Finance and Operations Assistant

About the Clark Conservation DistrictClark Conservation District (Clark CD or the District) was established in 1942 as a non-regulatory political subdivision of state government created to bridge the gap between local landowners and state and federal government. We work with residents, landowners, and land managers to conserve the natural resources of Clark County through technical and financial assistance for best management practices. Our work benefits the health and well-being of our residents in rural and urban communities.At Clark CD, we support our area's natural resources by serving our community. We value connecting with each other and building relationships with our constituents. We are a goofy bunch, and we make time to talk, laugh, and share food. In our work, we strive to be reliable, thorough, and constantly learning. We enjoy flexible schedules and hybrid work, and we encourage a healthy work-life balance. We also appreciate that each person brings unique perspectives and strengths to the table, and we embrace growth and learning.Position DetailsPosition Type: Full Time (40 hours/week) with benefitsCompensation: Paid hourly depending on experience, starting at $23.57 - $25.93Location: Office location is 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA 98682. Hybrid work environment if desired (1-2 days/week at home).Job Responsibilities: 70% Accounting & Reporting, 20% Administration and Operations, 5% Human Resources, 5% Other. For complete job responsibilities, see document.Position SummaryThe Finance and Operations Assistant will support the District's programs with a wide range of financial, operational, and customer service-oriented tasks. This position reports to the Finance and Operations Director and is part of the District's Finance and Operations team. This is a wonderful opportunity for a self-starter with strong customer service, organizational, financial, and operational skills to contribute to the District's goals.The Finance and Operations Assistant works with the Finance and Operations Director to ensure that financial and operational processes and procedures are completed accurately, efficiently, and on time. Duties include but are not limited to completing payment requests to granting agencies, posting deposits, bank statement reconciliation, check processing/electronic payments, semi-monthly payroll processing, financial reporting, maintenance and reconciliation of grant budgets, assistance with audit preparation, employee benefits enrollment and reporting. The Finance and Operations Assistant will also help other program staff occasionally with priority projects by researching information, compiling data for reporting purposes, or other projects, among other duties as assigned.The following qualifications sections represent a variety of ways an individual might gain the experience required to perform the position successfully. We do not expect any single candidate to possess all of the qualifications listed. We encourage you to apply if you have the training and experience to execute this role. Research tells us that some individuals, particularly those from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds, will only apply to positions if they meet all the listed qualifications. We are looking for team members who round out our current skill base. If this is you, we encourage you to apply.Suggested Minimum Qualifications• Any combination of an associate's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or closely related field, and/or 2+ years of bookkeeping, accounting, or administrative assistance experience.• Strong aptitude for digital technology with the ability to quickly become proficient in new software. Experience required with Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, and Excel. Adept with standard office equipment.• Understanding of basic accounting principles. Ability to understand the proper use of various funds from different sources.Preferred Qualifications• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or closely related field.• 3+ years of bookkeeping, accounting, and administrative assisting experience. • 60+ WPM typing speed.• Experience with computer accounting software, e.g., SBX/Springbrook Express (preferred), QuickBooks, Sage, etc.• Basic understanding of GAAP/GASB.• General knowledge of grant and/or contracting rules and requirements.• Experience with data entry.• Proficiency with Smartsheet or other project management software for collaboration and work management.• Experience in a public-facing, customer service-oriented position.• Basic understanding of the WA BARS accounting system.• Knowledge of policies and practices of conservation districts, special districts, or other government agencies.Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities• Ability to meet overlapping deadlines with a high standard of quality control.• Ability to accurately complete multi-step tasks following specific instructions.• Ability to maintain a high level of organization.• Highly dependable and accountable to deadlines and team members. Able to work collaboratively to accomplish shared tasks and support program staff.• Strong attention to detail and accuracy. Good computation skills and comfort working with numbers, including the ability to problem-solve.• Proactive self-starter able to work without direct supervision.• Spoken and/or written proficiency in Spanish, Russian, and/or Ukrainian languages.Compensation & BenefitsThe hourly rate for this position starts at between $23.57 - $25.93, depending on education and experience. The full salary range is $23.57 - $30.64, with the upper two-thirds of the salary range representing longevity steps.Benefits include:• 100% of premiums paid for medical/dental/vision for the employee; spouse and dependent coverage is available to the employee at their cost.• Retirement matched up to 3% after six months of employment.• Accrued paid sick leave (8 hours per month), annual leave (starting at 8 hours per month and increasing with length of employment), plus 12 paid holidays per year.• Available reimbursement for personal cell phone use (with District phone number) up to $25 per month.• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.• For full compensation and benefits information, see Job Description.To ApplyFor full instructions, visit www.clarkcd.org/employment. Be prepared to submit a PDF packet to the online form that includes the following:• A resume.• A letter of application addressing how you meet the qualifications of the position.• Three references with contact information.Note that we will not contact references until after interviews.Applications are open until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed initially in late July.Project Start Date: August 2024Contact InformationShawna Smith, Finance and Operations Directorssmith@clarkcd.org