Accounting Assistant (Accounts Payable)

Job Summary

Make an impact:

The City of Salem has an excellent opportunity for a skilled Accounting Assistant to serve in Accounts Payable. This position performs a busy workload of accounts payable related tasks including a high volume of data entry, reviewing payment requests for compliance, making payments, and working with internal and external customers. The Accounting Assistant works closely with a lead Accountant and many City department contacts to provide excellent internal customer service related to payable processing and payments. We invite you to make an impact and join our team!

Learn And Grow

The Finance Department values employees and their professional development. The department offers opportunities to attend finance conferences as well as supporting ongoing education and certifications.

What You Will Do

The Accounting Assistant performs technical and administrative functions related to accounting in support of City and departmental operations and services. This position is responsible for accounts payable processing for City departments. Most work is performed in the City's Financial Information Management System (FIMS) software as well as Laserfiche and typical office applications.

This position performs primarily under the direction of a lead accountant as well as a section supervisor and will not be responsible for the supervision of others.

Additional Information On Job Responsibilities

• Research and resolve processing issues between Finance and other departments, and between the City and external suppliers in the context of accounts payable.
• Work closely with the Accounts Payable Accountant to process a high volume of payments from across the City organization.
• Develop working knowledge of many City departments and contacts to efficiently route invoices and communications.
• Audit payment requests for proper supporting documentation, authorization, and policy compliance.
• Assist user departments by answering/assisting with accounting system use questions or compiling requested financial information.
• Distribute incoming invoices and payment requests to departments or own work list as applicable.
• Assist in the fulfillment of audit requests from the City's external auditor.
• Understand and apply payable related best practices and City-specific policies for check and electronic payment processing.
• Help develop and maintain standard operating procedures to facilitate efficient completion of payments and effective internal control.
• Print checks, match to invoices, mailing and filing.
• Maintain highly organized workflow to ensure timely processing and a high degree of accuracy.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Competitive pay.
• Retirement pension through participation in the Oregon PERS system.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Work Schedule is Mon-Fri, between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work hours will be fully in the Salem Office.
• Standard and voluntary life insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b retirement account.
• Voluntary long-term care insurance.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Employee health clinic.
• Employee wellness program.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must have an Oregon Driver license and meet the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Graduation from high school or G.E.D., supplemented by courses in accounting and government accounting; and two years of experience in accounting procedures, experience with governmental fund accounts, cash handling, or any equivalent combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Must pass the pre-employment background check.

Preferred Qualifications (Not Required To Apply)

• Associates degree in accounting preferred.

What You Will Bring Along

• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to perform accounting work accurately and rapidly.
• Basic knowledge of effective internal control over procurement and payments.
• Resolve procedural and operational problems by analyzing the problem and taking appropriate action.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, deadlines, and work effectively with frequent interruptions.
• Work independently to accomplish assigned responsibilities.
• Respect, seek to understand, and value individual differences to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Review, interpret, and apply relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
• Computer operation skills and experience with a variety of software programs including Microsoft Office applications and Enterprise Resource Planning applications (the City currently uses Oracle E-Business Suite).
• Experience in accounts payable processing.

About Us

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon, located in the heart Willamette Valley, and is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A Full-service City, Salem Has Eight Primary Departments

Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community and Urban Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Accounting Assistant or view by clicking here .

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to include how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification in your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs .