Accounting Specialist​/Accounting Technician

About the Position

The City of Carpinteria is seeking an Accounting Specialist/Accounting Technician to join the Administrative Services Department. This flexibly staffed position offers opportunities to work on payroll, accounts payable, revenue tracking, audit support, and other essential financial functions. Candidates should be customer‑focused, collaborative, and eager to contribute to the financial integrity of city operations.

First Review of Applications:
March 18, 2026.

Interviews:
Week of March 23, 2026.

Accounting Specialist: $27.63 – $38.00 per hour.

Accounting Technician: $30.47 – $41.89 per hour.

This classification is flexibly staffed. Positions may be filled at either the Specialist or Technician level. Advancement from Specialist to Technician requires demonstrated journey‑level competency, consistent performance, mastery of complex technical duties, and a recommendation for advancement.

Incumbents may work in accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll support or administration, business licensing, cash receipting, purchasing, capital asset, and revenue tracking. Assignments may rotate or expand based on operational needs.

Accounting Specialist: Entry‑level class performing routine to moderately difficult accounting duties under closer supervision while learning procedures, systems, and internal controls.

Accounting Technician: Journey‑level class that performs the full range of technical duties with minimal supervision, including payroll administration, reconciliations, revenue tracking, and audit support. May provide basic training or guidance to lower‑level staff.

• Prepare, process, and verify financial transactions; maintain logs, ledgers, and records.
• Reconcile accounts, research discrepancies, prepare supporting documentation, and propose correcting entries.
• Assist with month‑end and year‑end procedures and audit preparation.
• Provide customer service for financial transactions, business licensing, and department procedures.
• Receive, review, and process invoices; verify coding, approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain vendor files, purchasing documents, and assist with 1099 preparation.
• Receive and record cash receipts; prepare daily bank deposits and resolve discrepancies.
• Support business license billing and renewals.
• Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) billing, reconciliation, and follow‑up.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and various financial documents.
• Maintain financial files and provide front counter and telephone support as needed.
• Offer assistance and procedural guidance to city staff, vendors, and the public regarding financial systems, transactions, payroll entry, purchasing procedures, reimbursements, business licenses, payments, and related accounting processes.
• Collaborate with departments to ensure timely collection efforts.
• Assist with drafting, mailing, and organizing corresponding letters.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Process bi‑weekly payroll including earnings, deductions, adjustments, and leave accruals.
• Prepare CalPERS, payroll tax, and 457 reports; reconcile benefit invoices.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, MOUs, CalPERS rules, and applicable laws.
• Track and reconcile Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), PBIA, and business license revenues.
• Perform advanced bank and subsystem reconciliations.
• Prepare audit schedules, year‑end journal entries, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain and reconcile capital asset records, including acquisitions, disposals, and depreciation.
• Review and process purchase orders and encumbrances for policy compliance.
• Maintain purchasing files, contract logs, and related documentation.
• Assist with budget preparation and financial reporting.
• Provide financial data to departments and respond to technical accounting inquiries.
• Serve as backup for weekly, monthly, and annual processes.
• Provide training and technical guidance to lower‑level staff in accounting functions, procedures, and processes, including payroll, accounts payable, and accounts…