Accounting Specialist/Accounting Technician

The City of Carpinteria is seeking applications for an Accounting Specialist/Accounting Technician.

We are looking for a detail-oriented, organized, and customer-focused accounting professional to join our Administrative Services Department. Whether you're building your career as an Accounting Specialist or bringing journey-level expertise as an Accounting Technician, this flexibly staffed position focuses primarily on Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, with duties expanding to include payroll, budgeting, financial reporting, audit support, and other accounting functions as experience and departmental needs evolve.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys a variety of work. The successful candidate can prioritize competing deadlines, shift seamlessly between detailed accounting tasks and customer inquiries, and maintain a high level of accuracy despite frequent interruptions. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are essential. If you enjoy detail-oriented work, staying organized, providing excellent customer service, and being part of a collaborative team, we encourage you to apply.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This classification series is flexibly staffed. Positions may be filled at the Accounting Specialist or Accounting Technician level depending on City needs and/or the qualifications of the selected candidate. Advancement from Accounting Specialist to Accounting Technician requires demonstration of journey-level competency, consistent performance, mastery of the more complex technical accounting duties, and a recommendation for advancement.

Incumbents may be assigned to functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll support or payroll administration, business licensing, cash receipting, purchasing, capital asset, and revenue tracking. Assignments may rotate or expand based on operational needs and as directed. 

Accounting Specialist ($28.63 - $39.36/hour): Entry-level class. Performs routine to moderately difficult accounting support duties and receives closer supervision while learning job tasks, procedures, financial systems, and internal controls. 

Accounting Technician ($31.56 - $43.40/hour): Journey-level class. Performs the full range of technical accounting duties with minimal supervision, including payroll administration, reconciliations, revenue tracking, and audit support. May provide basic training or technical guidance to lower-level or assigned staff in accounting procedures and processes.

• Prepare, process, and verify financial transactions; maintain accounting logs, ledgers, and records.
• Reconcile accounts; research discrepancies, prepare supporting documentation, and propose correcting entries.
• Assist with month-end and year-end procedures and audit preparation.
• Provide customer service related to financial transactions, business licensing, and department procedures.
• Receive, review, and process invoices; verify coding, approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain vendor files, purchasing documents, and assist with 1099 preparation.
• Receive and record cash receipts; prepare daily bank deposits and resolve discrepancies.
• Support business license billing and renewals.
• Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) billing, reconciliation, and follow-up.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and various financial documents.
• Maintain financial files and provide front counter and telephone support as needed.
• Provide assistance and procedural guidance to City staff, vendors, and members of the public regarding financial systems, transactions, payroll time entry, purchasing procedures, reimbursements, business licenses, payments, and related accounting processes.
• Work with departments to ensure collection efforts are timely.
• Assist with drafting, mailing and organizing corresponding letters.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

• Process bi-weekly payroll including earnings, deductions, adjustments, and leave accruals.
• Prepare CalPERS, payroll tax, and 457 reports; reconcile benefit invoices.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, MOUs, CalPERS rules, and applicable laws.
• Track and reconcile Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA), and business license revenues.
• Perform advanced bank reconciliations and subsystem reconciliations.
• Prepare assigned audit schedules, year-end journal entries, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain and reconcile capital asset records including acquisitions, disposals, and depreciation.
• Review and process purchase orders and encumbrances for policy compliance.
• Maintain purchasing files, contract logs, and related documentation.
• Assist with budget preparation and financial reporting.
• Provide financial data to departments and respond to technical accounting inquiries.
• Serve as backup for weekly, monthly, annual processes. 
• May provide training and technical guidance to lower-level or assigned staff in accounting functions, procedures, and processes, including but not limited to payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.

• High school diploma or high school equivalency certificate, supplemented by college-level coursework in accounting, bookkeeping, or finance.

• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible accounting or bookkeeping experience, preferably with a governmental agency.

• Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.

• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible accounting experience performing duties equivalent to an Accounting Specialist or similar role, preferably with a governmental agency.

• A valid appropriate California driver’s license may be required.
• Maintain a satisfactory driving record. 

• Accounting and bookkeeping principles. 
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, and cash handling procedures. 
• Financial recordkeeping and internal control practices. 
• Business licensing procedures. 
• Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel and Word.

• Payroll administration and related federal/state regulations. 
• Governmental accounting systems and subsystems. 
• Revenue reconciliation and tracking. 
• Capital asset accounting. 
• Purchasing compliance requirements.

• Perform accounting duties accurately and efficiently.
• Reconcile accounts and resolve discrepancies.
• Interpret and apply financial procedures and policies. 
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information. 
• Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing.

• Independently perform journey-level accounting duties. 
• Prepare audit-level schedules and financial reports. 
• Analyze data and recommend solutions. 
• Train and assist lower-level staff.