Account Technician (Clerk of Court)

This position is responsible for the financial activities of the Clerk of Court’s office, including the preparation, maintenance, and reconciliation over daily, monthly and yearly financial records and reports. This position requires the application and knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and knowledge of state and federal laws, statutes, court orders and reporting mandates of the Clerk of Court Office; and provides courteous, professional, and efficient customer services to County residents. 

Essential Functions
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Applies uniform accounting systems to bookkeeping and recordkeeping. 
2. Processes, monitors, extends and adjusts payment plans and monitors delinquent accounts independently.   
3. Drafts legal documents, including orders for payment, warrants, bail bonds, driver’s license suspensions, civil judgments, orders for wage assignment, orders regarding deceased debtors and notice of certification of debt to tax intercept. 
4. Receipts fines, fees, and forfeitures using court-approved financial software. 
5. Creates spreadsheets for statistical reporting, maintains statistics on payment plans and other court collection methods. 
6. Monitoring cases for payments and takes enforcement actions when needed to include suspension of driving privileges, judgments, certification for tax intercept and referral to the State Debt Collection Agency. 
7. Schedules OTSC hearings for unpaid restitution and prepare OTSC worksheet for DA Office prior to hearings. 
8. Reconciles and records all daily financial activity of the office, including making sure all funds are in the correct accounts, performing adjustments when needed to apply funds to cases or move money to different necessary accounts for case management purposes.  Delivers daily deposits to the court’s banking institution.
9. Reconciles financial transactions, creating month-end, quarterly and year-end reports for the purpose of examination by the auditors and to aid the Clerk of Court in creating and managing the department’s budgets and completing annual reports for submission to the State of Wisconsin. 
10. Makes monthly adjustments and calculations for sales tax, interest received by interest bearing accounts, bank charges, drug buy money, etc. and reports to the appropriate department.
11. Distributes Satisfaction of Judgment filing fee/Interest letters. 
12. Issues checks for refunds of bonds posted, restitution to victims of crimes, refunds for overpayments, funds for title transfers and 3rd party buyers on sheriff’s sales, guardian ad litem payments, juror payments,  and any other types of payments authorized by the courts. 
13. Reconciles bank statements; opens and closes court-ordered trust accounts; responsible for all month end, quarterly and annual reports. 
14. Initiates, maintains, and reconciles Trust Accounts and compiles Unclaimed Funds list for publication. Maintains, compiles and prepares all court related billing vouchers for payment to individuals, departments and other agencies. 
15. Receipts monies paid using court-approved financial software and disburses monies collected. 
16. Computes, maintains records and prepares vouchers for witness fees and mileage and juvenile legal fees. 
17. Monitors and reconciles multiple electronic payment systems used by the Clerk of Court office with notifications being provided to any other affected departments.
18. Monitors and reconciles all Guardian Ad Litem and Court appointed Attorney accounts. 
19. Submits timely interpreter reports or any other reports to the state for reimbursement.
20. Assists independent auditors with year-end reports processed by the Clerk of Court office. 
21. Monitors payments and prepares reminder notices on unpaid fines or outstanding debts. 
22. Processes applications for payment plans and monitors delinquent accounts with and without approval from judges and/or supervisors.  Within the guidelines, analyzes and assesses parties’ financial situation in order to determine appropriate amount and ability to repay debt owed to the court, victims, etc. and executes proper enforcement as needed including preparing Driver’s License Suspensions, Civil Judgments and Warrants; certifies debts for tax intercept and issues notices to defendants. 
23. Creates spreadsheets for statistical reporting, maintains statistics for numerous court functions. 
24. Recommends modification to procedures pertaining to financial policies, changes in state laws, statutes, ordinances and CCAP software. 
25. Performs case management duties for department as needed including scanning and using any electronic filing system
26. Performs back up duties for customer service in the Clerk of Courts office.
27. Performs Jury support back-up duties as needed.
28. Administers oaths as required by statute.
29. Other duties as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of governmental accounting methods, procedures, and financial practices.
• Knowledge, skill, and ability to understand and use legal terminology, legal format, and processes.
• Knowledge of standard and legal office practices, procedures, and clerical techniques.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin Statutes and ongoing statutory changes, procedural changes, and form changes.
• Skill to take notes and accurately incorporate essential details in preparing legal documents.
• Ability and skill to prepare Court documents in a timely and accurate manner.
• Knowledge of administrative policies and procedures of the County.
• Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Ability to interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Knowledge of computer software including word processing, spreadsheet and database applications consistent for this position.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.
• Ability to communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of open records laws.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.

Required Education, Experience, Licensing, and Certifications
• Associates Degree in accounting or related field and four (4) years’ experience in accounting, bookkeeping, banking, or related experience.
• Previous work experience must include direct contact customer service.
• Appointment is conditional upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Must be bondable.

Physical and Work Environment
The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor. 

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• May require dealing with persons who are hostile, aggressive, abusive or violent, posing threatening conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting (e.g. business office, light traffic). 

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/barroncounty

Deadline Note: