Summary

If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location, consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Accounting Specialist in our Finance Department. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website.

Under direction, performs a variety of difficult and complex technical accounting duties involved in performing responsible financial record keeping and reporting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area; answers questions and provides information and assistance to the other staff and the general public; and may provide lead direction within area of assignment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Employees at this level may be assigned specialized functions and are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Performs a variety of difficult and complex technical accounting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area.
Coordinates and processes information to ensure completion of assigned projects or duties within specified timelines; monitors compliance with laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment and related fiscal activities.
Interprets and applies appropriate accounting rules and regulations; ensures work performed complies with established standards and principles.
Prepares, maintains, and/or verifies a variety of complex and comprehensive accounting, financial, and statistical records, ledgers, logs, and files; gathers, assembles, tabulates, enters, checks, verifies, balances, adjusts, records, and files financial data; codes data according to prescribed accounting procedures; reviews information to ensure accurate reporting; resolves discrepancies; establishes and maintains various files and records.
Prepares a variety of comprehensive financial, accounting, and statistical statements, analyses, documents, and reports; assists other staff in the preparation of reports and recommendations including to gather, organize, and analyze data; prepares difficult financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies and reports.
Balances and reconciles various statements and accounts; analyzes accounts to determine accuracy of records; researches, compiles, and prepares reports for higher level staff as requested.
Utilizes various computer programs and applications; enters and maintains data; generates reports from a database or in-house system; creates spreadsheets and generates reports using spreadsheet software; creates documents using word processing software.
Answers questions and provides information and assistance to other staff and the general public in a courteous manner; interprets and explains City ordinance or administrative policies; provides information within the area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
Provides back up support for other accounting functions as required; provides assistance in performing other accounting related duties to meet deadlines; participates in special projects as assigned.
As assigned, trains employees in their areas of work including proper methods, procedures, and techniques; verifies the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work in accounting or a related field.
Experience:
Three years (full-time equivalent) of increasingly responsible technical accounting experience preferably related to area of assignment.

Supplemental Information

NOTE: For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's web site. The City of Escondido is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. All applicants will be subject to fingerprint investigation before a conditional offer of employment is extended. A pre-employment medical examination will be conducted following a conditional offer of employment for all positions. Safety sensitive positions will include a pre-employment drug screen. Positions subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations will be subject to DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Applications will be screened and the most qualified candidates will be invited to appear for testing. All positions require the ability to read, write and speak English. Types of tests may include written and/or oral examination, physical agility, practical exam or other appropriate job-related selection process. When testing is completed, candidates will be ranked on an eligibility list in the order of their test score. Selection for appointments is made from names certified on the eligibility list.
All appointments are subject to the successful completion of background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting, and will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. Qualification by a medical examination will be required at the time of appointment. After appointment, classified employees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period to be eligible for regular status. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all new employees must produce proof of eligibility to work in the United States within the first three days of their employment. The City of Escondido participates in E-Verify®.
The Loyalty Oath will be administered to all new employees on their first day of hire. New employees hired into positions that require a driver's license must provide proof of a valid California Driver's License of the appropriate class level on their first day of employment.
Additional information regarding the essential functions and physical, environmental and communication demands of the position may be obtained from the Human Resources Department. If you require reasonable accommodation in the testing process, such as an alternate means of testing, you must contact the Human Resources Department by the final filing date to complete a Request for Reasonable Accommodation form. 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.
Note: Pursuant to California Civil Code section 1786.53, the City of Escondido shall provide to all job candidates a copy of any records of arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien or outstanding judgment which was obtained in the course of conducting an evaluation for employment, assignment, and/or promotion. A copy of this information, if received by the City, will be given to candidates within seven days of the City's receipt.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Eligible individuals are those who meet the following criteria:

• Served in the U.S. armed forces
• Received an honorable discharge
• Did not retire from military service
• Seeking employment with the City of Escondido for the first time.