Senior Accounting Technician - Costa Mesa, United States - Mesa Water District

Description

Salary : $72, $99,340.80 Annually

Location : Costa Mesa, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number:

Department: Financial Services

Opening Date: 04/15/2024

Closing Date: 5/15/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Mesa Water District (Mesa Water) is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for a Senior Accounting Technician in our Financial Services Department. The Senior Accounting Technician will be responsible for processing Accounts Receivable (water utility billing and collections) and Accounts Payable. The ideal candidate will have:

• Professional & Technical Expertise: experience processing Accounts Receivable, (specifically billing and collections) and Accounts Payable.
• Flexibility: ability to adjust accounting work to a new organization and process.
• Organizational Savvy: works skillfully and diplomatically across departments and with various levels of the organization, from frontline worker to executive.
• Attention to Detail: shows a high level of thoroughness and care in the details of the job.
• Teamwork: understands role on a team and does whatever is needed to make the team a success.
• Customer Focus: pleasant, professional, and easy to talk to; eager to search for solutions with customers, both internal and external.

Candidates who meet the minimum and desirable qualifications will be invited to compete in the selection process consisting of one or more of the following: 1) written multiple choice exam, 2) interview/assessment panel, and 3) final selection interview. If you would like to be considered for this recruitment, please make sure you submit your completed application by the deadline of: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Please contact recruiter, Camille Shehadeh, at for any questions.

About Our District
Mesa Water is an independent, top-performing special district, located in Costa Mesa, California, which is just minutes away from the coast, and home to a vibrant community in the heart of Orange County, including top schools, businesses, restaurants, and landmarks such as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, OC Fair & Event Center, South Coast Plaza, and more. At Mesa Water, you'll be part of an award-winning agency that provides 100% local and reliable groundwater to more than 110,000 residents and businesses throughout Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach, and unincorporated areas of Orange County. Mesa Water is the only water district in the county to provide its community with water sourced entirely from local groundwater supplies.

An industry leader, and the most efficient water agency in Orange County, Mesa Water is known for its entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit, forward-thinking business practices and technologies, and commitment to remarkable customer service. Employees are provided with an excellent benefits package offering $2,200/month in flex credits, participation in CalPERS, a matching 457b plan (up to 3.5%), a generous education reimbursement program, and a wealth of training and professional development opportunities. To learn more, follow @MesaWater on Facebook, Instagram, and visit

The Financial Services team.

The Position

Under direction, the Senior Accounting Technician performs a variety of complex and difficult clerical and technical accounting duties involved in performing responsible financial record keeping and reporting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area including maintaining general ledger and financial reports, monitoring cash balances, assisting with cash management, and other areas as assigned; may serve as lead worker; and answers questions and provides information and assistance to the other staff and the general public.

This is the advanced-level classification in the Accounting Technician series. Incumbents work under general direction and exercise a high level of discretion and independent judgment in performing perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including performing duties requiring specialized clerical and technical knowledge of accounting and financial services operations. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility. Work requires judgment in the interpretation of policies, procedures, and guidelines and may require the development of recommendations consistent with policies and procedures.
Representative Duties

• Performs a variety of clerical and technical accounting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area including processing Accounts Receivable (AR), assisting with Accounts Payable (AP), maintaining general ledger and financial reports, monitoring cash balances, assisting with cash management, and other areas as assigned.
• Ensures water meter reading route preparation for billing is processed in a timely manner; balances billing statements with consumption totals; researches discrepancies; corrects errors in system prior to exporting bills to mailing contractor.
• Creates new and/or updates changes to records in the computer system related to meter changes; performs meter upgrades/downgrades.
• Processes accounts receivable; prepare invoices, follow-up on delinquent payments, prepare aging report and reconcile account receivable accounts, and identify uncollectable accounts.
• Processes and mails delinquent notices; processes shut-offs for non-payment and debiting fees; provides shut-off notice to residents of multi-unit residential properties in accordance with SB998.
• Arranges special payment schedules for past-due/slow pay accounts; contacts delinquent customers regarding possible termination of service; initiates termination process; processes service termination final notices;
• Records, tracks, and maintains bankruptcy files and sets up new accounts identifying that it is a bankruptcy. Processes unpaid closed accounts; processes collection agency reports and generates penalties; refers past due accounts to collection agency. Performs a variety of duties related to customer rate changes (e.g., enters and tests rates with mass mail vendor, updates bill messages, etc.).
• Performs a variety of duties related to customer refund checks.
• Prepares numerous financial, accounting, and statistical statements, analyses, documents, and reports; gathers and organizes data to assist staff in the preparation of reports and recommendations; prepares routine financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies and reports; reviews and analyzes financial statements for accuracy with regard to balances and budget variances; prepares monthly Treasurer's/status report and transactions report on investments; posts investment related transactions; transfers funds to and from investment accounts as necessary.
• Performs duties related to electronic fund transfers and payments and wire transfers; processes all construction customer electronic fund payments; processes electronic fund transfer of retirement contributions and monthly health premium; prepares wire transfers for water, investment, loans, and payroll related items.
• Performs cash management activities; posts and reconciles information including customer service payment batches, collection agency fees and payments, credit and debit memos, bank return items, and adjusting transactions; reconciles water sales accounts receivable and customer deposits; prepares bank deposits and reconciles cash on hand account; disburses petty cash; records, posts, and deposits miscellaneous cash and check receipts; monitors bank balances and assists with cash management; sets-up customer jobs in project accounting and enters engineering fees into project accounting.
• Assists with processing accounts payable; enters receiving documents and invoices into accounts payable module, verifies accuracy of invoices, packing slips, purchase orders, and inventory orders; resolves discrepancies; obtains documentation/signatures as necessary to ensure proper approval and verification has been met to pay all invoices; prepares cash requirements and prints checks; assists in balancing the accounts payable module to the general ledger; prepares recurring payables for beginning of fiscal year.
• Assists in the preparation of financial, accounting, and statistical statements, analyses, documents, and reports; gathers and organizes data to assist staff in the preparation of reports and recommendations; prepares routine financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies, and reports; researches, compiles, and prepares reports for higher level staff as requested; assists in the preparation of various schedules for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Assists in balancing and reconciling various statements and accounts including bank reconciliations, 457 accounts, and flex spending accounts; analyzes accounts to determine accuracy of records.
• Responds to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provides information within the area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner; assists with troubleshooting customer accounts and water billing software issues; works closely with customer service area to resolve discrepancies.
• Prepares, maintains, and/or verifies a variety of 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 1099s, sales and use tax returns, and other tax-related documents.
• Performs a variety of general office support tasks in support of department operations; assists and backs-up other staff and functions including department phones, mail, and related operations; prepares, reviews, formats, edits, copies, and distributes documents; operates a variety of office equipment; troubleshoots and maintains office equipment.
• May lead, plan, train, and review the work of less experienced and knowledgeable staff; provides training to assigned employees in their areas of work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum & Desired Qualifications

