Fiscal Assistant I/II - Planning & Building

Humboldt County; Eureka (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Humboldt County Planning & Building Department is seeking a Fiscal Assistant I/II to support fiscal, payroll and administrative tasks in Eureka, CA. The role emphasizes accurate data entry, payment processing, and responsive customer service to the public and internal staff.

Under supervision, you will handle routine to moderately complex clerical duties, maintain records, and assist with departmental workflows to ensure efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Basic fiscal knowledge and clerical skills.
• Experience with data entry and records management.
• Ability to follow County policies and procedures.
• California driver’s license may be required for some positions.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality customer service to the public, staff, and external agencies by phone and in person.
• Answer, screen, and direct a high volume of calls and route to correct personnel.
• Perform data entry, scanning, uploading, and indexing into databases with accuracy.
• Process payments by phone, verify information, and record transactions.
• Assist with general administrative tasks such as filing, organizing, and preparing basic correspondence.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Telephone support

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Office software

Job description

Fiscal Assistant I/II - Planning & Building

The Planning & Building Department’s objective is to promote public health, safety and welfare by developing and implementing creative community-based strategies to enhance economic opportunity, build strong, resilient communities and ensure a dynamic framework for quality growth and development.

Job Highlights

• Provides high-quality customer service to members of the public, staff, and external agencies over the phone and occasionally in person, routes inquiries appropriately.
• Answers, screens, and directs a high volume of incoming calls for a large department of approximately 50 staff; provides accurate information and ensures callers are connected to the correct personnel.
• Performs data entry tasks, including scanning, uploading, and indexing documents into departmental databases and electronic records systems with a high level of accuracy.
• Processes payments over the phone in accordance with departmental procedures; verifies information, records transactions, and accurately records payment details.
• Assists with general administrative support such as filing, organizing documents, maintaining logs, and preparing basic correspondence.

Work Location

This position is located at 3015 H St, Eureka, CA 95501.

Work Hours

A typical schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm with 1 hour lunch.

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, in either a centralized fiscal or departmental setting, provides a variety of routine to difficult fiscal, financial, payroll, statistical and accounting office support to various County offices; may perform general office support duties, including typing, word processing and filing; performs related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Fiscal Assistant I is the entry level class of this fiscal office support series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn fiscal office and County procedures. As experience is gained, there is greater independence of action within established guidelines. This class is alternately staffed with Fiscal Assistant II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher level class.

Fiscal Assistant II is the journey level class of this series, fully competent to perform a variety of responsible fiscal, accounting and financial recordkeeping support duties. All positions are characterized by the presence of fairly clear guidelines from which to make decisions and the availability of supervision in non-routine circumstances. This class is distinguished from Senior Fiscal Assistant in that the latter either assigns, directs and reviews the work of a small fiscal support staff or performs the most difficult, technical, complex or specialized fiscal support duties.

• Matches invoices, receiving reports and other requests for payment with purchase order or contract documents; ensures proper authorization and compliance with County policies and procedures.
• Inputs information to a computer system or manually prepares forms to produce payments; reconciles and prepares payment requests for non-purchase order expenditures such as utility and contract payments.
• Provides information to vendors regarding invoices and purchase orders.
• Processes bails, fines, fees, charges, taxes and other monies due to the County; receives payments and balances monies on a regular basis.
• Assists with the production of various periodic billings, receives checks by mail and processes and balances accordingly; audits accounts receivable; answers factual questions regarding County policies and ordinances.
• Processes returned checks, conveys to proper person to effect collection and makes appropriate entries to files and/or ledgers.
• Maintains accounting and financial and statistical records and prepares periodic or special reports.
• Posts information to ledgers, journals and reports; totals and balances figures, proofs data and makes corrections as required.
• Prepares, reviews and processes time reports; calculates complex differential, premium and shift pay rates; processes personnel action, employee benefits and changes; provides benefits and payroll information to employees.
• Processes centralized or departmental payroll records and documentation; may assist in processing payments to various insurance carriers, deferred compensation and other employee deductions.
• Reviews and audits changes to County tax roll, calculates payments due on bonds and special assessments.
• Enters and retrieves data from an on-line or personal computer system; may use such technology to produce standard reports; operates standard office equipment.
• May assist with departmental payroll recordkeeping, cost accounting, budget preparation by posting information, typing materials or totaling figures.
• Performs a variety of general office support duties such as typing, proofreading, filing, answering the telephone and preparing periodic and special reports.

