Account Clerk II - English & Bilingual (English/Spanish)



Account Clerk II - English & Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Salary

$54,515.57 - $66,266.06 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

23/05-0402-OEB

Department

Human Services Department (HSD)

Opening Date

05/25/2023

Closing Date

6/19/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

01

Position Information

Start or grow your career with the County of Sonoma as an Account Clerk II!
 
Starting salary up to $31.75/hour ($66,266/year), plus a competitive total compensation package, and an additional $1.50 per hour for fluent bilingual positions/$1.15 per hour for basic bilingual positions**  

The Human Services Department (HSD) is currently recruiting to fill two full-time fluent bilingual (English/Spanish) Account Clerk II positions, one in the Employment & Training Division and one in the Finance Division. The Department of Health Services (DHS) is recruiting to fill one extra-help basic bilingual (English/Spanish) position in Sonoma County Animal Services and one part-time fluent bilingual (English/Spanish) position in Behavioral Health’s DUI Program. It is also anticipated that this list will be used to fill multiple future English and Bilingual (English/Spanish) positions during the active status of the list. If you are interested in one or all of the current positions, or any of the potential future positions, we encourage you to apply now!

We are looking for candidates who love to problem solve, are logical thinkers, have an aptitude for reviewing tables and matrices of numbers, and want to provide a high-level of customer service to their colleagues and the general public. If you are adaptable, able to shift gears quickly, and like working in a fast-paced environment - join us now!
 
Account Clerk II’s are primarily responsible for reviewing and adjusting transactions and accounts, screening documents for accuracy and adherence to requirements, and authorizing payments in compliance with established procedures, regulations, and record keeping practices. Depending on assignment, Account Clerk II's will also:
 
  • Provide excellent customer service, including answering phone calls from clients and assisting with questions
  • Post repayments, recoupments, and expungements
  • Sort and process mail, and create letters, forms, reports, memos, and notices
  • Answer provider questions regarding timesheets, pay period breaks, overtime, submitting timesheets, and paycheck tracking
  • Receive and process license applications and payments
  • Order office supplies and prepare weekly deposits
  • Enter and update information in the Animal Services database and coordinate permit billing and payment processing
  • Recover outstanding fees owed to the Behavioral Health DUI Program
  • Authorize payments in compliance with established regulations, procedures, and record keeping practices
  • Enter new client debts and maintain existing client information in our collection system (VACS)
  • Respond to client calls and assist clients with the repayment of overissued benefits
  • Post client payments to our collection system (VACS) and our eligibility system (CalWIN)
The ideal candidates will possess:

  • The ability to perform accurate data entry
  • Experience reviewing, processing, and maintaining fiscal transactions and accounts
  • Experience performing high level customer service duties
  • The ability to manage a high volume of calls in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience with Microsoft Excel and Word applications 
  • Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and multi-tasking skills
  • Attention to detail and effective organizational skills
  • The ability to work both individually and as part of a team

What We Offer  

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

  • A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on assignment
  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
**Bilingual Positions

Bilingual premium pay is an additional $1.50 per hour for fluent bilingual and $1.15 per hour for basic bilingual on top of the hourly pay rate. The Bilingual positions for this recruitment require English and Spanish skills at the fluent (conversational, reading, and writing) or basic (conversational) levels, depending on assignment. In order to be considered for bilingual assignments, applicants must indicate their skill level on their application and in their response to the required supplemental questionnaire. A bilingual examination will be conducted prior to employment to confirm level of skill. The bilingual premium pay begins after completion of the training period and upon the assignment of a bilingual caseload.


EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
 
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include completion of 12 semester units or 16 quarter units in accounting, record keeping, business math, or a closely related field.

OR

One year of full-time experience which includes the review, processing, and maintenance of fiscal transactions and accounts, or statistical data and records.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: methods, practices, and terminology used in financial and statistical clerical work, including working knowledge of costs and budgetary accounting principles; modern office policies, regulations, and procedures related to account or statistical records maintained; basic arithmetic to include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percentages; modern office methods and procedures; database, spreadsheet, and word processing applications.

Ability to: review and work with tabular detail such as codes, figures, and numbers; make arithmetic computations rapidly and accurately; use and understand common database, spreadsheet, and word processing applications; operate office equipment such as adding machines, calculators, and computers; review, code, post, balance, adjust, and summarize fiscal transactions or statistical data; maintain and reconcile related records; prepare final reports and statements; follow oral and written instructions; write neatly and legibly; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public; type accurately.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
 
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
 
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
 
  • Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
 
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
 
HOW TO APPLY
 

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
 
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
 
HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • CalJobs
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • Google Jobs
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Instagram
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Start Here!
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
02
Please indicate if you are also interested in part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
03
BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH SKILLS: If you would like to be considered for a position that requires bilingual abilities, please indicate the level of your proficiency below. Candidates must pass a bilingual proficiency examination to be eligible for positions with bilingual designation.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual abilities.
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual abilities.
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual abilities and/or do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position.
04
For this question, and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Please list your relevant and qualifying coursework, certifications, and training in accounting, book/record keeping, business math, and/or a closely related field.

05
Please clearly describe your experience performing financial and statistical clerical activities such as reviewing, processing, and maintaining:
  • Fiscal transactions and accounts
  • Statistical data and records

For each relevant position you list, include job title(s), employer's name and dates of employment (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your primary duties.

06
Please describe a time you had to resolve a challenging customer issue and provide excellent customer service. Detail the issue, how you addressed the concern within established guidelines or policies, and the outcome.
07
Please describe your degree of proficiency (beginner, intermediate, advanced) using the following programs/software applications, and provide examples of the types of work products you have generated with them:
  • Word
  • Excel
  • Outlook
  • Financial/Accounting systems
  • Other, relevant applications

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331