Ventura County Hiring for Accountant I/II at Ventura, CA Full Time

$57,262.23 – $89,074.57 Annually

throughout Ventura County, CA

Various

Various Departments

0810VAR-23AA (KLM)

 

Description

Under general supervision, receives training and learns to perform (I) or under direction, performs (II) the full range of accountant 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.

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.
 
EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE
Incumbents may be eligible to receive an educational incentive of either 2.5%, for an associate’s degree, 3.5%, for a bachelor’s degree, or 5% for a master’s degree that is not required to work in the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification skills.    

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY: Various
 
APPROXIMATE SALARIES
Accountant I:  $27.53 – $38.54/hourly
Accountant II: $30.59 – $42.82/hourly

Examples Of Duties

The following duties are considered characteristic but not inclusive and are examples only.  Specific assigned duties may differ depending on the needs of the department/agency.  Depending on the level, duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Provides up-to-date detailed cost accounting information 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 over-runs.
• Gathers, compiles and analyzes data to assist in the rate development process; learns to (Accountant I) or prepares (Accountant II) cost allocation schedules and recommends labor and service fee rates.
• Provides accounting support for automated financial management system(s).
• Learns to compile, analyze, adjust and review (Accountant I) or complies, analyzes, adjusts and reviews (Accountant II) financial information for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR); mainly for non-major special revenue funds.
• 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 CAFR Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Notes disclosure for fixed assets; prepares schedules for capital assets used in the Operation of Government funds.
• 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.
• Learns to prepare (Accountant I) or prepares (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 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.
• 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 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 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.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Accountant I/IIs are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation. 

 

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
 
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
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:

EDUCATION
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; 

AND

EXPERIENCE
Accountant I – No professional accounting or auditing experience is required.

Accountant II – Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience; OR two (2) years of experience as an Accountant I 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.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Verification of accounting coursework completed is required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
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 date.  If transcripts or grade reports are not submitted, your application will be screened out and you will not be allowed to continue in the process.

You may submit transcripts using one of the following options:

• Attach the transcripts or grade reports to your application
• Email the transcripts to ~~~
• Mail to Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1970, Ventura, CA 93009

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

 

You must submit this documentation with your application, a hard copy with a paper application or a scanned PDF copy as an attachment for an online application.  If you submit a hard copy with a paper application, be sure it’s a copy.  Whatever you submit will not be returned to you.  To attach a PDF scanned copy to an online application, use the Add Attachment(s) link in the Attachments section of your application.

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).

DESIRED

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

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

Knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program in assigned area; Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), practices, and standards; governmental accounting and auditing standards and guidelines; budgeting methods and processes; laws and regulations affecting the financial operations; principles of business management; data processing systems applicable to accounting operations.

Skill in: research and analysis; performing complex mathematical processes; use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to work performed.

Ability to: prepare financial reports and statements; understand interrelationships among financial/accounting records and documents; analyze financial/accounting data and draw logical conclusions; understand, interpret and apply a variety of complex rules, regulations, contracts or legal documents in proper accounting context; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

 

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.
FIRST REVIEW: A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around February 3, 2023 and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs. 
 
To apply online, please refer to our web site at ~~~/jobs.   If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call ~~~ for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura, Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another “merit” or “civil service” public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a “merit” or “civil service” style examination, then appointment by “Lateral Transfer” may be possible.  If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.
 
Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and Supplemental Questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications in order to determine eligibility.  A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying:  All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING.  The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position.  Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.
 
APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.  

WRITTEN EXAMINATION – 100%: An un-proctored, internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test applicants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to accounting, including Accounting Principles, Financial Accounting and Reporting and Budgeting.  Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list. 

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future regular, temporary, fixed-term, intermittent and extra-help vacancies.  

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

VALIDATING PROCTORED WRITTEN EXAM: Offers of employment may be conditional to the candidate until taking and passing an on-site, proctored exam similar to the un-proctored, internet-based exam.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough post offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record will be required for this position.

For further information regarding this recruitment, please contact Kim Mariscal by email at ~~~

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
 
It is an objective of the County of Ventura to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for county employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.