Picture yourself as part of a team dedicated to excellence in public financial services. The City of Mercer Island is recruiting for an Accounts Payable Clerk to add to its Finance Department. The selected candidate will be part of a departmental effort to implement best practices in local government finance, while being mentored and trained by an experienced, successful, and supportive management team, led by Finance Director Matthew Mornick and Deputy Finance Director LaJuan Tuttle. 
The Accounts Payable Clerk is a key support function for the Finance team. The Accounts Payable Clerk’s primary role is to assure that accounts payables for the City are paid timely and are properly recorded on the financial records. This position is also responsible for administering a purchasing card program, monthly excise tax reporting, and routine updates to payment policies and procedures. The ideal candidate will be open to new ideas and enthusiastic about continuous improvement to financial processes.The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. 
 

• Maintain accounting and administrative controls over the accounts payable function.
• Provide excellent customer service both to internal customers and external vendors.
• Interact with vendors, contractors, auditors, and City representatives on accounts payable related issues; research, resolve and respond to customer inquiries regarding invoices, payments and accounts status.
• Review and process payment of invoices to vendors, reimbursements to employees and non-employees, and travel per-diem reimbursements in accordance with accounting principles and City policy.
• Verify payment requests are authorized and enter invoices and purchase orders into the accounts payable module of the primary financial system.
• Responsible for weekly accounts payable check run; to include printing and mailing of checks, Electronic Fund Transfers, and submission of Positive Pay File to banking institution.
• Prepare, review, and issue 1099 forms and manage sales & use tax related issues.
• Establish and maintain new vendor records and routine reporting of new vendors to Finance Director.
• Participate in establishing uniform accounting policies and procedures related to the accounts payable and purchasing functions.
• Administration of City purchase card program, including monthly reconciliation of purchasing card transactions, issuance of new cardholder accounts, updating validated budget codes, and assist cardholders with system questions. 
• Maintain various computerized spreadsheets and records of financial transactions.
• General accounting support to the Finance team.
• Annual submission of unclaimed property to Washington State Department of Revenue.
• Ensures adherence to all established City policies, procedures, and protocols.
• When required, responds to Emergency Operations Center to support the City’s response during an emergency and fulfills requested Incident Command System (ICS) role.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no supervisory functions.Associates degree in accounting, business, or related field; supplemented by two years of professional bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounting, or finance related experience; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Public sector accounting experience preferred.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION

• Valid WA State Driver’s License with a driving record free from frequent or serious violations. A three (3) year driving record abstract must be submitted prior to hire.
• Completion of NIMS ICS-100, 200, and 700 within first twelve months of employment.

 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and their application to a variety of accounting transactions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook. Demonstrated skill in 10-key calculator and data entry.
• Ability to handle multiple interruptions, prioritize work, and maintain organization of documents. 
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance, receive and respond well to direction, and ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment.
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills in the English language as well as effective interpersonal and customer relation skills are essential in a team environment. 
• Must have excellent attention to details and ability to perform various tasks while subject to interruption. 
• Must have a record of good work attendance.
• Ability to represent department goals and objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds 
• Ability to commute independently to and from work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule (virtually or in person), including to community meetings and events

Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and extended periods of time standing and/or walking.

Tasks are regularly performed inside without exposure to adverse environmental conditions (e.g., dirt, cold, rain, fumes).

Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.