Job Details

Salary : $57,476.71 - $87,131.09 Annually
Location : Carpinteria, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Administrative Services
Opening Date: 02/27/2026
Closing Date: 3/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

ABOUT THE POSITION AND OUR AGENCY
The City of Carpinteria is seeking applications for an Accounting Specialist/Accounting Technician.

We are looking for a skilled and customer-focused accounting professional to join our Administrative Services Department. Whether you're building your career (Accounting Specialist) or bringing journey-level expertise (Accounting Technician), this flexibly staffed position offers the opportunity to work on a variety of essential financial functions-from payroll and accounts payable to revenue tracking and audit support. If you enjoy collaborative work, problem-solving, and contributing to the financial integrity of City operations, we encourage you to apply.

First Review of Applications: March 18, 2026.

Interviews: Week of March 23, 2026
Salary Range
Accounting Specialist ($27.63-$38.00/hour)

Accounting Technician ($30.47-$41.89/hour)

plus, a generous benefits package.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This classification series is flexibly staffed. Positions may be filled at the Accounting Specialist or Accounting Technician level depending on City needs and/or the qualifications of the selected candidate. Advancement from Accounting Specialist to Accounting Technician requires demonstration of journey-level competency, consistent performance, mastery of the more complex technical accounting duties, and a recommendation for advancement.

Incumbents may be assigned to functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll support or payroll administration, business licensing, cash receipting, purchasing, capital asset, and revenue tracking. Assignments may rotate or expand based on operational needs and as directed.

Accounting Specialist: Entry-level class. Performs routine to moderately difficult accounting support duties and receives closer supervision while learning job tasks, procedures, financial systems, and internal controls.

Accounting Technician: Journey-level class. Performs the full range of technical accounting duties with minimal supervision, including payroll administration, reconciliations, revenue tracking, and audit support. May provide basic training or technical guidance to lower-level or assigned staff in accounting procedures and processes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Include but are not limited to the following:
General Duties (Both Levels)

• Prepare, process, and verify financial transactions; maintain accounting 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 related to 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.
• Provide assistance and procedural guidance to City staff, vendors, and members of the public regarding financial systems, transactions, payroll time entry, purchasing procedures, reimbursements, business licenses, payments, and related accounting processes.
• Work with departments to ensure collection efforts are timely.
• Assist with drafting, mailing and organizing corresponding letters.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties (Accounting Technician Level)
The Accounting Specialist may assist with selected Accounting Technician duties for training, development, and departmental coverage.

• 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), Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA), and business license revenues.
• Perform advanced bank reconciliations and subsystem reconciliations.
• Prepare assigned 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, annual processes.
• May provide training and technical guidance to lower-level or assigned staff in accounting functions, procedures, and processes, including but not limited to payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Accounting Specialist
EDUCATION:

• High school diploma or high school equivalency certificate, supplemented by college-level coursework in accounting, bookkeeping, or finance.

EXPERIENCE:

• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible accounting or bookkeeping experience, preferably with a governmental agency.

Accounting Technician
EDUCATION:

• Associate's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible accounting experience performing duties equivalent to an Accounting Specialist or similar role, preferably with a governmental agency.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES (Both Levels):
All licenses and certificates must be maintained as a condition of employment.

• A valid appropriate California driver's license may be required.
• Maintain a satisfactory driving record.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge (All Levels):

• Accounting and bookkeeping principles.
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, and cash handling procedures.
• Financial recordkeeping and internal control practices.
• Business licensing procedures.
• Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel and Word.

Additional Knowledge (Accounting Technician level):

• Payroll administration and related federal/state regulations.
• Governmental accounting systems and subsystems.
• Revenue reconciliation and tracking.
• Capital asset accounting.
• Purchasing compliance requirements.

Skills/Abilities (All levels):

• Perform accounting duties accurately and efficiently.
• Reconcile accounts and resolve discrepancies.
• Interpret and apply financial procedures and policies.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing.

