Accountant-Auditor

SALARY:
Accountant- Auditor I: $54, 210.85 – $66,184.66 Annually

Accountant- Auditor II: $58,714.86 – $71,677.96 Annually

Additional Allowances

: Cash benefit $6149.26 annually, 5% for Licensed CPA’s.

CPA License Incentive:
Department will reimburse incumbents in process of obtaining CPA license up to 75% of the CPA review course cost upon registration.

Entry-Level Accountant-Auditor position

with an opportunity for career advancement!

The

Office of the Auditor-Controller

is seeking entry-level Accountant-Auditors to take part in the Auditor-Controller’s New Auditor Training and Development Program in

Santa Barbara

. This program will provide you with training through Continuing Professional Education classes and the work experience you will need to qualify you for your CPA license. To find out more about becoming a CPA, please link on to the California Board of Accountancy at

www.dca.ca.gov/cba/

Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply.

Such applicants may compete in the examination and departmental selection processes but may not begin employment in a position until they have attained the required degree.

CAREER PROGRESSION:
Accountant-Auditor I is the entry-level position in a professional series (Accountant-Auditor I/II/III). Incumbents learn departmental and County accounting policies, procedures, and systems; Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; Internal Auditing Standards; departmental and County auditing policies, procedures, and systems; and practices associated with governmental accounting. Incumbents at level III may supervise clerical and paraprofessional accounting staff.

NOTE

: Candidates may be appointed at the I or II level, depending on the candidate’s qualifications and the needs of the department.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:
Please Note

: *Experience in all of these areas can be obtained through on the job training or education.

Audit experience*

Financial statement preparation experience*

Payroll experience*

Accounts payable experience*

Computerized accounting application experience*

Experience with general ledger accounting*

Accounting and auditing coursework

For more information about the Office of the Auditor-Controller, please check their website at:

http://cosb.countyofsb.org/auditor/

Examples of Duties

Typically, employees in the Accountant-Auditor program may be assigned a variety of accounting and auditing assignments for the purpose of staff development.

Prepares the most complex accounting records and transactions; reviews accounting records and transactions for accuracy; analyzes records and transactions in order to project results, such as impact on financial statement; prepares large or complex claims to federal and state agencies and reviews claims prepared by subordinates for accuracy.

Initiates and participates in special studies of automated and manual accounting systems to ensure economy, efficiency, and adequate internal controls; establishes controls for fiscal accountability; implements automated systems and procedures; coordinates new system conversions and upgrades among Auditor’s staff, department users, and vendors; consults with and advises department management and accounting personnel on a wide variety of fiscal and operating matters, such as payroll codes, Financial Information System, and processing of transactions; participates in the development and presentation of training programs in County financial processes and systems.

Reviews fees and indirect cost rates and measures cost per unit of service to determine whether fees are being set at appropriate levels; monitors revenues and expenditures to determine whether reported levels meet anticipated levels; reviews revenue estimates of departments and recommends revisions as appropriate; supervises or participates in the preparation of financial reports, such as final budget, cost allocation plan, and payroll tax reports, required by state and federal agencies; reviews revenue and expenditure contracts to ensure that grants or contracts are drafted in compliance with established standards.

May supervise an internal fiscal unit, such as payroll, disbursements, revenue, general accounting, or property tax; may supervise special projects, such as budget preparation, financial reporting, cost plan compilation, and grant accounting; may participate in the interviewing and selection of staff; may assign, schedule, and review work of staff; provides training; may evaluate employee performance and take disciplinary action.

Performs internal and performance audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; performs operational efficiency and economy audits; determines whether internal control policies are adequate and recommends implementation of new or improved internal control policies and procedures; evaluates effectiveness of departments in achieving their desired program results; performs compliance audits for federally- and state-funded programs; investigates fraud and misuse of public funds.

Prepares audit work papers; writes audit findings and reports for communication to the Board of Supervisors, County Executive, Grand Jury, and department management regarding audit findings and recommendations; consults with and provides advice to colleagues, as well as to departmental staff.

Reviews internal controls of EDP systems during design development stages to ensure their adequacy and to recommend improvements; analyzes and suggests changes to fiscal controls of installed EDP systems; develops computer databases and inquiry processes in order to obtain audit information through EDP systems.

