General Description POSITION OVERVIEW:JOB TITLE: Accounting Specialist
REPORTS TO: Finance Director
RATE OF PAY: $26.00/hr.- $36.00/hr., DOE (up to the midpoint of pay range) HPC Benefits Package
SHIFT/ SCHEDULE: Hourly, Non-Exempt Union Position
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled
The mission of Housing Pierce County (HPC) is to provide safe, decent, affordable housing and economic opportunity free from discrimination. HPC is a quasi-governmental agency created in 1978 by the Pierce County Council. Although the County Executive appoints and the Council approves HPC’s Board of Commissioners, HPC is not a part of the County Government. We operate as both a Public Housing Authority under contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and a mission-driven business enterprise under our own purview with the mandate to expand access to affordable housing in Pierce County. The Board and staff strive to make meaningful, lasting differences in the lives of our participants and community we serve.
GENERAL DUTIES:
Under general administration of the Finance Director, the Accounting Specialist is responsible for completing and administering entry level accounting and business transactions. The Accounting Specialist is also responsible for the administrative recordkeeping and the related recording of financial transactions related to administrative recordkeeping and the related recording of financial transactions for local, state, and federal capital and operating grants.
This position is part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 8.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following functions may be performed manually or computerized:
- Perform a variety of responsible accounting duties; prepare and process a variety of financial, statistical, and accounting documents, records, and materials; maintain financial records related to assigned accounts and coordinate with other accounting, purchasing, human resources, housing, and maintenance/construction functions.
- Analyze accounts, prepare adjusting entries, and perform other posting and reconciling functions for assigned programs, grants, accounts, and departments.
- Analyze tenant accounts and coordinate with property management and collections for delinquencies and bad debt, process receipts, moveouts and research payments.
- Review and ensure financial receivable related transactions and records are processed and maintained in compliance with federal, State and HUD-EIV rules, and regulations, and ensure HPC policies and procedures are followed; assure compliance with internal control and audit requirements.
- Responsible for maintaining a systematic filing of AR documents.
- Participate in the development and implementation of goals, work plans, performance measures, and continuous improvement of service delivery to assist in attaining the unit/program/department initiatives and goals, agency core strategies, and mission through a spirit of service, teamwork, and respect. Work respectfully and courteously with other employees, residents, and the general public. Follow direction and work well under pressure.
- Attend all required training and safety meetings; use, maintain and replace assigned personal protective equipment; report all injuries and illnesses to supervisor immediately; complete and submit incident/accident reports as required; report hazardous conditions or unsafe work practices to supervisor, and follow all safety and health guidelines, practices, policies, and procedures.
- Compile, prepare and report information, data, and/or statistics.
- Other duties as may be assigned relate to the fiscal activities of the Authority.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
- NOTE: The primary job duties noted above are not exhaustive and other job duties may be added as necessary to serve Housing Pierce County and ensure successful business operations.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
- Comprehensive knowledge or ability to quickly learn Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and Revised Code of Washington (RCW); budget preparation and control; accounting and reporting policies and practices of general proprietary and fund accounting; HUD accounting and audit practices for the Low-Income Public Housing Program, Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs, Rural Development Rental Assistance Programs, Rural Development Loan Program.
- Considerable ability to learn systems and requirements for establishing and maintaining subsidiary ledgers, journals and statements, good knowledge of public administration and office practices.
- Excellent oral and written English language communication skills.
- Ability to comprehend and implement complex rules and regulations pertaining to financial administration.
- Ability to evaluate and interpret income receipt and expenditures and to relate information to budgetary status and limitations.
- Ability to organize, coordinate, and oversee a variety of complex budget and accounting functions including operation and capital budgets.
- Ability to perform complex arithmetical computations.
- Ability to use in-house computerized financial and management information systems.
- Demonstrated skill in current Microsoft Office software.
- Yardi software.
- Skill to develop and maintain harmonious relationships with coworkers, the public, and with HPC officials.
- High regard and ability to meet schedules and deadlines.
- Skills in planning and organizing work and excellent ability to work independently with minimal direction.
- Skill in evaluation and interpretation of policy, procedure, rules, and regulations and to apply the knowledge acquired to the financial practices of HPC.
- Ability to work effectively and positively with individuals of diverse racial, cultural, gender-identities, physical and mental abilities, limited-English, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Ability to maintain proprietary information in a confidential and professional manner.
- Proven ability to understand and execute oral and written instructions and policies.
- Attendance is an integral component of this position.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- EDUCATION: A minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent
- EXPERIENCE: At least two (2) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the preparation and maintenance of financial and statistical records.
- While these requirements are the traditional standards for developing the skills required for this classification, any combination of experience, training and education that demonstrate the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the classification may be considered.
- LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Provide authorization for a criminal record background check once a conditional offer of employment has been made.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an office and housing site environment. The incumbent will use standard office equipment including personal computers, telephones, copiers, and related equipment.
- WORK SCHEDULE: Keep office hours sufficient to serve the public and manage staff; some weekends and holidays if the need arises.
- PHYSICAL ABILITIES:
- Sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time.
- Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and calculator.
- Ability to read and comprehend various data both on paper and computer screen.
- Ability to effectively exchange information and make presentations.
- Ability to conduct site visits.
- Bending at the waist to retrieve materials.
- Ability to lift, carry, and transport material up to 25 pounds
- ADA reasonable accommodation requests will be granted full consideration.
- HAZARDS: Contact with dissatisfied, rude, or frustrated individuals
- REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: HPC provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the terms of applicable federal and state laws and in accordance with HPC’s employment policies. Please contact the Human Resource Manager, Ney Calhoun at ncalhoun@pchawa.org or 253-339-1842 with any requests or questions regarding reasonable accommodations.
BENEFITS:In addition to your base wage, HPC provides generous benefits which includes the following:
- Holidays – twelve (12) paid holidays immediately and three (3) additional floating holidays after completion of your introductory first year.
- Health insurance – 100% premium coverage for employee and entire family if Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) chosen; if another plan is chosen HPC still pays 100% of employee premium and the UMP premium equivalent for family and then employee pays the difference.
- Starting from the first day of employment personal time off includes vacation leave use and accrual at the rate of 3.07 hours per pay period increasing with longevity, as well as sick leave use and accrual at the rate of 4.0 hours per pay period.
- HPC provides, at its own expense for each full-time employee, group-term life insurance equal to the employee’s annual base salary.
- Participation in Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
- Should you elect to participate in the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), after the completion of your introductory first year, HPC will match your contribution to a maximum of 6% of your annual base salary (not to include overtime or bonus payments).
Please note, HPC does not participate in Social Security, so no funds will be paid to that federal system by HPC or yourself. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:Housing Pierce County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected classes in local, state, or federal employment laws.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS:
- Submit both a one-page cover letter and resume.
- Cover letter needs to address how your experience and education and/or training qualifies you to perform the essential functions listed in the job description.
- Resume should detail all education and experience that qualifies you for this position.
- SUBMIT: Email cover letter and resume as attachments to HumanResources@pchawa.org with SUBJECT Line of "Accounting Specialist- Your Last Name, Your First Name"
- OR mail to:
Human Resources 11515 Canyon Rd E, Puyallup, Washington 98373
- Questions may be addressed to:
Ney Calhoun, Human Resources Manager humanresources@pchawa.org 253-620-5420
- DUE DATE: Open until filled.
Benefits
BENEFITS:In addition to your base wage, HPC provides generous benefits which includes the following:
- Holidays – twelve (12) paid holidays immediately and three (3) additional floating holidays after completion of your introductory first year.
- Health insurance – 100% premium coverage for employee and entire family if Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) chosen; if another plan is chosen HPC still pays 100% of employee premium and the UMP premium equivalent for family and then employee pays the difference.
- Starting from the first day of employment personal time off includes vacation leave use and accrual at the rate of 3.07 hours per pay period increasing with longevity, as well as sick leave use and accrual at the rate of 4.0 hours per pay period.
- HPC provides, at its own expense for each full-time employee, group-term life insurance equal to the employee’s annual base salary.
- Participation in Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
- Should you elect to participate in the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), after the completion of your introductory first year, HPC will match your contribution to a maximum of 6% of your annual base salary (not to include overtime or bonus payments).
Please note, HPC does not participate in Social Security, so no funds will be paid to that federal system by HPC or yourself. External applicants for employment will submit to a thorough background investigation, which includes, but not limited to, past employment/education verification, driver license review, credit history, prior drug use history, arrest/conviction record, and computerized voice stress analysis (CVSA) testing. A certified examiner administers the CVSA with questions addressing illegal drug use and general questions of honesty and criminal history. Any dishonesty or deception on the Employment Application will disqualify your application.
The background investigation process may take 3-6 months depending upon the complexity of the applicant's background and position for which you've applied. Applicants selected for employment will be provided a conditional offer and required to submit to a medical examination with drug screening.
Candidates must also comply with the Agency’s current Tattoo and Body Ornamentation Policy. A copy of General Order 28 - Dress and Appearance can be accessed here. An applicant’s tattoos and body ornamentation must be disclosed at the time of application and will be documented as part of the agency’s review process, even if otherwise meeting the Agency’s policy.
Applicants not selected for employment will receive notification from the Human Resources Division, to include justification based on the following disqualifiers: negative background, failure to meet minimum qualifications as outlined in the specific job description, or any additional information discovered during the interview process. Applicants will be eligible to reapply with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office after one year from date of notification.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is committed to a diverse work force, is a drug free workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly support our military veterans and their families, and encourage them to consider applying to agency job announcements for which they may qualify. Preference-Eligible Applicant service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled. Additionally, certain Preference-Eligible Applicants may also be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements in employment.