Knowledge of

• Policies and procedures related to the department or functional area to which assigned.
• Fiscal document processing and record keeping and bookkeeping practices and procedures.
• Basic auditing principles and practices.
• Basic business data processing principles and the use of personal or on-line computers.
• Office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Business arithmetic, including decimals and percentages.
• Correct English usage and the basic format for typed materials.

Skill in

• Preparing, maintaining and reconciling various fiscal, accounting, payroll, personnel, statistical and numerical records.
• Performing detailed fiscal office support work accurately.
• Operating standard office equipment including a calculator and computer terminal.
• Prioritizing work, coordinating several activities and meeting critical deadlines.
• Using initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Understanding and carrying out oral and written directions.
• Typing with sufficient skill to complete forms and enter information into a computer system.

Other Requirements

Specified positions may require the possession of a valid California driver's license.

Desirable Education and Experience

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills outlined above is:

Fiscal Assistant I

One year of office support experience or equivalent education above the high school level to demonstrate possession of basic fiscal knowledge and skills.

Fiscal Assistant II

In addition to the above, one year of fiscal, bookkeeping, accounting or financial clerical or office assistant experience at a level equivalent to the County's class of Fiscal Assistant I.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Separation of application instructions. The following sections provide additional information and legal statements:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does it take to fill out the application?

• You should allow 30 – 45 minutes to fill out your application.

Can I change my application after submitting it?

• No. Once an application has been submitted, it is final. Applicants may submit a new application with updated information during the filing period if they wish. Only the most recent application submitted will be considered. All other applications will not be considered.

How long until I hear back from you and how can I check for updates on my application?

• You may receive communications regarding your application at different stages of the selection process. Important updates will be sent to the email address listed in your governmentjobs.com account at the time of notification. To ensure you don't miss any critical information, we recommend keeping your email address current and regularly checking both your inbox and junk mail folders throughout the process. You can also log into your governmentjobs.com account at any time to check your application status. If you have any questions about your application's progress, please contact the County of Humboldt Human Resources Personnel Division at 707-476-2349 or [e-mail].

Will I be informed if I am not selected for an interview / Oral Exam?

• Yes, you will be informed via email if you are not selected for an interview / Oral Exam.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Research indicates that individuals in protected classes can be less likely to submit a job application. The County of Humboldt is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where our employees are free to bring their full selves to work each day in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential. The County Board of Supervisors has made organizational commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the County is working to ensure that these commitments are reflected in all we do. The County recognizes that certain populations (BIPOC, Disabled Persons, Veterans, LGBTQIA+ community members, etc.) face systemic and structural challenges which may inhibit their ability to satisfy every requirement of the position. In recognition of these structural and systemic factors, the Human Resources Department understands that experience can be gained in many ways – oftentimes, outside of formal institutions – and strives to take a holistic approach in assessing an applicant’s qualifications for a position.

If you’re excited about this role but your past work experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access and opportunities in its programs, activities, and employment, and does not discriminate on the basis of mental or physical disabilities. The Human Resources Department is located in the Humboldt County Courthouse, which has an accessible entrance on 4th Street. Accessible parking is available adjacent to the 4th Street entrance and on the 4th Street side of the K Street lot. Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities or religious convictions. If invited to an examination and you are in need of a reasonable accommodation, please contact Human Resources immediately at [phone] so arrangements can be made.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The county is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, military service, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

A pre-employment medical examination provided by the County may be required upon offer of employment.

OTHER EXAMINATIONS

Some positions also require psychological evaluation and/or extensive background investigation.

LICENSES

Some classifications require possession of valid professional and/or technical licenses. Some classifications may require the possession of a valid California driver’s license.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Persons appointed to regular County positions serve a probationary period. This is normally six (6) months but could be up to one (1) year. All designated safety employees serve a one-year probationary period.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

It is the County’s intention to hire only those workers who are authorized to work in the United States, pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990. If you are offered employment, you will be required to verify your eligibility to work in the United States. For law enforcement positions you will be required to verify your U.S. citizenship or legalized status.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

All County of Humboldt employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXAMINATION PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY MERIT SYSTEM RULES.