Accounting Technician

Berkeley, California is a small city with a big reputation.

At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.

Promotional-only job: You must have permanent career status (cannot be on probationary status) as a City of Berkeley employee in order to be considered for this position.

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Accounting Technician!

In this role, you will have the opportunity to conduct accounting, financial and budgetary analysis.

You'll perform beginning level professional accounting work with an emphasis on maintaining ledger accounts and preparing financial statements and bank reconciliation.

This is a city-wide classification, and candidates may be considered for vacancies which become available within various City departments.

See the full job class specification here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/berkeley/classspecs/104953

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is: Equivalent to graduation from high school, satisfactory completion of coursework as seen below, and four (4) years of progressively responsible accounting-related support work. Satisfactory completion of nine semester or twelve quarter units or equivalent, including: Three semester units of college course work in accounting; Enrollment in a second three-semester-unit college-level accounting course which must be completed before the end of probation; and Completion of three additional semester units of college course work in accounting or internal certificates of competency within one year of appointment. If available, equivalent internal certificates of competency may be substituted for the third college course. Nine semester units or twelve quarter units, completed prior to appointment, will satisfy the education requirement. For positions assigned to the centralized citywide payroll function, proficiency in payroll and beginning professional auditing, including procedure writing must be demonstrated. For other positions, knowledge of government fund accounting must be demonstrated. Applicants must have permanent career status as a City of Berkeley employee in order to be considered for this position.

• Three semester units of college course work in accounting; Enrollment in a second three-semester-unit college-level accounting course which must be completed before the end of probation; and Completion of three additional semester units of college course work in accounting or internal certificates of competency within one year of appointment.
• Enrollment in a second three-semester-unit college-level accounting course which must be completed before the end of probation; and Completion of three additional semester units of college course work in accounting or internal certificates of competency within one year of appointment.
• Completion of three additional semester units of college course work in accounting or internal certificates of competency within one year of appointment.

Applicants must submit a complete application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.

Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to [email protected] .

Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to: Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date). Application Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m. Multiple-Choice Written Exam Test Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Subject to change Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews. Reasonable Accommodations : The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to [email protected] at the time of application.

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:

• Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date). Application Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.
• Multiple-Choice Written Exam Test Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Subject to change

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

Reasonable Accommodations : The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment.

Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to [email protected] at the time of application.

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background check that may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of employment history, educational credentials and degrees, certificates, registrations, and licenses including driver's license; credit check; criminal history check; and Live Scan fingerprinting.

The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans’ status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.

Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other benefits , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.

Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week.

Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.

Retirement CalPERS City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).

Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (SRIP) The City contributes 6.7% of the first $32,400 of the employee's salary (up to $2,170.80 annually) into a 401(a) account.

The City is not a member of Social Security, therefore only the Medicare portion is deducted from employees' salaries.

Deferred Compensation The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower.

Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.

Medical Plans Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plan HMO.

The City contributes an amount equal to the cost of the Kaiser premium.

Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Dental Plan The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California.

The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person.

Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person.

Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Life Insurance The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $25,000.

Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.

Sick Leave Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.

Vacation New employees accrue 80 hours of vacation annually.

Vacation accrual rates increase at 4 years, 12 years, 18 years, and 25 years of service.

Holidays 15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually Uniform Allowance Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see MOUs ) (SEIU MC)

Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other benefits , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.

Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week.

Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.

Retirement CalPERS City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).

Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (SRIP) The City contributes 6.7% of the first $32,400 of the employee's salary (up to $2,170.80 annually) into a 401(a) account.

The City is not a member of Social Security, therefore only the Medicare portion is deducted from employees' salaries.

Deferred Compensation The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower.

Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.

Medical Plans Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plan HMO.

The City contributes an amount equal to the cost of the Kaiser premium.

Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Dental Plan The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California.

The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person.

Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person.

Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Life Insurance The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $25,000.

Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.

Sick Leave Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.

Vacation New employees accrue 80 hours of vacation annually.

Vacation accrual rates increase at 4 years, 12 years, 18 years, and 25 years of service.

Holidays 15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually Uniform Allowance Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see MOUs )

• High School or Equivalent
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or Higher
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more