Senior

Ventura County•Ventura, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision, receives training and learns to perform (I) or under direction, performs full range (II) to complex (Senior) accounting duties in assigned fiscal program areas; functional areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, compliance review, budgeting, grant accounting, cost accounting and financial analysis/reporting duties. At the Senior level, may provide lead supervision to lower level professional, technical or clerical staff. Each successive level in the Accountant series is distinguished by scope of independence and responsibility. The level of the position within the series is commensurate with the complexity of the assigned tasks. If appointed at the lower level, incumbents may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with business needs of the department. Accountant I is the entry-level classification in the Accountant series, where the emphasis is on learning the fiscal operations and processes in the assigned fiscal program area(s), and on conducting duties and responsibilities that are limited in nature. Initially, under close supervision, incumbents perform the more routine duties while learning the assigned program area's fiscal policies, procedures, systems, operations and practices. As experience is gained, and over a period of time, incumbents will assume the increasingly responsible duties associated with the full journey level of the series. Accountant II is the fully experienced/journey-level classification in the Accountant series, competent to independently perform the full range of duties assigned to the classification and is distinguished from incumbents in the lower level of the series by the performance of the full range of duties and the relative independence with which they perform their duties by applying their working knowledge of fiscal policies and procedures to different work situations, and referring only non-procedural questions to their supervisor. Senior Accountant - This is the advanced journey level in the Accountant series; positions at this level perform more complex duties and responsibilities, exercising a significant level of independent judgment in the performance of their duties; work assigned to this advanced level requires a specialized technical or functional expertise beyond the journey level such as diverse accounting systems, extensive labor cost allocations and considerable financial analysis/reporting requirements; positions may also be assigned direct or lead supervisory duties over lower level staff when such assignments are a formal organizational responsibility supervising at least three subordinate staff members.

Requirements

Accountant I: Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes the completion of a Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; no professional accounting or auditing experience is required.
Accountant II: Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes a Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; PLUS three (3) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience; OR two (2) years of experience as an Accountant I in the County of Ventura.
Senior Accountant: Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes a Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; PLUS four (4) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, including preparation of financial statements; OR two (2) years as an Accountant II for the County of Ventura.
Education/Experience Substitution: Professional level accounting experience may be substituted for up to two (2) years of undergraduate education on a year-for-year basis, provided the candidate possesses at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting.
Verification of accounting coursework completed is required.
Depending on assignment, may require possession of a valid California driver license.
Verification of the required college degree and college-level coursework is required. Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect the date your degree was conferred and passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted to County of Ventura, Human Resources within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).
When a disaster strikes of natural or manmade origin, Ventura County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations, different hours, and out of class. At the time of hire, all County employees will be required to sign an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (Sections 3102 and 3103, Government Code of California).

