Accounting Technician - RPU

POSITION DESCRIPTION Accounting Technician Rochester Public Utilities www.
rpu.
org Limited Term Appointment This is a limited-term position anticipated for approximately 2 years, and is contingent upon the availability of allocated funds, as well as favorable performance by the incumbent.
When the need for additional staff ends, the position will be eliminated unless RPU chooses ongoing continuation.
RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota.
RPU serves over 57,000 electric customers and 41,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually.
Vision- "We Will Set the Standard for Service" Our vision is based on six core values which are Safety, Integrity, Service, Stewardship, Accountability, and Skill.
Applications will be accepted until the opening is filled with application review beginning on March 4, 2024.
Nature of Work Under general supervision, the Accounting Technician performs a variety of technical and clerical accounting duties.
While the primary responsibility is accounts payable, work also consists of the preparation, maintenance and processing of accounting records and financial transactions including accounts receivable, cost accounting, general ledger accounts, capital/maintenance work orders, fixed assets, application of sales and use tax requirements, and internal labor.
This individual will become a subject matter expert on all software and processes used.
Work involves responsibility for a moderately complex set of tasks which require exercise of individual judgment using knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and a thorough understanding of the policies and procedures of Rochester Public Utilities and the City organization.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification.
Individual job duties will vary based on work assignment or location.
*Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable Review invoices and vouchers for appropriateness, documentation and accuracy.
Execute process to place vendor invoices into electronic document management system and route for approval and archival.
Confirm application of sales tax to invoices, adjust as necessary, or apply use taxes as needed.
Verify budget coding and appropriate approval.
Set up approved invoices for payment optimizing cash retention and allowable discounts.
Review cash receipts and daily cash summaries for appropriate coding and reconcile to daily deposit receipt; monitor cash over/short.
Review and monitor accounts receivable for appropriate accounting codes and corrections and make necessary corrections, as required.
Perform utility and non-commodity billing functions including monitoring daily billing process and clearing errors, preparing spreadsheet calculations required in the billing process, and billing for damage to RPU property and pole/tower attachment fees.
*Accounting Records Maintenance Maintain the necessary accounting records to support processed transactions related to area of assignment.
Perform reconciliations of records of assigned function; verify accounting entries in order to determine accuracy of each account or record; determine the general ledger and subsidiary accounts affected and accounting entries to be made.
Process, code, enter and verify numerical or financial data related to area of assignment.
Verify the accuracy and completeness of existing accounting data.
Prepare necessary journal entries to record financial transactions of RPU.
Assist in the maintenance of records including debt management, sales tax, inventories, work orders, capital asset management, purchase orders, budget, and others including management of its record retention and archival system.
*Financial Reporting Provide technical support to assigned supervisory personnel; research and compile technical information related to area of assignment.
Prepare technical reports and related information for department managers.
Assist outside auditors; answer questions; provide documentation.
Respond to questions and concerns from departments regarding area of assignment; correct problems in documents as necessary; explain processes and procedures to RPU employees and vendors.
Prepare technical reports and documentation related to area of assignment; compile and prepare reports based on state and federal requirements.
Participate in the design, implementation, update, and improvement of processes and systems in the Finance & Accounting Section.
Perform other related duties as assigned or necessary *ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience An Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in business, accounting, or finance or a closely-related field and two (2) years of full-time accounts payable and/or technical accounting experience; OR A Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely-related field.
Desirable Qualifications Familiarity with utility operations, regulatory requirements, and current utility issues Experience with SAP and document management software ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: accounting theory, principles, and practices and its application to various accounting transactions and problems related to public accounting; accounts payable; sales tax laws; debit and credit concepts as they apply to accounting principles and techniques; cost accounting concepts; the information available in various phases of accounting systems, account relationships, and established techniques for compiling and verifying accounting data.
Ability to: apply and adapt established guidelines and methods to varied accounting transactions; classify accounting transactions; maintain and reconcile accounts; close accounts, prepare reports and statements; perform arithmetic computations accurately and quickly; communicate effectively both verbally and in written form; multitask and prioritize work; work under pressure and/or with frequent interruptions; analyze and evaluate accounting problems; and work cooperatively with other staff to achieve the goals of the department.
Skill in: using both analytical and critical thinking; entering data with a high degree of accuracy; and proficiently utilizing a computer and relevant office applications including spreadsheets and accounting/billing software packages.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position.
The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.
In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below: Continuous demands: sitting, fine dexterity.
Frequent demands: standing, walking, reaching, and handling.
Occasional demands: lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting, climbing, balancing, and foot controls.
Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, touch.
Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions).