Under general supervision a Senior Accounting Assistant provides complex clerical support in the maintenance and processing of financial records and data entry/retrieval in manual and automated systems; functional areas of responsibility include cash receipts and disbursements; accounts receivable/billing; accounts payable/payroll; fixed asset accounting; and revenue distribution.

Senior Accounting Assistant is the advanced journey level in the Accounting Assistant series; positions at this level perform the most complex duties and responsibilities assigned to the series, exercising a significant level of independent judgment in the performance of their duties; work assigned to this advanced level requires a specialized technical or functional expertise beyond the journey level, such as processing complex transactions which require a specialized knowledge of multiple operational factors; positions may also be assigned functional, technical and lead supervisory duties over lower level staff when such assignments are a formal organizational responsibility, supervising at least three subordinate staff members.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE
Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification.

BILINGUAL INCENTIVE
Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Various

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future Regular Full-Time and Part-Time (including Temporary and Fixed term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Probation Agency.

Senior Accounting Assistant is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE: February 14, 2022
CLOSING DATE: March 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM.
(This recruitment was previously open continuous) and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet the business needs.
APPLICATION REVIEW WEEK OF: February 28, 2022 (and weekly thereafter)
ONLINE WRITTEN EXAMINATION: March 07, 2022 (and periodically until recruitment closes)

The following duties are considered characteristic but not inclusive and are examples only. Specific assigned duties may differ depending on the needs of the department/ agency.

• Plans, leads, schedules, assigns, reviews and monitors the work of clerical staff in assigned program area.
• Receives, reviews and verifies claims, invoices, and payroll documents for authorization of expenditures, accuracy of amounts and accounts charged, and conformance to rules and procedures.
• Receives cash, warrants and checks from individuals or revenue sources; applies credit to the proper subsidiary ledger account; balances the cash register and forwards deposits to the proper accounting area for deposit with County Treasurer.
• Edits daily operational reports for discrepancies or rejects; prepares adjustment entries to reconcile with the master control accounts.
• Researches outstanding warrants and claims; follows up with the parties involved and takes corrective actions to resolve the problems; prepares journal vouchers to adjust the accounts accordingly.
• Performs complex calculations (e.g., back pay, revenue/costs distribution, welfare aid entitlement) by examining the individual case records, integrating multiple rules and regulations, and comparing the outcomes using different methods of calculation.
• Pre-audits the work of others (e.g., time and work reports, child support payments, payroll, welfare payroll) to ensure proper coding, account classification, cost and fund distribution, and compliance with state or federal guidelines and procedures.
• Balances the subsidiary ledger totals to the Auditor-Controller's financial status reports; prepares periodic detail and summary reports on account status as requested.
• Performs posting functions by hand or on the computer by inputting accounting or payroll data to appropriate accounts, journals, or ledgers.
• Provides oral and/or written reports to supervisors as required by abstracting data from various agency accounting and statistical records.
• Compiles, verifies, and calculates the appropriate charges to clients/users for services/goods rendered; prepares invoices to provide details on charges.
• Troubleshoots on computer system errors, provides system maintenance support for the unit, and creates/modifies the file structure to enhance report generation.
• Assists the supervisor in the compilation of workload statistics and supplemental reports requested by state, federal and local agencies.
• Sorts, batches and files financial, statistical, or fiscal data/records.
• Provides receipts by filling out a receipt form or endorsing checks in order to provide payee with proof of payment.
• Logs and codes data according to prescribed accounting procedures; retrieves documents from files and sets up new files as requested.
• Verifies the signatures of persons authorizing the expenditures by maintaining and reviewing the index files.
• Compares data on the documents with back-up information in order to substantiate claims.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Four (4) years of experience in financial, statistical, or fiscal record keeping; or two (2) years as an Accounting Assistant II with the County of Ventura.

Education/Experience Substitution

Three (3) units of college-level accounting coursework OR twelve (12) units of college-level general coursework may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

If you are substituting education for experience (up to one year), verification of the college-level coursework is required. Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted to County Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. three (3) days past the closing date of this recruitment. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program; basic bookkeeping and record keeping principles, practices, and techniques; the operating financial accounting system; the codes, forms, procedures, rules and regulations applicable to the processing and recording of fiscal transactions; the department/agency account structure and operational requirements; principles of lead supervision and training; pre-audit methods and procedures; electronic data processing equipment uses and limitations.

Skill in: the operation of a 10-key adding machine or calculator; use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to the work performed.

Ability to: plan, lead, assign and review the work of staff; make arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy; learn codes and classifications used in account maintenance; use computer printouts and prepare data in the proper format; understand and apply rules and regulations related to fiscal record keeping and accounting functions; understand the relationship among accounting records and documents; recognize discrepancies or problems in accounts and make corrections; research a problem or question to a successful conclusion; prepare financial summaries and maintain ledgers and journals; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time once sufficient qualified applications are received to meet business needs. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, CA, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue L-1970, Ventura CA 93009.

Note To Applicants: You must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire if applicable, in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER CANDIDATES

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. This questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100% An un-proctored, on-line, internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to evaluate participating applicants' knowledge of accounting, accounting math, leadership, and computers for successful performance on the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Written exam notification will be sent to qualified applicants within 10 days of the exam expiration date.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record is required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Amanda Rocha by e-mail at Amanda.Rocha-Sosa@ventura.org or telephone at (805) 677-8735.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.