HOUSING ASSISTANT

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, assists in performing a variety of duties related to accounting for and monitoring compliance with funding activities of various housing programs; performs technical accounting duties involved in performing responsible financial record keeping and reporting duties; tracks loan repayments and current and new loan commitments; prepares a variety of reports; answers questions and provides information and assistance to other staff, lenders, and the general public; and provides general assistance to Housing staff.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Performs a variety of difficult and complex technical accounting duties in support of Housing programs; monitors compliance with various regulations; interprets and applies appropriate rules and regulations related to funding activities.
• Prepares financial, accounting, and statistical statements, analyses, documents, and reports related to various housing programs; assists other housing staff by preparing reports and recommendations that involve gathering, organizing, and analyzing data; prepares financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies and reports.
• Monitors loan activities and prepares necessary reports; reconciles repayment and loan tracking reports to general ledger reports; maintains financial records of new and existing loans; records payments; prepares payoff statements including calculating interest due on loans and preparing demand statements.
• Prepares and mails reconveyance notices on paid off loans.
• Utilizes various computer programs and applications; enters and maintains data; generates reports from a database or in-house system; creates spreadsheets and generates reports using spreadsheet software; creates documents using word processing software.
• Reconciles outside audit requests; compares requested loan information to Housing division’s trial balance.
• Responds to inquiries from the general public and lenders at the front counter; provides information within area of assignment.
• Works with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies in coordinating assigned housing activities; answers questions and provides information as necessary.
• Provides back up support for other housing staff as required; provides assistance in performing other housing related duties; participates in special projects as assigned.
• May assist in conducting site visits to monitor compliance with federal, state and local laws, codes, and regulations including health and safety.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Basic operations, services, and activities of housing programs.
• Governmental accounting principles and procedures and municipal accounting system requirements and procedures.
• Principles and practices of budget monitoring and control.
• Principles and practices used establishing and maintaining files and information retrieval systems.
• Mathematical principles.
• Principles and practices of data collection and accounting, financial , statistical, and administrative research and report preparation.
• Business letter writing.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and filing.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Methods and techniques of effective customer service.
• Office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to:

• Perform a full range of accounting duties related to housing programs involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Understand the organization, operation, and services of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable HUD regulations.
• Understand, interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
• Perform a variety of accounting, fiscal, and statistical record keeping duties including to maintain a variety of complex records and files.
• Prepare clear and concise accounting, financial, statistical, and administrative reports.
• Review financial records, reports, and related documents, identify discrepancies, and resolve problems.
• Perform mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Type and enter data at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.
• Work cooperatively with other departments and outside agencies.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work in accounting or a related field.

Experience: Three years of basic bookkeeping or accounting experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting. CONTINUOUS working indoors, dust from paperwork. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace and pressure. Work is performed indoors in office and in meeting rooms.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. CONTINUOUS sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls and other office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. FREQUENT side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, reach above and at shoulder height, moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates