Job Information
City of Bellingham Finance Accounting Technician in Bellingham, Washington
Finance Accounting Technician
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Finance Accounting Technician
Salary
$28.84 - $35.24 Hourly
Location
City of Bellingham, WA
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
25-ACCOUNTING TECH-FN
Department
Finance
Opening Date
01/03/2025
Closing Date
1/27/2025 8:30 AM Pacific
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
Local 1937
Description
Benefits
Questions
Nature of Work
Join our team as a Finance Accounting Technician, where your expertise will contribute to our community's fiscal integrity. In this essential role, you will ensure accurate accounting practices, enforce relevant ordinances, and provide high-quality support to both internal departments and the public.
The Finance Accounting Technician prepares financial information, reviews and enters accounting data including journal entries, and performs account and system reconciliations; analyzes financial data and audits reportable revenue of businesses. Prepares and posts financial data to Citywide financial systems and major revenue subsystems according to generally accepted accounting procedures. Interprets and enforces ordinances as they relate to accounting and finance. Independently carries out special projects and technical research. Provides administrative and logistical support to accounting and finance staff. Maintains accounting records; understands and applies City record retention policies. Provides high quality support and service to internal departments and the public.
Salary Information and Benefits:
This position will start at Step 1 ($28.84/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $28.84 - $35.24. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page (https://cob.org/about/employment/benefits) and labor agreements page. (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule)
10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 1/27/25, 8:30 AM Pacific Time
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:
Provides accurate and timely accounting services to City departments and the public including the enforcement of taxation and licensing ordinances, and accounts payable services.
Reconciles bank accounts and various subsystems to the general ledger and other financial records. Performs daily, monthly, and annual approval, proofing and closing processes on financial accounting system.
Analyzes financial and tax data to ensure its accuracy and consistency. Provides analytical review of the work of others, including adjustments; performs desk audits to determine reporting discrepancies; and performs spreadsheet analysis.
Reviews and enters accounting data to the general ledger, revenue subsystems, accounts payable system, and other subsidiary ledgers and accounting systems.
Identifies and resolves billing, collection, payment and refunding issues and problem solves with customers. Gathers data from various systems and resources and coordinates efforts for resolution.
Provides administrative support to the Accounting Manager, Finance Officer and Finance Department staff
Prepares monthly reports, maintains statistical information and provides analysis for management review.
Reviews operating procedures for finance revenue collection and payable software, makes recommendations for improvements; maintains integrity of data; and generates tax returns, utility bills, and accounts payable checks and other reports.
Assists with presentations, correspondence and policy and procedure manuals using word processing, spreadsheets, databases, web-based sources, graphical software and other applications. Coordinates the distribution of accounting information to other departments.
Manages accounting records. Understands and applies City and Department record retention policies. Coordinates archiving of accounting records.
ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:
Works on special assignments as required.
Provides Departmental assistance with general office back up as needed.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work is performed in an office environment with extensive work at a computer workstation. Environment includes a normal range of noise and distractions with very low risk.
Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
Very frequent sitting;
Frequent keyboarding, gripping and clicking mouse;
Occasional standing, walking, bending and kneeling;
Some telephones, collating and filing;
Close visual acuity;
Ability to communicate verbally
Experience and Training
One year college vocational courses in accounting, bookkeeping, business or related area.
Three years of progressively responsible bookkeeping or accounting support experience utilizing computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets is required, preferably in municipal government.
OR
- Four years of progressively responsible bookkeeping or accounting support experience utilizing computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets is required, preferably in municipal government.
AND
High proficiency in using Microsoft Office.
Keyboarding skills and ability to type a minimum of 45 wpm NET.
Accurate ten-key skills of 160 spm NET.
Familiarity with generally accepted accounting principles, governmental accounting and contract procedures preferred.
Necessary Special Requirements
Employment contingent on passing a criminal background check (See Fair Hiring Practices).
Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
Selection Process
You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
Application Review Process:
Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around January 29, 2025.
Experience and Training Review: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around February 7, 2025.
Candidates that score 60% or higher on the Experience and Training Review will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for February 20, 2025. Candidates must achieve at least 60% passing score on the Oral Board Interview to be placed on the eligibility list.
Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: Experience and Training Review (30%) and Oral Board Interview (70%).
Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.
This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Finance. This position is represented by a union.
If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.
Equal Opportunity:
Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
Fair Hiring Practices
The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information.
This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/1937-2022-2023-CBA.pdf) .
This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on PERS.
Civil Service Information
This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.
Veteran's Scoring Criteria
Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.
01
Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.
Have you read and understood the information listed above?
Yes
No
02
Do you have one year of college vocational courses in accounting, bookkeeping, business or related area?
Yes
No
03
Do you have three years of progressively responsible bookkeeping or accounting support experience utilizing computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets is required, preferably in municipal government?
Yes
No
04
If you answered no to Question 2, do you have at least four years of progressively responsible bookkeeping or accounting support experience utilizing computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets is required, preferably in municipal government.
Yes
No
05
Do you have high proficiency in using Microsoft Office, keyboarding skills and the ability to type a minimum of 45 wpm NET, and accurate ten-key skills of 160 spm NET?
Yes
No
06
Explain why you are interested in this position and why this position is the next right step for you in your career.
07
Please describe your bookkeeping or accounting support experience.
Required Question
Agency
City of Bellingham
Address
104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225
Phone
360-778-8228
Website
http://www.cob.org/employment
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