Payroll Technician (Accounting Technician II)

Salary : $70,051.00 - $99,535.00 Annually
Location : 14205 Meridian Parkway Riverside, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-25
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 10/01/2026
Closing Date: 10/21/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position

Accounting Technician II is the journey-level class in the series. Incumbents are responsible for processing, reviewing, and reconciling various financial records of moderate difficulty and complexity, with the primary focus being Payroll Administration. In this role you will be responsible for processing the District's bi-weekly payroll, review and approve reports as needed, excellent communication both verbally and written, oversee and calculate District employee benefits related to CalPERS, Empower, etc., Monitor District leave benefits, and additional duties as needed. Incumbents work under general supervision of the Accounting Services Supervisor while exercising independent judgment within established systems and procedures.
The Ideal Candidate

Western Water is looking for a journey level Accounting Technician II with strong interpersonal skills to assist with day-to-day processing of payroll, bank reconciliations, benefit calculations & reporting, and the general ledger.

Serving customers is paramount to all that we do. For that reason, you must be responsive, collaborative and accountable to our internal and external customers, vendors, and agency partners.

Western Water expects you will build comprehensive knowledge and experience in financial and accounting processes that support a special district providing reliable water and sewer services to retail and wholesale customers throughout western Riverside County.

Strong organizational skills will be critical to your success, as are the abilities to learn, coordinate and assist the activities of the finance team. Highly qualified candidates must be able to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative team professional.

Personal Competencies/Characteristics:

• A relationship-builder who is proactive in establishing and leveraging partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A skilled professional with a heightened sense of emotional intelligence.
• Open, approachable, and action-oriented; exercises good judgment; treats others with respect.
• Collaborative approach to working with others; able to bring people together and leverage common interests to perpetuate the vision of Western.
• Outstanding communication skills with an internal and external customer-centric mindset.
• A self-starter who exhibits high initiative and a strong work ethic; embraces the opportunity to make a difference.

If you're ready to join a results-oriented team, able to see the bigger picture, have a heightened sense of emotional intelligence, and ready to learn about the finance and accounting related issues facing special districts--we'd love to hear from you.
Incumbents within the Accounting Technician series report to the Accounting Services Supervisor.

Western Water employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings and holidays as required to accommodate the agency needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Emergency Service Worker.
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Accounting Technician II is the journey level class in the series. The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this classification. This includes the following:

• Performs a variety of technical work in the review and processing of financial records.
• Prepares, reviews, and processes the District's bi-weekly payroll by entering transaction data and making payroll adjustments, including CalPERS contributions.
• Verifies and ensures payroll checks are calculated in accordance with legal requirements, District policies and procedures, and labor contract provisions.
• Maintains and reviews documents to ensure accuracy, examines supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with District policies, agreements, contracts, and state and federal requirements.
• Monitors Western Water's leave benefits by running and auditing various reports to track accruals and usage. Produces and distributes reports to District management.
• Prepares and processes journal entries related to Payroll or Payroll reconciliation.
• Prepares and processes monthly bank reconciliations.

Typical Qualifications

Ability to:

• Understanding of governmental accounting practices, as applied to municipal organizations.
• Demonstrate consistent accuracy and timeliness of work products.
• Math and mathematical reasoning.
• Knowledge of the basic chart of accounts structure.
• Adherence to Western Water's personnel rules, policies and labor contract provisions with the ability to exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Provide transparent, high quality and fiscally responsible services, while meeting the needs of Western and its customers.
• Adhere to office procedures including record management policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with Western Water's record retention policy.
• Utilize exceptional customer service and communication skills both verbally and in writing, with the ability to cultivate professional business partnerships and inspire team collaboration.
• Use modern office equipment including computer software applications related to the field of work. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Proper English usage, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
• Tracks, processes, and maintains numerous documents where accuracy and detail are critical.
• Receives and responds, both verbally and in writing, to routine inquiries from District personnel and outside organizations.
• Explain key processes and business requirements within the department, specifically payroll.
• Ability to work independently with general supervision.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND LICENSING/CERTIFICATION
Any combination of experience and education that provides the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, along with the specific licenses/certifications as outlined below:
Job TitleEducation Required/Desired Experience
Accounting Technician II
~ Equivalent to High School Diploma

~ Associate's degree in accounting or related field may substitute for one year of experience.
4 years of progressive responsibilities in an accounting/payroll environment.
Desired: Governmental agency accounting experience in payroll processing. Experience using ADP Human Capital Management (HCM) systems, including payroll support, time and attendance, and reporting is highly desirable.

Required License / CertificationDesired Licenses/CertificationsCA Class C Driver's License

Supplemental Information
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
The characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical: Employees are regularly required to use repetitive motion for keyboard use and writing; frequently grasp, reach overhead, hold and reach; sit for long periods of time; occasionally walk, use staircases, stand, kneel, stoop and bend; occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds or 60 pounds with assistance; constantly use overall vision; and frequently hear and talk, in person and on the phone.
Mental: Employees should possess the ability to speak, read, and write English, in addition to exercising math and computer aptitude as required. Employees work under pressure with frequent interruptions while communicating and interacting with a variety of Western Water personnel, the public, and others encountered in the course of work. The ability to explain, interpret, and apply related rules, regulations, policies and procedures; and work on multiple concurrent assignments, often within tight timeframes using good business judgment is necessary.
Environmental: Employees primarily work in a temperature-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and settings. Incumbents are expected to use principles of effective safety practices including the use of equipment in a proper and safe manner, use of preventative personal ergonomic techniques, and maintaining safe personal and common workspaces.
Western is a tobacco free campus prohibiting smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and unregulated nicotine products in any Western Water vehicle and building, which includes any building owned and occupied, or leased and occupied, by Western Water, including, Headquarters, the Operations Center, and any remote facilities owned, leased and/or operated by Western Water.
HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS

Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time regular status.

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in these benefits effective the first of the month following date of hire. Effective January 1, 2026, Western Water contributes up to $2,992.11 toward the cost of medical, dental and vision insurance. Employees will pay any costs exceeding this amount through bi-weekly pre-tax payroll deduction. Employees may choose between four medical plans--Anthem Blue Cross California Care (HMO), Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Advantage (PPO 500), Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Classic (PPO 200) or Kaiser Permanente (HMO). There are two dental plans to choose from--DeltaCare (DMO) and Delta Dental (PPO). The Standard provides us with two vision options, Vision Service Plan (VSP) or EyeMed.

Opting Out of Medical Coverage
Employees with medical insurance through another provider can opt out of Western Water's medical plan. By opting out, employees will receive a flat monthly rate of $690. Proof of other coverage is required on an annual basis during the open enrollment period. Employee must enroll in a dental plan and the vision plan. Enrollment for eligible dependents, in these plans, is optional.

Flexible Spending
Effective the first of the month following date of hire, employee may participate in the flexible spending plan. This plan provides you the opportunity to pay for certain medical, dental, vision and childcare expenses with pre-tax dollars resulting in substantial tax savings.

Life Insurance
This benefit is provided by the District through Lincoln Financial Group ("Lincoln") and is effective the first of the month following your date of hire. You are provided with up to $50,000 in life insurance for you and $1,000 for your eligible dependents.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
This benefit is for the employee only and is provided by the district through Lincoln. AD&D is effective the first of the month following the date of hire and provides payment for specified losses sustained through dismembering or fatal accidents. The maximum amount of AD&D insurance is equal to the amount of life insurance.

Supplemental Life Insurance
Effective the first of the month following the date of hire and employees may purchase supplemental life insurance for employee and eligible dependents through Lincoln. This supplemental life insurance provides a guaranteed issue amount for employees up to $150,000, up to $30,000 for a spouse and $10,000 for child(ren).

Short Term Disability
Western Water provides short term disability (STD) insurance through Lincoln. Coverage