Accounting Specialist

**Summary**:
If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location, consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Accounting Specialist in our Finance Department. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website.

Under direction, performs a variety of difficult and complex technical accounting duties involved in performing responsible financial record keeping and reporting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area; answers questions and provides information and assistance to the other staff and the general public; and may provide lead direction within area of assignment.

**DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS**
Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Employees at this level may be assigned specialized functions and are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices._

Performs a variety of difficult and complex technical accounting duties in support of assigned accounting system, function, or program area.

Coordinates and processes information to ensure completion of assigned projects or duties within specified timelines; monitors compliance with laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment and related fiscal activities.

Interprets and applies appropriate accounting rules and regulations; ensures work performed complies with established standards and principles.

Prepares, maintains, and/or verifies a variety of complex and comprehensive 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 a variety of comprehensive financial, accounting, and statistical statements, analyses, documents, and reports; assists other staff in the preparation of reports and recommendations including to gather, organize, and analyze data; prepares difficult financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies and reports.

Balances and reconciles various statements and accounts; analyzes accounts to determine accuracy of records; researches, compiles, and prepares reports for higher level staff as requested.

Answers questions and provides information and assistance to other staff and the general public in a courteous manner; interprets and explains City ordinance or administrative policies; provides information within the area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

Provides back up support for other accounting functions as required; provides assistance in performing other accounting related duties to meet deadlines; participates in special projects as assigned.

As assigned, trains employees in their areas of work including proper methods, procedures, and techniques; verifies the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.

Performs related duties as required.
**QUALIFICATIONS**
**Knowledge of**:
Operations, services, and activities of assigned accounting system, function, or program area.
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.
Governmental accounting principles and procedures and municipal accounting system requirements and procedures.
Principles and practices of budget development and administration including methods and techniques of budget preparation and control.
Principles and practices used establishing and maintaining files and information retrieval systems.
Methods and techniques of coding, verifying, balancing, and reconciling accounting records.
Account auditing principles and practices.
Mathematical principles.
Principles and practices of data collection and accounting, financial, statistical, and administrative research and report preparation.
Business letter writing.
Correct English usage, spelling, g