May act in a lead capacity over a team of auditors performing a complex or difficult audit, providing technical advice and general direction.

EFFECTIVE PERFORMERS WILL:
Have strong organizing and planning skills that allow them to be highly efficient by managing their time wisely, and effectively prioritizing multiple competing tasks.

Think and act ethically and honestly by applying ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities and taking responsibility for their actions.

Establish and model standards that guarantee exceptional quality and necessary attention to detail.

Continually seek to improve processes and products, and hold themselves accountable for quality by finding best practices, sharing them, and then improving upon them.

Recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange through actively seeking information from a variety of sources and disseminating it in a variety of ways.

Write clearly and concisely, composing informative and convincing memos, e-mails, letters, reports, and other documents and conveying both substance and intent of accuracy.

Understand and support the Auditor’s mission by frequently referring to the mission and incorporating it into their daily activities.

Identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.

Work as a team player and identify with the larger departmental team and their role within it.

Employment Standards

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field (Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination and departmental selection processes but may not begin employment in a position until they have attained the required degree.);

or,

possession of an associate’s degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field, and two years of paraprofessional accounting experience performing duties equivalent to a full-charge bookkeeper or to an Financial Office Professional III with Santa Barbara County (Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination and departmental selection processes but may not begin employment in a position until they have attained the required degree.);

or,

three years of paraprofessional experience performing duties equivalent to a full-charge bookkeeper or to an Financial Office Professional III with Santa Barbara County, supplemented by professional training or college coursework in accounting or bookkeeping;

or,

a combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of:
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, including internal control systems, cost accounting, and general ledger; personal computer applications; Standard English grammar and usage.

Ability to:
gather, organize and analyze data; learn, interpret, and apply legal and procedural requirements; interpret and apply professional principles and standards; perform mathematical calculations; learn County financial processes and systems; learn principles and practices of government accounting; learn principles of management theory; explain regulations, principles, guidelines, procedures, and processes to others; establish and maintain working relationships with vendors and departmental staff and management; maintain impartiality and objectivity; learn to analyze fiscal data and operating procedures of routine complexity and make projections and recommendations; learn principles of supervision, including selection, training, evaluation, and discipline; write narrative reports.

Additional Qualifications

: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License may be required for some positions in this class.

Desirable:
knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; automated accounting systems.

Supplemental Information

SELECTION PROCESS:
Review Applications:
Review applications to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

Conviction Questionnaire

. Candidates that have passed the above steps will be emailed the instructions on how to complete the conviction questionnaire. All candidates must complete the conviction questionnaire in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.

Supplemental Questionnaire &

Application Ranking:
Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire and information on the application will be evaluated and scored. Candidates’ final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire and information on the application. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than twelve qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire and application to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list. Human Resources will notify you by mail if your name is removed.

MINIMUM BACKGROUND CHECK

: Employment in this class requires successful completion of a criminal background investigation.

Veteran’s preference credit

is applicable for this recruitment;

at the I level only

(5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability. To receive veteran’s preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) attach a copy of your Form DD214 showing honorable discharge to your application, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:
The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of the needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a doctor, or learning institution.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by email during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment and Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits

, please visit our website:
http://www.sbcountyhr.org

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE

:

6/5/17 at 5:00 pm

; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at

www.sbcountyjobs.com

. In Santa Barbara, applications and job bulletins may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, 1226 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. In Santa Maria, applications and job bulletins can be obtained online only at the Workforce Resource Center located at 1410 S. Broadway, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS TO USE COMPUTERS LOCALLY:
Applicants may use county computers at the Workforce Resource Centers to complete online applications and assessments at the following Santa Barbara County locations:

Workforce Resource Center in Santa Barbara,

130 East Ortega Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, Telephone: (805) 568-1296, Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

Workforce Resource Center in Santa Maria,

1410 South Broadway, Santa Maria, CA, 93454, Telephone: (805) 614-1550, Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The County of Santa Barbara respects and values a diverse workforce and strongly promotes strategies and activities to recruit, develop and retain qualified persons of varied backgrounds, lifestyles, experiences and races.

Debbie Beach, Senior HR Recruiter