Accountant - Payroll, Fiscal Services

SAN-Jose-Unified-School-District; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

San José Unified seeks an Accountant to perform expert payroll accounting duties under minimal supervision. You will prepare, audit, and reconcile payroll-related records, and analyze data using district systems to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and standards.

You will collaborate with Payroll, Human Resources, Budget, and other departments to resolve discrepancies, support audits, and drive process improvements while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.

Qualifications

• A four-year or graduate degree in finance, accounting, or business administration and two years of relevant work experience, preferably in a California school district.
• Six or more years of comparable experience and/or education may be substituted.
• Strong computer literacy and the ability to use financial systems and technology effectively.
• Experience working as an accountant in a school district preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, audit, analyze, and reconcile payroll-related records, transactions, and reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Review and verify payroll data, calculations, adjustments, deductions, and related accounting entries.
• Analyze payroll expenditures, identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate payroll accounting records and support reconciliation of payroll liabilities and general ledger accounts.
• Prepare financial schedules, reports, and analyses in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, and district procedures.
• Utilize computerized payroll, accounting, and financial information systems to process, validate, and analyze complex data.
• Coordinate payroll accounting activities, establish timelines, and ensure critical reporting and processing deadlines are met.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Human Resources, Budget, and other departments to resolve discrepancies and maintain accurate financial information.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, researching transactions, and responding to financial inquiries.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accounting procedures, strengthen internal controls, and increase operational efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance and lead support to assigned employees on accounting procedures, systems, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise independent judgment when handling sensitive employee payroll and financial information.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Independent judgment

Payroll systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

The impact you will have:

As an Accountant under minimum supervision, performs a wide variety of expert professional accounting functions. Uses and analyzes computer systems at an expert level of skill. Ensures accurate collection, analysis, and processing of data. Completes schedules, studies, and reports according to established laws, codes, regulations, and standards. Develops timelines, coordinates activities, and acts as a lead to other employees. Prepare, audit, analyze, and verify financial records and reports. A more detailed job description is available here.

Who you are:

You are detailed-oriented with strong reading comprehension, analytic skills, and with many years of accounting experience. You apply sound independent judgment. You are able to perform difficult complex and responsible analytical work with minimum supervision. You are able to accurately perform highly technical accounting procedures while applying complex payroll laws and regulations. You are a reliable professional who is collaborative, organized, and able to prioritize to juggle many tasks at once.

As an Accountant, you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Prepare, audit, analyze, and reconcile payroll-related financial records, transactions, and reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Review and verify payroll data, calculations, adjustments, deductions, and related accounting entries.
• Analyze payroll expenditures, identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate payroll accounting records and support reconciliation of payroll liabilities and general ledger accounts.
• Prepare financial schedules, reports, and analyses in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, and district procedures.
• Utilize computerized payroll, accounting, and financial information systems to process, validate, and analyze complex data.
• Coordinate payroll accounting activities, establish timelines, and ensure critical reporting and processing deadlines are met.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Human Resources, Budget, and other departments to resolve discrepancies and maintain accurate financial information.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, researching transactions, and responding to financial inquiries.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accounting procedures, strengthen internal controls, and increase operational efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance and lead support to assigned employees on accounting procedures, systems, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise independent judgment when handling sensitive employee payroll and financial information.

What you need for this position:

• A four-year or graduate degree in finance, accounting, or business administration and two (2) years of relevant work experience, preferably in a California school district; or
• Six (6) or more years of comparable experience and/or education may be substituted
• Strong computer literacy and the ability to use financial systems and technology effectively
• Experience working as an accountant in a school district preferred

Roles currently available:

• Payroll, Fiscal Services
• 12 month
• 1.0 FTE

SB 848 Child Safety & Employment Disclosure Requirement

Effective January 1, 2026, in accordance with California Senate Bill 848 (School Employee Misconduct/Child Abuse Prevention Act), applicants for employment with San José Unified are subject to enhanced child safety, training, and employment disclosure requirements.

Under SB 848, schools are required to strengthen background vetting procedures and obtain employment history information related to allegations of egregious misconduct involving students. Former employers may be contacted to release records regarding substantiated findings of misconduct as permitted by law. Failure to provide complete and accurate information regarding prior educational employment or relevant misconduct findings may result in disqualification from the hiring process or withdrawal of an offer of employment.

SB 848 also expands mandated reporter requirements and requires annual child abuse prevention training for employees and certain volunteers by July 1, 2026. All employees must comply with district-adopted child safety policies, including procedures for supervising and protecting students.

San José Unified is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and will review all disclosures and employment records in accordance with state law.

When will you hear back from us:

Within seven days of applying, we will inform you if you will be moving forward in our hiring process and share next steps. If there is a delayed response, feel free to reach out to us at [e-mail].

Note to internal applicants:

• Even though we may have some information on file for you, we encourage you to submit a letter of introduction highlighting your qualifications and interest in this role, as well as any other information you would like to share.Where applicable, please also note which available location you are applying to.
• To be eligible to interview, you will need to be in good evaluation standing.