EDUCATION: Associate degree in accounting or a related field. A bachelor's degree is highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE: Four years of increasingly responsible clerical and technical accounting experience.

LICENSE:Valid class "C" California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Principles of providing functional direction and training.
• Clerical and technical accounting principles and practices used in difficult and complex financial record keeping and reporting.
• Procedures, policies, rules, and practices affecting the development, maintenance, and control of fiscal record keeping systems.
• Operations, services, and activities of assigned accounting system, function, or program area.
• Responsible clerical and routine technical accounting principles and practices used in financial record keeping and reporting.
• Basic governmental accounting principles and procedures and District accounting system requirements. Principles and practices used in establishing and maintaining files and information retrieval systems.
• Methods and techniques of coding, verifying, balancing, and reconciling accounting records.
• Principles and practices of fiscal, statistical, and administrative record keeping and reporting.
• Basic account auditing and mathematical principles and practices.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software packages) to conduct, compile, and/or generate documentation.

ABILITIES:

• Perform a full range of clerical and technical accounting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area.
• Provide lead supervision and training to assigned staff.
• Review financial records, reports, and related documents, identify discrepancies, and resolve problems related to assigned are of responsibility.
• Advise and provide interpretation to others on how to apply policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations; interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.
• Perform a variety of accounting, fiscal, and statistical record keeping duties including to maintain and reconcile a variety of records and files; review financial records, reports, and related documents, identify discrepancies, and resolve problems related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Understand the organization and operation of the District and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
• Understand and apply pertinent laws, codes, and regulations as well as organization and department rules, policies, and procedures with good judgment.
• Classify, compute, and tabulate data and information following a prescribed plan requiring the exercise of some judgment.
• Compare, count, differentiate, measure, assemble, copy, and record and transcribe data and information.
• Perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately including to add and subtract, multiply and divide, and calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals.
• Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, Procedural and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Holidays - Mesa Water provides full-time employees with 105 holiday hours per year, comprised of twelve observed holidays (96 hours) and (9) floating holiday hours.

Vacation - Employees accrue between eighty-eight (88) and one hundred and sixty (160) hours annually, depending on tenure. Accrued time is available to use after six months.

Sick Leave - Employees accrue ninety-six (96) hours per year, with no maximum accrual cap.

Retirement - Mesa Water employees participate in CalPERS retirement.

Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired employees who are new CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at age 62 defined benefit plan with a three-year final compensation in accordance with PEPRA. New members will be required to pay 8.25% of pension reportable salary as their full share of their member contribution.

An employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 55 benefit formula with one-year final compensation. Effective 1/6/17, employees pay 7.0% of the employee contribution to CalPERS.

The District participates in Social Security. Please contact Human Resources if you have more questions.

Cafeteria Plan Benefits - Employees receive a $2,200 "Flex Credit" allocation per month to be used towards health benefits including medical, dental and vision. Flex credits not used towards benefits may be taken as additional taxable non-"Persable" income.

Deferred Compensation - A voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan (Section 457) is available to employees through Empower Retirement. Eligible employees may receive dollar for dollar employer match up to 3.5% of salary per calendar year.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - Employees may participate in either or both of Mesa Water's Section 125 plan flexible spending accounts: Dependent Care Reimbursement (eligible upon hire) and Medical Expense Reimbursement (after one-year).

Life Insurance - Full-time employees are covered by $200,000 in group term life insurance paid by District (benefit decreases at age 65).

Long Term Disability (LTD) - Full-time employees receive District-paid LTD insurance coverage equal to 2/3 of salary ($12,000 maximum monthly benefit) after a 90-day waiting period.

Short-Term Disability - The District participates in State Disability Insurance (SDI).

Automobile Allowance - Management employees receive an Automobile Allowance per month.

9/80 Work Schedule - Employees are offered a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.

Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Incentives

Salary Increases - Based on performance, new Mesa Water employees are eligible for merit step increases at 6-months and 12-months, and annually thereafter.

01

In order to assist with our recruitment efforts, please let us know how you heard about this recruitment.

02

Do you have an Associate degree or higher?

• Yes
• No

03

Please list the name of the major as listed on your degree. (If you do not have a degree, please list "n/a.")

04

Do you have at least four (4) years of increasingly responsible clerical and technical accounting experience?

• Yes
• No

05

Please check off all the areas of clerical accounting that you have experience in. (Check all that apply.)

• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Government Sector Accounting
• None of the Above

06

Please describe the type of work you have performed in the technical/clerical accounting field. (If you have no experience in this area, please enter "n/a.")

Required Question