Accounting Technician

Campus: College of San Mateo

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Schedule: 60

Bargaining Unit: CSEA

Months Per Year: 12

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Mandated Reporter: Yes

Campus Security Authority: No

The Accounting Technician performs senior-level accounting clerical work, primarily involved in the maintenance of accounts and records, preparation of financial reports, and monitoring and analysis of accounts for a college department. Under general supervision, the Accounting Technician provides information to staff regarding budget issues, account records, transactions, categorical funding, general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, and other areas of financial services. Public contact is moderate, and may include vendors, government agencies, and organizations, for the purpose of exchanging information about account status, reports, timelines, and procedures. A moderate to high degree of independent judgment and creativity is required to accurately apply prescribed guidelines and information to the resolution of a variety of minor and occasional major problems that arise. Consequences of errors in judgment could be costly in employee time; however, supervisory controls and well-prescribed procedures limit the risk of serious errors. An Accounting Technician can direct the work of other staff and student assistants as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Exchanges information with department and College staff, outside and governmental agencies regarding budget and accounting reports, grants and other categorical funding, reporting deadlines, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, payroll, year-end closing, and account balancing
2. Enters, modifies, and retrieves data using a computer
3. Plans changes to computer data records in conjunction with professional accounting and management staff
4. Audits computer records for accuracy
5. Directs the work of student assistants, accounting clerical, and other staff on special and regular projects as assigned
6. Sets up and maintains detailed accounting records
7. Reviews various accounts to audit their current or overdue status
8. Ensures compliance with policy and procedures by comparing work in progress to required formats, deadlines, and linkages
9. Monitors the due dates for payments; audits accounting records
10. Uses a database and a variety of computer software to compile data for, format, and prepare required financial and related reports, and to compose and prepare routine correspondence, memoranda
11. Reconciles receivables, payables and cash to fund balances maintained by outside agencies
12. Analyzes and verifies financial reports, statements, accounts, and records of expenditures and revenues
13. Performs other related duties as assigned

Employment Standards (acquired through education, training, and/or experience)

Knowledge of:

1. Accounting practices, procedures, and terminology
2. The techniques that are commonly used in financial and statistical record keeping
3. Fund accounting, budgetary and financial analysis, and research procedures

Skill in:

1. Respectful, tactful and sensitive interaction with people who are diverse in their academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds
2. Training and leading the work of others
3. Working accurately under deadline pressure
4. Oral and written communication
5. The preparation of financial statements and comprehensive accounting reports

Ability to:

1. Work independently with minimal direction
2. Work effectively as part of a customer service team

Job Requirements:

• Associate degree in accounting or a closely related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Successful accounting clerical work experience of increasing responsibility that has included financial analysis and reporting, such as full charge bookkeeping
• Skill in the use of spreadsheets, charts, and a variety of computer software to format, compose, and present accounting data, reports, correspondence, and other documents
• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff
• Experience with training and leading the work of others
• Experience with research and compiling data for, formatting, and preparing statistical, financial, accounting and other reports and records
• Demonstrated skill in multi-tasking, prioritizing workloads, and working independently
• Demonstrated skill in working as part of a customer service team

Additional Information: Physical/Other Requirements This classification requires attention to and organization of detail; complex data comparison and analysis; drawing conclusions from assimilation of a variety of data; oral and written communication; manual dexterity; work under deadline pressure; sitting for long periods; good memory, tact, patience; adaptability and flexibility in order to perform the essential functions. Benefits: Benefits include paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents. Additional paid benefits include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. Classified employees participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California. Optional tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 retirement plans are also available. EEO Statement: San Mateo County Community College District is an Equal Opportunity, Title IX, and Section 504 employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law. We seek to employ individuals who reflect our community's diversity of cultures, languages, and abilities. Our EEO Plan, grounded in Title 5 regulations, is developed and monitored by an EEO Advisory Committee, reviewed at least every three years, and supported by regular training for all members of selection and screening committees. We collect and analyze recruitment and retention data to measure progress and identify barriers.