Accountant I/II/Senior

Accountant I/II/Senior
County of Ventura
 Ventura, California
Job Description

FIRST REVIEW:

A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around Friday, November 8, 2024, and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

WHAT WE OFFER:

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

  • A general salary increase of 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.
  • Merit Increases – New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
  • Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
  • Bilingual Incentive – Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Pay - A premium of $.47 per hour for a maximum of 80 compensated hours per biweekly pay period will be paid to employees in this classification who possess and maintain a valid, current CPA license or certificate.
  • Flexible Workweek - A compressed work schedule (e.g., 9/80 workweek) may be available for some positions.
  • Telework Schedule - A remote hybrid telework schedule may be available for some positions.
  • Vacation Accrual – New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
  • Annual Leave Redemption – After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
  • Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
  • Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
  • Health Plans–Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $23,530 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.

o Employee only - $502 per biweekly pay period

o Employee plus one dependent - $730 per biweekly pay period

o Employee plus family - $905 per biweekly pay period

  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
  • Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
  • Holidays - 12 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.
  • Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY:

Ventura County is located on California's "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. The County includes 42 miles of coastline which is home to the following cities and points of interest: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Ventura County’s beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County "home."

The County of Ventura employs nearly 10,000 staff members who serve Ventura County residents, all of whom have unique experiences and perspectives. Each of us has a responsibility to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace and in our communities. Our County is proud to have a diverse workforce and providing a respectful and inclusive workplace is a priority and aligns with the County’s values.

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.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

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 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.

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY:

Various

APPROXIMATE SALARIES:

Accountant I: $28.63 - $40.08/hourly

Accountant II: $31.81 - $44.54/hourly

Senior Accountant: $34.99 - $48.99/hourly

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

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.

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.

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.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Verification of accounting coursework completed is required.
  • Depending on assignment, may require possession of a valid California driver license.

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. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. 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 to your application
  • Email the transcripts to kim.mariscal@ventura.org
  • Mail to Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1970, Ventura, CA 93009

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.

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

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).

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Worksite reassignments may occur due to changes in facilities or other operational requirements within the business.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS:

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).

DESIRED:

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

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura, Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS:

It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

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 Principles, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Budgeting, and Basic Lead/Supervision. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Kim Mariscal by email at kim.mariscal@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 477-5153.

Apply