Nice To Haves

Advanced training, as evidenced by a Master's degree in Business Administration or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Reviews and analyzes accounting records and fiscal activities to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting/program/legal requirements, and to identify issues, trends, and patterns; writes narrative reports and submits to management.
Provides up-to-date detailed cost accounting information, including extensive labor cost allocations, for budgeting and cost control purposes; assists program/division managers with budget preparation and monitoring; analyzes and explains variances, reports on irregularities, and prepares correction action plans for budget overruns.
Establishes and maintains general and subsidiary accounts and related ledgers including revenue and disbursement; reconciles various accounting reports to the County's general ledger; gathers, compiles, and prepares financial and statistical reports to county, state, and federal agencies.
Provides accounting support for automated financial management system(s); Reviews financial documents such as vouchers, purchase orders, and invoices to ensure that proper cost centers are charged, that expenditures and revenues are recorded in the proper classification, and that purchases and other transactions by the department are proper in accordance with their approved budget; determines the level and appropriateness of year-end closing accruals, prepayments, deferrals, depreciation, or adjustments.
Gathers, compiles, and analyzes data to assist in the rate development process; learns to (Accountant I) or prepares (Accountant II/Senior Accountant) cost allocation schedules and recommends labor and service fee rates based on analysis of complex cost components, past utilization trends and impact on fund balances or retained earnings.
Learns to compile, analyze, adjust and review (Accountant I) or complies, analyzes, adjusts and reviews (Accountant II) financial information for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
Learns to assume (Accountant I) or assumes (Accountant II) responsibility for all aspects of fixed assets accounting and reporting including receiving, reviewing, and approving fixed asset documents in the fiscal management system; ensures that all capitalized assets meet requirements; prepares the depreciation forecast for the Budget Development Manual.
Learns to review (Accountant I) or reviews (Accountant II) fixed asset reconciliations and ensures that the general ledger is reconciled to the fixed asset module; prepares and calculates amounts reported in the ACFR Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Notes disclosure for fixed assets; prepares schedules for capital assets used in the Operation of Government funds.
Prepares (Sr) ACFR financial statements and Notes disclosures for assigned departments or agencies to ensure full and accurate disclosure; reviews and provides support for program specific accounting transactions; responds to inquiries from auditors and other agencies.
Learns to review (Accountant I) or reviews (Accountant II) Board Letters presented to the Board of Supervisors for assigned agencies general and non-general funds.
Reviews Board Letter submittals to ensure accurate and full disclosure of fiscal impact on recommended Board actions; conducts financial reviews of vendors/lessees/service providers to ensure full income/expense disclosure (Sr).
Learns to prepare and submit (Accountant I) or prepares and submits (Accountant II) revenue and fund estimates for assigned operations; prepares allocation schedule based on adopted budget; distributes monthly allocations based on schedule; prepares quarterly status reports; calculates allocation to the Auditor-Controller for fund accounting purposes; maintains accounting records for audit purposes.
Learns to prepare and submit (Accountant I) or prepares and submits (Accountant II) consolidated financial reports to State agencies on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Learns to compile and prepare (Accountant I) or complies and prepares (Accountant II) financial statements and utilization statistics for health services product lines for internal financial reporting, including an analysis of information to compare the books numbers with actual costs incurred.
Prepares (Sr) complex financial statements and reports for outside governing or regulatory agencies and boards.
Learns to calculate and analyze (Accountant I) or calculates and analyzes (Accountant II) Incurred but not Reported medical claims based on system generated claim lag reports to provide realistic estimates of actual costs for the reporting period.
Learns to review and reconcile (Accountant I) or reviews and reconciles (Accountant II) bond claims to verify that charges for the project on the general ledger have been claimed and paid; verifies that all claimed charges have been accurately accounted for in the financial management system.
Learns to calculate (Accountant I) or calculates (Accountant II) realignment distributions for allocations received from the State Controller's Office to appropriate County agencies.
Learns to prepare (Accountant I) or prepares (Accountant II) grant billings and reports in accordance with grant contract provisions and agreements.
May assist in planning and directing the work of professional, technical, or clerical staff in assigned fiscal program area; participates in the selection process; provides input on performance evaluations and/or performance reviews; provides training and employee development; documents performance issues and discusses corrective actions with management and human resources; may recommend corrective or disciplinary action.
Conducts a review of staff work and performs quality control; ensures that staff are performing their work in compliance with County and program rules, regulations, policies, and procedures (Sr Only).
Monitors and plans cash availability for the County's General Fund to ensure sufficient cash to meet daily needs; determines cash needs; prepares and processes necessary cash loans and repayments; reviews and prepares interfund loans as directed by management; calculates and prepares interest charges on internal cash flow loans.
Analyzes daily cash variances; reports cash balances and major receipts and disbursements to County executive management for the General Fund and other major funds.
Prepares monthly cash flow projections for the General Fund; monitors the flow of budgeted revenue and expenditures (Sr Only).
Advises and consults with management concerning the development of departmental operating and program budgets, revenue producing or debt service proposals, as well as the accounting and financial implications of existing and projected departmental activities.
Assumes responsibility for operational administration of the department's or agency's cost allocations; monitors appropriations and adjusts as necessary (Sr Only).
Coordinates, reviews, and compiles consolidated State and federal financial statements and reports including the ACFR, State Controller Annual Statement of Transactions, and Department Budget Report of Revenues and Expenditures, as well as the Annual Recommended and Adopted Budget to the Board of Supervisors and State Controller (Sr Only).
Performs fiscal management systems administration, systems interface, and budget formulation.
Directs or conducts cost, revenue and accounting systems and procedures studies; writes reports of findings and secures approval for implementation of recommendations.
Creates financial reporting templates, procedures and analytical tools used to instruct/train fiscal staff (Sr Only).
Serves as lead fiscal grant administrator for multi-agency grants or capital projects; reviews and tracks costs and claims to ensure compliance with funding agreements; prepares consolidated claims/reports and allocates funds accordingly.
Scopes, develops work plan, summarizes, and consolidates monthly and semi-annual reporting for assigned grant programs; generates the fiscal portion of Change in Scope and Grant Applications; draws grant funding and prepares and submits cash flow reporting to same (Sr Only).
Performs other related duties as required.