Accountant I/II - Payroll

County of Riverside • Riverside, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Auditor-Controller's Office in Riverside County seeks an Accountant I/II for its Payroll Unit located in Riverside, CA. The Payroll Division of the Auditor-Controller's Office is responsible for payroll processing, accounting, and reconciliations. The Division is comprised of the Payroll Operations Unit and the Accounting/Reconciliation Unit. The objective of the Payroll Operations Unit is to process payroll timely and accurately. The function of the Payroll Accounting/Reconciliation Unit is to remit payroll and report to state and federal agencies quarterly, reconcile the bi-weekly payrolls and maintain accurate records and reconciliations of all transactions relating to the payroll processes, and report all retirement earnings and contributions to CalPERS. The division’s primary mission is to timely and accurately pay over 26,000 County employees bi-weekly. In addition to ensuring accurate reporting of taxable earnings, withholdings, and retirement earnings, we verify they are in compliance with County requirements, IRS regulations, and state and federal rules and regulations. The Accountant I/II performs professional payroll accounting work in support of county-wide payroll processing, including reconciling multiple payroll funds and CalPERS accounts, supporting payroll interface activities and general ledger entries, reconciling payroll transactions, calculating overpayments, preparing Treasury Cash Receipts deposits, processing payroll tax payments, managing fringe benefit taxation of County-owned vehicles, and preparing and correcting wage and tax statements such as W-2 and W-2C. The position participates in special projects, audit requests, and variance analysis, and utilizes PeopleSoft HRMS and Financials extensively to research, analyze, and validate payroll data. The Accountant I/II reviews guidelines, procedures, laws, union contracts, employer pension contribution reporting requirements, FLSA rules, payroll taxation standards, and payroll accounting practices to ensure proper implementation of payroll policies and procedures and prepares documents and reports using Word and Excel. The role requires strong analytical skills to identify, document, and resolve variances, analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and communicate findings effectively in writing and orally. Additionally, they review new or revised payroll laws and assist with implementing required changes, assisting on designated assignments, and drafts and reviews desk procedures to support consistent and compliant payroll operations. The most competitive candidates will have experience with government fund reconciliation and familiarity with county financial documents such as cash receipts, vouchers, and journal entries, along with dependable Excel skills and a strong sense of accountability. Candidates with experience using enterprise-level payroll systems, particularly PeopleSoft HRMS for data entry, inquiry, and queries, as well as PeopleSoft Financials, will be highly competitive. Experience with CalPERS reporting and payroll taxation is a plus. The Accountant I is a natural progression underfill for the Accountant II. Incumbents are expected to promote to Accountant II after obtaining one year of experience as an Accountant I, meeting the education requirement and obtaining a satisfactory performance evaluation. Failure to promote to the Accountant II class will result in incumbents being returned to their former County classification or new hires being released prior to the end of their probationary period. The Accountant II is distinguished from the Senior Accountant classification in that the latter is the advanced journey and lead level class in the series. Incumbents perform complex accounting and auditing assignments requiring an extensive technical knowledge and the exercise of a greater degree of independent judgment than the Accountant II class. The level at which this position is filled is based on the candidate's qualifications and at the department's discretion. Salary Range: Accountant I = $32.50 - $45.09 Hourly Accountant II = $34.29 - $47.57 Hourly 5% added premium pay for those who possess a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). ALL APPLICANTS MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF THEIR TRANSCRIPTS AS PROOF OF ACCOUNTING SPECIALIZATION COMPLETED AT AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. Meet the Team! The Riverside County Auditor-Controller is an independent, nonpartisan elected office established to provide accounting, audit, payroll, and property tax administration services to County government, cities, K-14 schools and special districts. The Auditor-Controller is the chief accounting and disbursement officer of the County. Riverside County is the fourth largest county in California and the eleventh largest in the United States.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting, or another field of study that included at least 18 semester or 27 quarter units in accounting, finance, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, business finance, financial statement analysis, or external and internal reporting, or closely related coursework.
• Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
• Completion of 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, or another field of study that included at least 18 semester or 27 quarter units in accounting, finance, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, business finance, financial statement analysis, or external and internal reporting, or closely related coursework.
• One year equivalent to the County of Riverside Accountant Trainee classification.
• Three years of paraprofessional accounting experience equivalent to the County of Riverside Accounting Technician classification series.
• One year of professional level accounting experience equivalent to a County of Riverside Accountant I classification.
• Accounting principles and practices; principles and procedures of governmental accounting; general business law and budgeting methods; principles of good office management and effective supervision; computerized data processing.
• Analyze data and draw logical conclusions; maintain records and prepare accounting, statistical, and narrative reports; supervise the work of others; establish and maintain effective working relationships; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with government fund reconciliation
• Familiarity with county financial documents such as cash receipts, vouchers, and journal entries
• Dependable Excel skills
• Experience using enterprise-level payroll systems, particularly PeopleSoft HRMS for data entry, inquiry, and queries
• Experience with PeopleSoft Financials
• Experience with CalPERS reporting
• Experience with payroll taxation

Responsibilities

• Establish, review, revise, and maintain controls on fiscal recordkeeping functions in an assigned unit.
• Examine and analyze fiscal recordkeeping systems and procedures.
• Examine, analyze, and verify fiscal documents (e.g., vouchers, warrants, requisitions, purchase orders, receiving records, and invoices).
• Prepare trial balances, reconciliations, work sheets, and schedules.
• Prepare a variety of accounting, statistical, and narrative reports.
• Review, evaluate, and may assist in the preparation and maintenance of the budget and internal controls.
• Prepare recommendations for the installation of new or revised accounting and cost systems, procedures, and records.
• Analyze the classification and distribution of income and expenditures to proper accounts.
• Develop complex rate or cost models.
• Track, report, and reimburse routine federal or state grants.

Benefits

• 5% added premium pay for those who possess a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level