Contract Accounting Technician (Pw)

Do you have bookkeeping experience in a construction or industrial setting? Experience with reading and complying with contracts and regulations? Enjoy working with a variety of databases and programs? Public Works is seeking a Contract Accounting Technician to join our Financial Services Team!

Performs a variety of accounting duties for multiple budgetary programs within the Public Works Engineering and Operations divisions. May be required to research applicable laws governing the administration and payment of contractual obligations. Assists in providing statistical and financial support to Public Works staff, Budget and Accounting personnel and State agencies.

This position will start at Step 1 ($25.96/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full 2023 hourly range for this position is $25.96 - $31.90. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

City of Bellingham employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance and long-term disability. Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts, a medical insurance opt-out program, and access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plan. Additionally, employees may elect to participate in the City's 457 deferred compensation retirement savings plan.

Employees will receive 12 paid holidays in addition to one paid floating holiday each year. Employees accrue 8 hours total of contract and state sick leave per month in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Washington State Law. At the time of hire, employees will accrue 7.33 hours of vacation per month. Vacation accruals increase based on years of service. Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employee to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

For additional information regarding benefits and compensation Information please visit the following:

• Labor Agreements, Pay Schedules and E-Team Employee Handbook

• City of Bellingham (cob.org)

• Employment Benefits

• City of Bellingham (cob.org)

Closing Date/Time: Tues. 5/28/24 8:30 AM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

• Assists in the maintenance of financial records for a large multi-funded Public Works Department budget.

• Prepares reimbursement requests for funds for federal and state grants.

• Prepares billings for the private sector or other governmental units and submits invoices for reimbursement.

• Assists in yearly budget process by performing data entry for capital budget and other operational budgets.

• Works with Engineering and Operations personnel to coordinate additional budgetary information requested as needed.

• Under the direction of the Project Accounting Coordinator reviews and interprets various contracts for method of payment; monitors invoices for compliance with individual contracts. In accordance with WAC's, RCW's and contractual agreements, ensures completion of appropriate documentation for construction projects.

• Processes requisitions and claim payments. Ensures billing is accurate conforms with various laws and requirements.

• Prepares, maintains, and verifies varied and complex records associated with accounting functions such as accounts payable, receivable and billing through use of various software systems and electronic spreadsheets. Posts and reconciles journals, and registers logs or other records on a daily or periodic basis.

• Processes accounts based on documentation, invoices and/or statements. Researches and follows-up on delinquent accounts as directed.

• Processes the billing, receipting and updating of account records in the Maintenance Management software system and the financial software system.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

• Composes correspondence related to projects and prepares job-related procedural Task data.

• Provides back up to Project Accounting Coordinator in the Financial Services unit and other positions within the Financial Services division.

• Performs other related duties of a similar nature.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Duties are primarily performed in an office environment and include sitting and utilizing a computer terminal for extended periods of time.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job including:

• Remains stationary for long periods of time;

• Sufficiently perform paperwork manipulation and filing;

• Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine.

• One year of college or vocational course work in accounting, business, or related area required.

• APWA Contracting Accounting Specialist Certificate preferred.

• A minimum of three years bookkeeping/accounting experience utilizing computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets required.

• A minimum of one year experience with record-keeping and compliance monitoring for grant-funded contracts preferred.

• Accounting experience in a municipal or public sector environment preferred.

• Experience utilizing BARS accounting system preferred.

• Familiarity with engineering and construction terminology and concepts preferred. 

• A combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and required supplemental questions). Provide as much detail as you believe will fully describe your experience and training.

Application Review Process:

• Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around May 29, 2024.

• Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Relevancy of your experience and training, together with composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation will be considered when evaluating responses. Applicant status will be updated on or around June 7, 2024.

• The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of June 17, 2024.

• Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: Supplemental Question Review (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%). Candidates must score a minimum of 60% on the Oral Board Interview to be placed on the eligibility register.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works. This position is represented by a union. 

If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.

• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.

• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.

• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.