Finance Technician I

City of Sumner, Washington; Sumner (IA); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Finance Technician I to join their team. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to dive into the world of finance and accounting, where you will provide essential customer service and administrative support. You will play a crucial role in managing utility billing, processing payments, and maintaining financial records. If you have a keen eye for detail and a passion for helping others, this role could be your next career step. Join a vibrant community that values diverse perspectives and is committed to excellence in service.

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of accounting and finance.
• Exceptional attention to detail and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Respond to inquiries from staff and the public in a courteous manner.
• Perform data entry and manage cash receipts with accuracy.
• Assist with utility billing and accounts payable processes.

Skills

Accounting practices

Customer service

Data entry

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma

Two years college coursework

Three years finance experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

2025 Hiring Range:$31.87 - $35.62 per hour DOE, with growth to $39.82

This position is a full–time, Fair Labor Standards Act non-exempt position. The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. After hours or weekend work is not anticipated. The incumbent in this position is not a Civil Service employee.

General Purpose
The Finance Technician I performs a variety of routine customer service, administrative, accounting, and clerical work in support of the finance and accounting functions of the City. This position is responsible for answering the City's main phone line; staffing the front counter and assisting with utility billing. The Finance Technician I reports to the Financial Services Manager and does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Distinguishing Characteristics
The Finance Technician I is the entry-level position in the Finance Technician series. Incumbents are expected to have a basic knowledge of accounting, exceptional attention to detail and, once trained, perform routine-level accounting functions (utility billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable) as assigned.

About Sumner
The City of Sumner’s vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city. In working to achieve that vision, Sumner prioritizes and celebrates diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences. The City actively seeks and encourages people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics to apply and all come together with a goal of continuing to learn and improve to better serve the residents, businesses and visitors of our community. Sumner remains a traditional city of just over 10,000 residents with agricultural roots, known for decades as the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World. At the same time, its compact, walkable layout aligns perfectly with progressive planning trends, as its classic Main Street becomes repurposed for boutiques, independent restaurants and daily services such as legal offices, financial advisors and doctors. While Sumner retains historic neighborhoods of Craftsman houses and an active high school right on Main Street, it also offers over 16,000 manufacturing and distribution jobs for companies such as REI, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Amazon.com, and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. With a downtown Sound Transit station with buses and trains, it is well connected to the Puget Sound region while striving to be a full service city with the largest YMCA facility in the state of Washington as well as a link trail system that will connect the Foothills and Interurban trails. Like the community, the city government is large enough to be professional but small enough to be creative. The City has won a variety of awards from the Governor's Smart Planning Award to recognition at the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its groundbreaking police work on victims' assistance. With a strong mayor format, the City has just over 100 employees who operate a cemetery, wastewater treatment facility, accredited police department, animal shelter, parks, full service public works and administration.


The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description in no way imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by a supervisor. While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Responds to staff and public inquiries as allowed by laws, regulations, and policies, in person and via telephone, e-mail, or internet in a calm and courteous manner.
• Performs data entry and reviews data entry audit, reports, resolves problems, and posts transactions with meticulous attention to detail.
• Handles telephone reception – answers all in-coming calls on the City's main line.
• Processes cash receipts.
• Performs research regarding customer accounts in order to respond to inquiries in a timely and knowledgeably manner.
• Provides support to monthly utility billing functions, including mailings for delinquent accounts and shut-off processes.
• Handles preparation and mailing of all accounts payable payments and all related processes including supporting reports for City Clerk, City Administrator and Council.
• Generates bills and balances receivables (other than utilities).
• Performs a variety of office/clerical support functions including composing correspondence, records management and calculating tabulations;
• Orders supplies on a weekly basis – processes invoice for payment.
• Manages postage machine, which includes point of contact for service, providing departments with monthly postage use reports and maintain postage amounts.
• Performs daily sorting and distribution of mail.
• Assists in maintenance of records and files; sort and file correspondence, checks, vouchers, index cards and other materials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Any combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the listed necessary knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.
• Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade required
• Two (2) years college level course work ORthree (3) years general finance experience involving general government accounting duties.
• Must hold a valid Washington State driver's license with a driving record free from serious or frequent violations.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• Accounting practices and procedures.
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures related to governmental accounting.
• Financial record-keeping techniques.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Computer software including Microsoft Office products.

Ability to:

• Apply accounting and financial record-keeping principles to the maintenance of fiscal and accounting records.
• Prioritize and schedule work to meet timelines.
• Be bondable.
• Maintain a pleasant and positive attitude under stressful situation.
• Provide excellent customer service by using a friendly, professional, accurate and customer orientated approach to a wide variety of customers. This would include in-person, written and oral communications.
• Maintain reliable attendance.
• Contribute to achieving the City's Mission.

Physical Requirements

Requirements outlined in this job description may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for employment in this position. However, some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

Description of Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an indoor office environment.

Sedentary work:

Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, mobility, fingering, grasping, talking, seeing, hearing, and repetitive motions.
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting, most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Some positions may require greater periods of walking and/or standing.

Selection Guidelines:

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interviews and reference checks will be completed. Job related testing may be required.

Background checksmayinclude:

• Prior Employment Verification: confirms applicant's employment with the listed companies, including dates of employment, position held and additional information available pertaining to performance rating, reason for departure and eligibility for rehire. This verification will be run on the past three employers or the previous five years, whichever comes first.

• Personal and Professional References: calls will be placed to individuals listed as references by the applicant.

• Employment Eligibility Verification: Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.

• Educational Verification: confirms the applicant's claimed educational institution, including the years attended and the degree/diploma received.

• Criminal History: includes review of criminal convictions and probation. The following factors will be considered for applicants with a criminal history:

• The nature of the crime and its relationship to the position.

• The time since the conviction.

• The number (if more than one) of convictions.

• Whether hiring,transferringor promoting the applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees or its customers and vendors.

The following additional background searches will be required if applicable to the position:

• Motor Vehicle Records: provides a report on an individual's driving history in the state requested. This search will be run when driving is an essential requirement of the position.

• Credit History: confirms candidate's credit history. This search will be run for positions that involve management of City of Sumner funds and/or handling of cash or credit cards.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, terminates and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, sensory, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation including gender expression and identity, genetic information, domestic violence victim or other basis prohibited by law.

Persons needing assistance in the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 253-299-5595 or email [e-mail]. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

Drug Free Workplace

The City of Sumner is a drug free workplace. TheCityis committed to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, free from employees whose job performance may be impairedby the use ofprescription, nonprescription, over-the-counter drugs, illegal controlled substances, marijuana and alcohol.

General Hiring Process Information

• Submitting a cover letter and resume is not required but is recommended.

• Applicants must provide professional references with accurate phone numbers andemail addresses. References will only be contacted for applicants who progress past the interview process.

• If multiple applications are received for the same candidate, only the most recently submitted, complete application will be considered.

• Applications received by the review date will be screened for minimum qualifications and then submitted to a Subject Matter Expert to select which candidates will be invited to interview. Personally identifiable information is removed from the applications during the screening process.

• Applicants who are invited to interview will receive notification by email and will be provided at least one weeks' notice prior to the scheduled interview date.

• Applicants who are not invited to interview will be notified by email.

• Interviews may be held through an online meeting platform such as Microsoft Teams.

• Applicants who pass the interview process may be invited back for a second interview with the department leads or for a walking interview through the department.

• Applicants who did not pass the interview will be notified by email.