Additional Skills/Abilities (Accounting Technician):

• Independently perform journey-level accounting duties.
• Prepare audit-level schedules and financial reports.
• Analyze data and recommend solutions.
• Train and assist lower-level staff.

SELECTION PROCESS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To be Considered - Apply by March 18, 2026, at 11:59 pm

A resume and cover letter must be included with your application.

Applications must be submitted online.
Statements made on the application, resume, and supplemental materials are subject to verification.

False statements may be cause for immediate disqualification, removal from eligibility list, or discharge from employment.

All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and assessed for each applicant's ability to meet the minimum work experience, training, and education qualifications. Those candidates whose skills and abilities best meet the needs of the department will be invited to move to the next step in the recruitment process.

Please review the complete job description before applying.
Click Here to View the Complete Job Description
The City of Carpinteria provides a comprehensive employee benefit package to full-time employees and their eligible dependents. The following provides a summary of benefits:
01

Instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire:The application and supplemental questionnaire will serve as a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. The information you provide on your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and candidates who are best qualified to advance in the selection process. Please note:*Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process.*A résumé and cover letter must be attached; however, they will not substitute for completing the job experience section of the application or this supplemental questionnaire.*Responses such as "see resume," "see application," or "see attached" are considered incomplete and may result in disqualification.AcknowledgementBy selecting "Yes" below, you confirm that:1. You have read and understood the job description (link provided in the job posting) and these instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire.2. Your application and supplemental questionnaire responses accurately reflect your training, education, and experience.3. You understand that your responses are subject to verification.

• Yes
• No

02

Which of the following best describes your skill level of Microsoft Excel?

• Basic (navigate; data entry; editing text, values, and formulas; apply formattingtechniques; saving files in various formats; creating tables; sorting data; move andcopy data and formulas; work with ranges, rows, and columns; create and modifycharts, and work with graphics; and review workbooks for spelling errors, modifypage setup, and print worksheets).
• Intermediate (use multiple worksheets and workbooks efficiently; linkingworkbooks; applying special number formats, using workbook styles and themes, adding backgrounds, and mimicking watermarks; create outlines and subtotals; sort and filter data, and create and format tables; insert and edit hyperlinks, and how to share workbooks; protect worksheets; and audit worksheets for errors).
• Advanced (use pivot tables; use of advanced functions and formulas, such as VLOOKUP, MATCH, and INDEX; data validation, and advanced data filtering; advanced chart formatting options; export and import data, and query external databases; and run and record macros, and explore VBA code).
• None

03

Which of the following best describes your skill level utilizing Microsoft Word?

• Basic (Create, navigate, and save documents, formatting options, create tables, adjust page layout, work with graphics, and proof and print.)
• Intermediate (Use styles and outlines format tables, insert diagrams, work withshapes, format text graphically. add sections, columns, and watermarks/themes;Track Changes; prep documents for sharing/exporting; and work with fields andperform a mail merge.
• Advanced (Use of interactive elements i.e. forms and content from otherapplications; save a file as web page; citations, indexes, and tables of contents;customizing the ribbon, creating macros, using building blocks, and insertingsubdocuments; and create and modify VBA modules.)
• None

04

Please describe your experience performing accounts payable duties. In your response, include the name of the agency or employer, position title, dates of employment, and a brief summary of your responsibilities (e.g., invoice processing, coding, vendor communication, 1099 processing, purchase orders).
05

Please describe your experience performing accounts receivable duties. In your response, include the name of the agency or employer, position title, dates of employment, and the scope of your responsibilities (e.g., billing, cash receipting, reconciliations, collections, revenue tracking, customer inquiries).
06

To be considered for the Accounting Specialist/Accounting Technician position, applicants must attach both a resume and a cover letter. The cover letter should highlight your qualifications and your interest in the position with the City of Carpinteria.Have you attached both a resume and a cover letter to your application?
Required Question