Accountant I/II/III

Merced County; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Merced County is seeking an Accountant I–III to support accounting and auditing functions across County departments and special districts. The role involves reviewing systems, preparing reports, and assisting with training of staff.

A accounting degree is required; CPA is a plus. Senior responsibilities include analyzing financial data, ensuring policy adherence, and contributing to the development of new or revised accounting processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• If major is not accounting, 12 semester or 24 quarter units of accounting courses required.
• Possession of CPA certificate satisfies education requirement.

Responsibilities

• Operate accounting and auditing tasks across County systems.
• Assist in training and supervision of accounting staff.
• Prepare statements, reports, and budgets for various agencies.
• Review and analyze financial data to ensure policy adherence.
• Assist in establishing and evaluating County accounting systems.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Training staff

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

CPA certificate preferred

Job description

Examples of Duties

• Assists in reviewing and evaluating existing County and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Collects data, interviews personnel, and assists in designing or designs new or revised systems by providing manuals or personal instructions.
• Assists in audits of financial transactions and accounting operations of County departments, and special districts.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets financial data for the purpose of preparing statements, and other reports.
• Reviews postings, accounts allocations, expenditures, and contractual requirements to determine adherence to departmental or county policy.
• Reviews and evaluates existing County, and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Implements and follows up on new or revised systems by providing manuals or personal instruction.
• Prepares worksheets and narrative and statistical reports on findings.
• Assists in the training and supervision of new employees.
• May prepare department budget and funding and expenditure report for various agencies.
• May approve and process all expenditures and revenue transfers.
• Provides training and lead direction to other Accounting staff.
• Directs and participates in difficult and complex accounting and auditing assignments.
• Assists in establishing the reviews and evaluates existing County, and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets financial data for the purpose of preparing statements, and other reports.
• Reviews postings, accounts allocations, expenditures, and contractual requirements to determine adherence to departmental or County policy.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists in reviewing and evaluating existing County and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Collects data, interviews personnel, and assists in designing or designs new or revised systems by providing manuals or personal instructions.
• Assists in audits of financial transactions and accounting operations of County departments, and special districts.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets financial data for the purpose of preparing statements, and other reports.
• Reviews postings, accounts allocations, expenditures, and contractual requirements to determine adherence to departmental or county policy.
• Reviews and evaluates existing County, and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Implements and follows up on new or revised systems by providing manuals or personal instruction.
• Prepares worksheets and narrative and statistical reports on findings.
• Assists in the training and supervision of new employees.
• May prepare department budget and funding and expenditure report for various agencies.
• May approve and process all expenditures and revenue transfers.
• Provides training and lead direction to other Accounting staff.
• Directs and participates in difficult and complex accounting and auditing assignments.
• Assists in establishing the reviews and evaluates existing County, and special districts accounting systems to determine the need for new systems or revision of existing systems.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets financial data for the purpose of preparing statements, and other reports.
• Reviews postings, accounts allocations, expenditures, and contractual requirements to determine adherence to departmental or County policy.

Minimum Qualifications

Accountant I

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Accountant II

Two (2) years of progressively responsible general accounting and/or auditing experience; or one (1) year of experience in governmental accounting and/or auditing.

Experience:

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Accountant III

Three (3) years of progressively responsible general accounting and/or auditing experience; or two (2) years of experience in governmental accounting and/or auditing.

Experience:

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. If the major has been in a field other than accounting, at least 12 semester or 24 quarter units of college level accounting courses must have been completed. Possession of a Certified Public Accountant certificate will satisfy the education requirement.

Essential Functions

• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions.
• Respond appropriately to situations.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Train and provide lead direction to staff.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge Of:

• Generally accepted government accounting principles, theories, and practices.
• Governmental cost accounting and budgeting procedures.
• Modern office and administrative practices and equipment.
• Electronic accounting and electronic data processing procedures, methods, and equipment.
• Basic auditing theory, principles, techniques and practices and their applications to government.
• Laws, ordinances, and regulations governing the financial operation of the County, its departments and special districts.
• County policies, practices, and procedures in accounting and auditing.

Ability To:

• Learn, analyze, and evaluate fiscal records and make appropriate recommendations.
• Learn County policies, practices, and procedures in accounting and auditing.
• Make mathematical calculations rapidly and accurately.
• Perform detailed work involving numerical data.
• Understand and carry our oral and written instructions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Analyze, and evaluate fiscal data and related operating methods and make appropriate recommendations.
• Prepare comprehensive and accurate accounting, financial and statistical reports of various types and complexity.
• Perform moderately complex accounting procedures independently.
• Plan, initiate, and complete work assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Train and provide direction to Accounting staff.