Resident Accounting Assistant

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

• High school graduate or equivalent.

• Minimum two years' experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or related experience.

• Must have experience and demonstrate ability in records management.

• Good writing and verbal skills, ability to efficiently use a 10-key and to type 25 words per minute.

• Valid Montana driver license.

• Ability to pass Federal workplace drug and alcohol testing requirements.

• Basic computer skills and experience working with Microsoft Office programs.

PREFERRED:

• Working experience in the local correctional system.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The current starting salary for the position is $16.50 per hour, although consideration will be given the successful candidate's experience and educational background.

Permanent full-time employees of Alternatives, Inc. are entitled to sick leave, vacation leave, individual health insurance, and retirement benefits. Alternatives, Inc. participates in the State Workers Compensation and Unemployment Insurance plans.

Permanent part-time employees are entitled to a pro-rata share of benefits based on the percentage of full-time hours worked (full-time = 40 hours per week).

Specific detail regarding benefits will be provided upon request at the time of interview or at the time of hire

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General Overview:

The Resident Accounting Assistant is directly accountable to the Financial Controller and/or Lead Resident Accounting Assistant of Alternatives, Inc.

The Resident Accounting Assistant participates in the day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping needs for Alternatives residents and community service clients. This position works with other Accounting personnel to process and maintain the Agency's resident and community client accounting in compliance with all directives, policies, procedures, laws, regulations and standards.

General Requirements:

1.All employees of Alternatives, Inc. are responsible for reading and complying with standards and procedures in the following documents:

a. Employee Handbook

b. Standard Operating Procedures

Specific Duties:

• Collect and receipt Beta and Misdemeanor (Jail Alternatives) fees, ensuring proper revenue classification.

• Summarize, reconcile, prepare, and deliver daily deposit and deposit report.

• Provide and demonstrate good customer service skills with all internal and external clients and residents. This includes treating all customers with respect, diplomacy, and consistency; and to refer customers to program staff when appropriate. For example, be prepared to explain transactions in a resident's account calmly although the resident may be agitated, and refer them to that resident's Case Manager, if appropriate.

• Maintain complete and accurate financial records for individual resident accounts and assist with collective resident account records. Tracks liability accounts.

• Complete the preparation, reconciliation, and distribution of resident funds (banking) to include cash, checks, resident services, resident reimbursements, working the banking window, etc. Reconcile totals distributed to amounts reported in accounting software.

• Process emergency expense requests with 48-hour notice.

• Process and disburse other resident expense payments that are sent directly to the vendor. For example: jail days, medical payments, restitution, fines, etc.

• Process resident paychecks and direct deposits and prepare and reconcile deposit to accounting records.

• Provide case managers bi-weekly report of clients not in compliance of pay stubs.

• Process the closing of resident accounts upon exit from the program.

• Monitor daily bank clearing activities reconciling to accounting software and reporting any discrepancies within that day.

• Communicate residents leaving with bad debt (negative balances), return residents with prior bad debt, and payments of bad debt to the Lead RA.

• Support co-Resident Accounting Assistants in resident accounting duties-trade duties regularly for cross training and maintenance purposes. Cover duties when assigned and necessary to provide consistent and smooth operations for all facilities.

• Maintain filing and organization of paper and electronic records as assigned.

• Pick up mail at the post office and distribute it at facilities - make daily run, sort, and process.

• Attend meeting as assigned.

• Process and review resident credit card issues or concerns. Communicate with case manager for research and decision.