Accountant II - Controller's Office (Departmental Promotional Only)

County of San Mateo; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Mateo seeks an Accountant II to perform professional accounting duties within centralized and departmental procedures, under general supervision. This journey-level class requires strong knowledge of governmental accounting and the ability to exercise independent judgment within guidelines.

The position focuses on reviewing documents, preparing entries and trial balances, coordinating closings, budgets, and financial statements, and supporting internal and external audits.

Qualifications

• Two years of accounting experience, preferably in a governmental or public agency.
• Minimum of twelve semester units of college-level accounting coursework.

Responsibilities

• Review accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and calculations, and make correcting entries.
• Examine supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal regulations.
• Prepare and maintain control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
• Prepare trial balances; coordinate and calculate periodic closings.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger, journals, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
• Compile and prepare general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
• Assist in and/or coordinate the preparation and analysis of budgets for departmental and County funds.
• Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts; prepare and coordinate budget appropriation transfers.
• Confer with departmental representatives and provide information regarding budgeting and accounting processes.
• Analyze and prepare varied financial statements and reports.
• Review and approve claims for referral of tax, grant, or other monies and prepare claims for reimbursement from various state or funding agencies and/or programs.

Skills

Financial analysis

Accounting and reconciliation

Budgeting principles

Record keeping

Independent judgment

Education

Accounting coursework (12 semester units)

Job description

The Controller's Office is currently seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Accountant II.

The mission of the Controller's Office is to promote the County's operational effectiveness and ensure its financial transparency and integrity by providing quality accounting, audit, and financial reporting services. This position is assigned to the Accounting section of the Controller’s Office.

The Controller's Office maintains the County’s financial systems and records, and prepares independently audited, award-winning annual financial reports that disclose the financial condition of the County to the public. The office also calculates annual property tax bill amounts, distributes taxes collected to local government agencies, performs internal audits of the County’s operations, and provides payroll services for the County's workforce.

Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work relating to both centralized and departmental County accounting procedures and records.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS ACCOUNTANT II

is the journey-level class in this series, competent to independently perform the full range of accounting duties. Successful performance requires a thorough knowledge of governmental accounting procedures, the ability to exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines, and may involve skill in directing the work of support staff. The use of computer technology and/or automated input and output documents varies with the department to which assigned. This class is distinguished from Senior Accountant, which is either the supervisory and/or advanced specialist level in the professional accountant series. The classes are distinguished from the fiscal office support classes in that the work requires not only process knowledge, but also analytical and systems development skills in addition to strong accounting theoretical knowledge. They are further distinguished from the Internal Auditor series in that the latter classes perform internal and external audits in addition to performing accounting duties.

NOTE: This position is based entirely on-site and does not include remote work options.

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

• Review accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and calculations, and make correcting entries.
• Examine supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal regulations.
• Prepare and maintain control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
• Prepare trial balances; coordinate and calculate periodic closings.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger, journals, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
• Compile and prepare general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
• Assist in and/or coordinate the preparation and analysis of budgets for departmental and County funds.
• Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts; prepare and coordinate budget appropriation transfers.
• Confer with departmental representatives and provide information regarding budgeting and accounting processes.
• Analyze and prepare varied financial statements and reports.
• Apportion monies, including secured, unsecured, impounded, redeemed, and other taxes.
• Review and approve claims for referral of tax, grant, or other monies and prepare claims for reimbursement from various state or funding agencies and/or programs.
• Maintain varied departmental cost accounting records, disbursing funds to various accounts and/or billing for reimbursements as required.
• Analyze programs and legislation to determine fiscal and budgetary impact; prepare budgetary appropriation transfers and supplemental budgets.
• Review and recommend modifications to existing or creation of accounting systems and procedures; may assist with or coordinate the automation of manual accounting systems.
• Provide technical support to internal and outside auditors and governmental program auditors.
• May plan, direct, review, and evaluate the work of fiscal office support staff on a project or day-to-day basis; may train staff in work procedures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Education:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Accountant II: Two years of accounting experience, preferably in a governmental or public agency. This classification requires the successful completion of a minimum of twelve semester units of college-level accounting coursework.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund, and governmental accounting.
• Principles and practices of business data processing, particularly as related to the processing of accounting information.
• Applicable laws regulating public fiscal operations.
• Budgeting principles and terminology.
• Basic auditing and financial reconciliation principles and methods.

Skill/Ability to:

• Review, analyze, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
• Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements.
• Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
• Direct the work of others on a project or day-to-day basis.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations.

Departmental Promotional Only

Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Controller's Office with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:

Final Filing Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST Application Screening: November 12 - 13, 2026 Panel Interviews: November 17 and/or 18, 2026.

About The County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (10272026) (Accountant II - E011)