The Position
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Ready to put your accounting talents to work for your community? The City of Modesto is looking for an Account Technician I/II to take on a variety of technical finance tasks, support City staff, and help keep our financial operations running at their best. If you have journey\-level experience, an eye for detail, and a passion for public service, we’d love to meet you! Upcoming Salary Increases and Incentives:
3%effective 7/1/2026
2\.5% Education Incentive \- Bachelor's Degree
5% Education Incentive \- Master's Degree
The Account Technician I/II is responsible to perform, organize, assign and/or review the work of assigned personnel engaged in related programs and technical accounting duties involving the maintenance of general ledger, financial transactions and record keeping, accounts payable, accounts receivable, utility billing, cashiering, building permit, business licensing, revenue recovery, payroll, and/or related accounts; and to provide technical support to assigned supervisor, Department, and City staff.Application Process:
Applicants will be assessed on the application submitted. Due to the volume of applications received, resumes will not be screened for the purpose of determining who is the most qualified to compete in the testing process. It is the applicant's responsibility to fill out the "Education" and "Work Experience" section of the application with complete information and adequate detail. Do not substitute any part of the application with the words "SEE RESUME".
The following information is provided for use as a reference and as a planning tool. Human Resources is unable to schedule make\-up examinations. Applicants considered to be the most qualified will be invited to continue in the testing process.The Human Resources Department reserves the right to revise the testing process to best meet the needs of the City.
Tentative Testing Schedule
Online exam
May 1, 2026 \- May 7, 2026
The City of Modesto is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Essential and Marginal Function Statements
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential Functions:
Plan, prioritize, and review the work of staff assigned to perform a variety of duties in support of related programs and technical accounting duties; provide input to supervisor on performance evaluations, as requested.
Provide technical information and instruction regarding applicable procedures and methods; interpret and explain rules and regulations; answer questions and resolve problems or complaints when escalated.
Develop schedules and methods to accomplish assignments ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
Participate in evaluating the activities of staff, recommending improvements and modifications.
Monitor the workflow of assigned staff and work with employees to provide on\-going training and coaching as needed.
Provide and coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; provide training on the operation and safeguarding of customer’s information.
Implement a variety of related programs; ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations.
Maintain, prepare, and reconcile various ledgers, registers and journals according to established accounting principles; reconciles bank statements to deposits; coordinates with other staff on bank deposit variances and provides supporting documentation.
Process a wide variety of invoices and payment vouchers; record, verify, and balance accounts.
Establish and maintain accounting records; assign a variety of codes and numbers as needed.
Prepare a variety of financial statements and monthly reports for City accounting and/or utility accounting; assist customers/staff in the most complex revenue and collection issues and accounting related questions.
Maintain payroll records including timesheets, deductions and withholding amounts, vacation payments, retroactive pay increases, and other files and records for reports and auditing purposes.
Prepare and reconcile life, health, vision and the retirement system reports.
Assist with providing external auditors with requested documentation.
Administer applicable software programs; troubleshoot and make necessary corrections and changes to systems; contact vendors as required to resolve issues.
Determine and set up billing schedules; verify that bills are generated appropriately; ensure a delinquency schedule is created; coordinate collection procedures with other departments and/or outside service providers.
Approve and initiate the collection of account balances; actively pursue delinquent accounts in all facets of the collection process; locate and collect past due accounts; establish payment plans.
Research data and background information; compile and prepare a variety of statistical and financial reports.
Research and resolve the more complex questions and discrepancies regarding the status of accounts, the proper coding of transactions and other matters.
Download payments; research and troubleshoot payment issues; work with vendors to resolve issues and ensure payments to customer accounts are accurately posted.
Audit and maintain files and records; performs citywide audits, documents findings, corrects deficiencies, and communicates corrective actions and applicable policies, regulations, procedures, internal control updates, and/or best practices; prepare periodic reports.
Ensures revenue is posted accurately and timely to assure customer’s water services are not impacted.
Build, update and maintain a variety of databases.
Open vault and distribute cash drawers; close customer service lobby and ensure cash drawers are removed from each workstation and secured in the vault.
Conduct best practice surveys by contacting other agencies; identify and recommend ways to improve policies and procedures for applicable programs.
Operate a computer terminal in performing assigned duties.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with co\-workers, other City employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
Observe and maintain a safe working environment in compliance with established safety programs and procedures.
Marginal Functions:
Perform related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Account Technician IKnowledge of:
Basic principles and practices of technical and functional supervision and training.
Policies, procedures, processes, and form related to assigned area
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations.
Basic research techniques, methods, and procedures.
Generally accepted accounting principles and technical processes.
Technical principles and practices of governmental accounting.
Accurate posting of revenue to the general ledger.
Bookkeeping and financial record keeping principles and practices.
Principles of customer service.
Basic mathematic principles.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Ability to:
Maintain and balance a variety of financial records, ledgers, and accounts.
Post data to various ledgers, registers, journals and logs according to established procedures.
Maintain a variety of financial records and files.
Perform procedures in an organized and accurate manner.
Accurately count, record, and balance assigned transactions.
Learn to research the reversal of payments when receiving bank adjustments, returned checks, or credit card chargebacks and coordinate with other departments for remedies.
Learn to research variances in revenue and make corrections before uploading to the general ledger.
Assist in developing efficiencies and provide input for the automation of processes.
Identify customer needs and make recommendations on programs to meet those needs.
Effectively switch between a variety of computer systems and work with a variety of interruptions while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
Diagnose and resolve technical issues.
Work with sensitive and confidential customer information.
Prioritize work and coordinate several activities simultaneously.
Learn to review program policies and procedures and recommend appropriate changes to improve customer service and effectiveness of programs.
Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
Learn to understand, interpret, and explain department policies and procedures.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. Experience and Training Guidelines:Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience:
Two years of journey level experience equivalent to Account Clerk II with the City of Modesto, including financial record keeping experience in areas such as accounting, payroll preparation, accounts payable, data maintenance, and/or customer service. Training:
Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in accounting, business administration, or a related field. License or Certificate:
Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license. In addition to the qualifications for the Account Technician I:
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of technical and functional supervision and training.
Research techniques, methods, and procedures.
Advanced bookkeeping and financial record keeping principles and practices.
Advanced principles of customer service.
Principles of program development and implementation.
Mathematic principles.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability to:
Provide technical and functional supervision and training.
Research the reversal of payments when receiving bank adjustments, returned checks, or credit card chargebacks and coordinate with other departments for remedies.
Research variances in revenue and make corrections before uploading to the general ledger.
Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
Review program policies and procedures and recommend appropriate changes
to improve customer service and effectiveness of programs.
Understand, interpret, and explain department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve office issues for the public and with staff.
Experience and Training Guidelines:
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
One year of responsible experience equivalent to Account Technician I with the City of Modesto, including financial record keeping experience in areas such as accounting, payroll preparation, accounts payable, data maintenance, and/or customer service.
Training:
Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in accounting, business administration, or a related field.
License or Certificate:
Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license.
Physical and Mental Requirements
Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending or squatting. Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 25 pounds. Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close\-up work; occasional color and depth vision. Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone. Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision\-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone. Environmental: frequent exposure to noise. WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a typical temperature\-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment. Some positions may be assigned to remote locations. Positions may require occasional overtime or weekend work and travel is rare.