Account Clerk

This is an open recruitment to fill one future full-time vacancy.

The incumbent will enjoy working a 4/10 work schedule (Monday through Thursday). A 4% COLA increase is scheduled for July 1, 2027.

The incumbent will enjoy a family environment and be a part of an enthusiastic work force that has its own spirit committee that facilitates monthly employee events.

The incumbent will thrive working in this small culture environment allowing them to grow their knowledge, experience, resume, and prepare them for advancement by introducing them to a variety of finance related projects and responsibilities.

Under general supervision, processes utility billing data with heavy customer service emphasis and problem solving abilities; receives and answers inquiries by phone and in person; performs a variety of clerical and office support work related to the processing of financial transactions, record keeping and the preparation and reconciliation of financial and accounting records and reports; serves as the City's main receptionist; and performs other duties as required.

The Account Clerk is the first working-level class in the Account Clerk series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents perform work in accounts receivable and/or accounts payable, in addition to performing a variety of record keeping, reconciliation and report preparation activities. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes broader in scope, assignments are more varied and are performed under more general supervision. This class is alternately staffed with the Senior Account Clerk. Incumbents may advance to the higher-level class after gaining the knowledge, skills, and experience that meet the qualifications and after demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: An original City of La Palma application must be submitted online at www.lapalmaca.gov. The City must receive completed applications, resumes, and supplemental questionnaires by the final filing date and time listed to be eligible for consideration. Facsimiles will not be accepted. Resumes will not, nor will references to a resume, be accepted in lieu of a completed City application. Please note, that the City now notifies all applicants by e-mail. Applicants that indicate a paper notification preference, will still receive paper notices; however, the information contained in those notices will likely be delayed. During the recruitment process, we encourage applicants to check their e-mail account frequently.

SELECTION PROCESS: All applications will be screened and those candidates who present the most relevant qualifications and possess the required licenses and certificates for the position will be invited to continue in the selection process. The selection process may include testing and oral interviews.

A Background Investigation, including a criminal record check may be required. All appointments are subject to the successful completion of a post-offer medical exam (including a drug and alcohol screen).

Should a qualified individual with disabilities need reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the examination process, the City of La Palma must be notified no later than five working days prior to the scheduled examination date.

The City of La Palma does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, marital status, or disability. Equal employment opportunity will apply to all personnel actions, including but not limited to, recruitment, selection, training, transfers, promotions, evaluation, compensation, discipline, layoffs, terminations, and rehires.

NOTE: All employees of the City of La Palma are designated by both State law and City ordinance to be "Disaster Service Workers." In the event of a declared emergency or any undeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health, and/or safety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and relief workers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours, and performing work significantly different from the employees' normal work assignments and may continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The types and levels of employee benefits provided, including City contributions toward benefit costs, are subject to change.

Scope of Work and Examples of Duties

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Responds to customer telephone and counter inquires regarding utility account balances, payment plans, and meter readings and delinquencies; maintain files and registers related to utility billing.

Provides a high level of customer service and receives visitors and phone calls, takes messages or routes to appropriate person; answers questions; explains complex department or City procedures, processes or activities.

Audits claims, warrants, computer source documents, and other records for accuracy, where interpretation of established procedures or working with a variety of accounts is required; codes and otherwise prepares for further processing according to established procedures.

Prepares standard forms and maintains reference records and files according to established procedure; prepares and/or types statistical reports, correspondence, and related documents according to prescribed format.

Collects money for a variety of accounts, and may calculate payments using complicated formulas; assists the public by providing detailed explanations and interpretations of rules and regulations as they are related to individual payments.

Provides information to other departments or the public which require judgment and interpretation; searches for and abstracts technical data, and provides detailed explanations of policies and procedures; refers only matters requiring policy decisions to the supervisor.

Prepares mailings; sorts and/or files materials, creates and maintains computer or hard copy files, accesses files or locates materials by conducting file searches; makes copies of documents, forms or other materials; operates a variety of office equipment such as electronic calculators, typewriters, data terminals, computers and peripheral equipment, copiers and facsimile machines; provides back up to other office employees as required; and performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: City policies and procedures involved in the preparation and processing of fiscal records; procedures, methods, and office equipment used in accounts payable, payroll, and cash accounting; general ledger accounting procedures.

