Accounting Assistant - Entry

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

Placer County is currently accepting applications for Accounting Assistant - Entry/Journey.  Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications.  To be eligible for more than one level in the series, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment: 

Accounting Assistant - Entry          #2025-12402-01

Accounting Assistant - Journey      #2025-12403-01

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform difficult and responsible clerical accounting and financial work in support of specific assigned functional areas which may include accounts receivable, accounts payable, department payroll processing, treasury, and tax billing and collections; to perform financial recordkeeping and prepare statistical records; to reconcile financial and budget reports with source documents; to process financial and statistical documents; to receive and reconcile revenues and disbursements; and to receive and respond to questions from County staff, outside agencies and the public.

This is the entry level class in the Accounting Assistant series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. The Accounting Assistant – Entry class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the journey level. Incumbents work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as procedures and processes of assigned area of responsibility are learned.

Receives immediate supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel and may receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Accounting Assistant.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform clerical accounting, financial or bookkeeping work associated with the maintenance of journals and subsidiary ledgers, payroll, treasury, tax billing and collections, general ledgers, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fiscal controls and similar financial records.
  
• Prepare periodic statements and analyses of statistical and financial records related to area of assignment.
  
• May process time records and prepare payroll and related records.
  
• Assist in the conduct of accounting and statistical studies and compute cost and revenue estimates.
  
• Classify and post expenditures, revenues or authorizations to the appropriate budgetary or ledger accounts; maintain records of postings; and reconcile to financial reports.
  
• Keep ledger accounts; balance accounts; review, identify and correct irregularities; assist with collections of delinquent accounts.
  
• Receive financial or statistical documents; screen for accuracy and adherence to legal and procedural requirements; carry out proper steps to ensure or authorize payments and delivery; post to records, check and balance totals.
  
• Make computations and changes to financial and statistical data, apply standard formulas or predetermined guides; assemble financial and statistical data from a variety of sources and prepare or assist in preparing financial and statistical reports.
  
• Receive and process a variety of payments at the front counter; review customer information for accuracy and research account status; generate receipt and respond to customer questions.
• Assist with the collection of delinquent accounts.
• Review and process department payroll ensuring accuracy; research and correct errors; process leave requests; and respond to questions from department staff.
• Assist in the conduct of accounting and statistical studies and compute cost and revenue estimates.
  
• Process accounts payable involving the review and coding of invoices to appropriate contracts; verify materials are received and charges are accurate; monitor contracts to ensure sufficient funds for payment.
  
• Track and monitor contracts and insurance; create and/or make changes to supplier records, contract encumbrances and amendments.
  
• Prepare, review and approve cash, credit card and check receipts; perform account adjustments; reconcile and process refunds and overpayments.
  
• Research, verify and process warrant reissues.
  
• Collect and track a variety of data; prepare invoices, billings and/or claims and balance accounts; maintain customer/client accounts.
  Receive and review tax documentation.
  
• Classify and post expenditures, revenues or authorizations to the appropriate budgetary or ledger accounts; maintain records of postings; and reconcile to financial reports.
  
• Keep ledger accounts; balance accounts; review, identify and correct irregularities; assist with collections of delinquent accounts.
  
• May contact other governmental agencies, private agencies and County employees to obtain information for and clarify financial/statistical records and transactions.
  
• Operate standard office equipment including word processing applications as assigned; may perform duties on computer spreadsheet programs; operate stand alone computer software programs as related to assigned area.
  
• Prepare complex financial or statistical reports and summaries independently; recommend improvements in financial recordkeeping procedures and systems.
  
• Assist in preparing budget estimates; prepare trial balances, recapitulations, balance sheets and complex statistical and financial reports.
  
• Meet with the public to obtain data, interpret information and answer questions; prepare routine correspondence to answer questions, request information or provide explanations.
  
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  
  

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May be required to deliver or pick up records, receipts and other information within the County from other departments, divisions or agencies.
• Order and maintain inventories of office supplies

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. Positions may require traveling to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting materials and supplies of light weight.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: No experience required.  One year of responsible clerical experience in keeping financial or statistical records is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.  Additional specialized training in bookkeeping, accounting or a related field is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Methods, practices and terminology used in financial and statistical recordkeeping.
• Arithmetic calculations related to statistical and financial record keeping.
• Principles and practices of computer hardware and software including word processing, spreadsheets and database packages
• Principles and practices of filing and record keeping.
  

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time.  Intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write and use keyboard to communicate through written means; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; lift light weight.
• Intermittently, review documents related to Department operations; observe, identify and problem-solve office operations and procedures; understand, interpret and explain Department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve office issues for the public and with staff.
• Make arithmetic calculations rapidly and accurately.
• Post financial and statistical records.
• Learn the organization, procedures and operating details of the County Department to which assigned.
• Use modern office equipment and computers.  
• Verify and check files and data.
• Understand and carry out both oral and written directions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and fellow employees of the County.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking.

Online Examination (100%) - Tentatively Scheduled for the Week of March 10, 2025

After the posted filing deadline, qualified candidates will receive a notification via email when the examination is available. The online examination may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, matching, and/or essay type questions directly related to the required knowledge and abilities for this classification.

Note: Candidates will have approximately three (3) calendar days from the date of notification to complete the online examination. Only one attempt will be permitted.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.