and/or reconciling account balances and/or compiling financial records.

• Five years or more
• At least four years, but less than five years
• At least three years, but less than four years
• At least two years, but less than three years
• Less than two years
09
Select all the software programs you are proficient in and/or have used on a regular basis in the administration of fiscal related duties.

• Microsoft Outlook or equivalent
• Microsoft Word or equivalent
• Microsoft Excel or equivalent
• Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent
• Microsoft Access or equivalent
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system or equivalent
• Adobe Acrobat Professional or equivalent
• Accounting software or equivalent
• None of the above
10
Select the one option that best describes your experience interpreting if a financial record, entry, and/or statistical report is in alignment with organizational policies and procedures.

• Five years or more
• At least four years, but less than five years
• At least three years, but less than four years
• At least two years, but less than three years
• Less than two years
11
Select the one option that best describes your experience analyzing financial data and submitting findings and supporting documentation for claims and/or audit purposes.

• Five years or more
• At least four years, but less than five years
• At least three years, but less than four years
• At least two years, but less than three years
• Less than two years
• Required Question