Ability to: work independently; analyze unusual situations involved in fiscal, financial, and statistical record keeping systems and resolve through application of City policy; make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately; perform clerical, financial record keeping work; understand and follow oral and written directions; understand, apply, and detect errors in specific segments of a record keeping system; operate a variety of office equipment, including calculator and computer; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and those contacted in the course of the work.

Education and/or Experience

Any combination of education and/or experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary. Example combinations include:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and one (1) year of experience in performing general accounting office work. Coursework related to bookkeeping, basic accounting and/or related computer applications and some experience in processing financial documents and maintaining financial or accounting records is desirable. Some experience and/or training in the use of Microsoft Office Products and other modern software applications.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to grasp and feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Incumbents perform sedentary work. Specific vision abilities required by these positions are those required to perform office machine operations.

Work Environment

Incumbents are not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

The City offers a highly competitive compensation package which is dependent upon qualifications. The City's attractive benefits package includes the following:

Retirement – The City offers the CalPERS 2% at 62 formula for new CalPERS members.; OR 2% at 60 formula for existing CalPERS members with less than a six-month break in service from another CalPERS or CalPERS reciprocal agency. Employees are responsible for paying the full Employee contribution through payroll deduction. Additional details on the City's retirement plan will be provided to candidates during the job offer process. For further information about CalPERS, please contact CalPERS directly. The City does not participate in Social Security except for the mandatory Medicare Program.

Medical Insurance - The City contracts with CalPERS to offer medical insurance to employees and their eligible dependents. The City provides a monthly health benefit allowance to be used toward monthly health insurance premiums currently $667.49 Employee Only, $1,156.49 Employee 1, $1,415.49 Employee 2.

Wellness Program - All employees and their dependents are enrolled in a confidential Employee Assistance Program.

Dental Insurance - The City provides dental coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. The City pays 100% of the premium and has a reimbursement program (up to 30%) for crowns.

Vision Insurance - The City has a vision care reimbursement program (up to $400) per employee and their eligible dependents per fiscal year.

Life Insurance – The City contracts with The Standard Insurance Company to provide $100,000 in basic group term life insurance for employees with additional coverage for eligible dependents. Employees may purchase additional coverage by participating in AFLAC plans.

Disability Insurance – The City provides short and long term disability insurance coverage with the City paying 100% of the premium.

Flexible Spending Accounts – The City currently offers a flexible spending account plan through which employees may set aside pre-tax dollars for a wide variety of eligible non-reimbursable medical expenses for themselves or their eligible dependents and/or eligible dependent care expenses.

Additional Insurance Opportunities – The City contracts with AFLAC to provide additional health, dental, and life insurance coverage, as well as many other reimbursable plans. Employees may set up these accounts as pre-tax dollars.

Deferred Compensation Accounts – The City offers employees the option to defer pre-tax earnings through the ICMA-RC Deferred Compensation Plan; contributions are at the employee's discretion.

Retiree Health Benefits – The City contributes the minimum Public Employees Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) contribution, currently $160 per month, toward retiree medical insurance for retirees who elect to continue their CalPERS medical coverage into retirement. The City does not offer retiree dental or vision coverage.

Holidays - Ten (10) paid fixed holidays and 40 hours of paid floating holiday time annually are provided. Employees are required to use either floating holiday time, vacation time, or compensatory time to facilitate a holiday closure between Christmas and New Years.

Vacation - Full-time employees entering service after July 1, 2011, earn 80 hours of annual vacation leave per year and can accrue a total balance of 120 hours, increasing incrementally after 5 years of service.

Sick Leave - 96 hours per year and can accrue a total balance of 760 hours.

Bilingual Pay – The City offers employees the opportunity to test once per year for bilingual accuracy. After successfully passing an interactive test, the employee will receive $150 per month. Testing is renewed biannually in order to continue receiving the stipend.

Work Hours - Full-time employees work a four day work week/10 hour work days; a 40 hour work week, Monday - Thursday.