Accounting Manager
Orange County Fire Authority
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) seeks an Accounting Manager to lead the Accounting section of the Finance Division, overseeing accounts receivable, cost accounting, general ledger reporting, grants and fixed assets, and financial reporting. The role requires strong leadership, public-sector financial acumen, and ERP expertise.
Ideal candidate will ensure regulatory compliance, provide expert guidance to the Finance Division Manager, and develop policies to safeguard financial assets.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration.
- Minimum six (6) years of government general accounting or finance experience including three (3) years of supervisory experience.
- CPA certification preferred.
- Experience with an ERP system and ACFR preparation is highly desirable.
Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, and oversee the Accounting section within the Finance Division.
- Manage accounts receivable, cost accounting, general accounting, and fixed assets.
- Ensure regulatory compliance with governmental accounting standards and reporting.
- Provide professional assistance to the Finance Division Manager and supervise staff.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Finance Department is searching for a highly effective Accounting Manager to join our team! The ideal candidate will be
- Able to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, providing exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers, possesses excellent communication and problem‑solving skills, and the ability to exercise sound judgment on highly complex issues.
- Able to demonstrate political awareness, attention to detail, organization, and the ability to communicate at all levels of the OCFA effectively.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of public agency finance, including general and governmental accounting, auditing, and reporting functions.
- Experience with the principles of agency budgetary, contract administration, administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
- Experience preparing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
- Experience in implementing an Enterprise Resources Program (ERP).
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is a regional fire service agency that provides emergency response to 23 cities and all unincorporated areas of Orange County. We are dedicated to making the communities we service a safer place to live, work and play through our steadfast commitment to excellence.
The Finance Division is a part of Business Services which provides budget, payroll, accounting, and administrative support to the Authority; monitors cash balances and makes investments; provides warehouse, purchasing, shipping and receiving, and mail operations. The Finance Division oversees the processing, accounting, reporting and auditing of all OCFA financial records. This section is also responsible for developing policies and procedures designed to protect and safeguard OCFA's financial assets.
- Last Day to Apply - Sunday, November 8, 2026 @ 11:59 pm
- Oral Interviews Interview - Week of November 30, 2026
- Selection Interviews – Week of December 7, 2026
- Position Start Date: TBD
Under general direction, plans, organizes, manages, and provides oversight for the accounting staff and operations of the Accounting section of the Finance Division, including accounts receivable, cost accounting, general accounting, general ledger reporting, grants and fixed assets; performs professional accounting work to ensure regulatory compliance with governmental accounting standards; provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the Finance Division Manager in areas of expertise; and performs related work as required.
Receives general direction from the Finance Division Manager. Exercises direct and general supervision over professional and technical staff.
This is a management classification responsible for developing, planning, and reviewing the programs, services, and activities of the Accounting section of the Finance Division including financial processing, reporting, and record‑keeping activities. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and procedures, program evaluation, and management of staff for the assigned areas. Incumbents serve as a professional‑level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines. This class is distinguished from the Finance Division Manager in that the latter has management responsibility for all functional areas of the Finance Division including developing and implementing divisional policies and procedures, development and administration of the Division budget, and evaluation of the Division’s programs and activities.
To review the essential functions, knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position, please use the link below.
Accounting Manager
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a related field.
Minimum of six (6) years of increasingly responsible government general accounting or finance experience including three (3) years of supervisory experience.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.
- Strong leadership skills.
- Good track record of promoting employee training and development
- High level and detailed analytical skills.
- Ability to manage complex financial data and effective problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication abilities.
- Experience implementing an Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) system.
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various Authority and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Human Resources reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be invited to the first phase of the recruitment process. The OCFA reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials.
Testing for this position may include, but is not limited to the following: written exam, practical exam, panel interview, physical ability test, assessment center, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. If a revision is made to a testing component during a recruitment process, the assigned recruiter will notify by email all affected applicants.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at dukesteppe@ocfa.org no later than 72 hours prior to the need for an accommodation.
All recruitment and selection processes and requirements will be held in accordance with the OCFA's Merit and Selection Rules, which are available for review at www.ocfa.org.
Placement on the Eligible List will be established based on successful completion of all recruitment process components. The Eligible List will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all names on the list are exhausted. The Eligible List may be extended or abolished at the discretion of the Assistant Chief of Human Resources / Human Resources Director.
If an applicant chooses to withdraw from this recruitment process, he/she is required to submit an email notification to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at dukesteppe@ocfa.org requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include the applicant's current phone number.
All questions regarding this position should be directed to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at dukesteppe@ocfa.org.
The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.
The Orange County Fire Authority is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
This classification is represented by the OCFAMA. Please contact OCFAMA President for information about joining OCFAMA.
Administrative Managers are eligible for performance salary increases from 2.75% to 5.5% annually based on their work performance and until they reach the top of their salary range. Please note, new managers and newly promoted managers must be assigned to their position prior to March 1 during the annual performance rating period (August 1 through July 31) to be eligible for their initial merit review. Administrative Managers who are at the maximum of their salary range at the time they receive their annual performance evaluation will receive a $500 contribution to their 401(a) deferred compensation account if they received a rating of at least "standard."
Administrative Managers have a choice of medical plans under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, and receive a monthly cash allotment to be applied toward health care coverage and other benefits. In addition to purchasing health care coverage, at their option, Administrative Managers may receive any or all remaining funds in cash or defer such funds to other benefits. The enrollment period for a new employee is sixty (60) days from the date of employment. The effective date of coverage will begin on the first day of the month following submission of the CalPERS Health Benefit Plan Enrollment Form.
In 2026, the monthly cash allotment is $2,768.96 per month, paid over 24 pay periods.
Please visit CalPERS for more information regarding the various plans offered under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, as well as the current premium rates.
Dental, orthodontia, and vision insurance are provided, at no cost to the employee, for the employee and dependents. Coverage begins on the first of the month following date of hire or promotion.
- 1.50% at the beginning of the pay period that includes the commencement of their 5th year in any OCFAMA position.
- 3.0% at the beginning of the pay period that includes the commencement of their 10th year in any OCFAMA position.
An annual allocation of $2,065 (pro-rated for mid-year hire/promotion date) will be provided to Administrative Managers to cover health care costs and other select benefits including:
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Medical Flexible Spending Account
- Cash prorated each pay period or lump sum of cash at year end
OBP begins on the 1st day of the month following a 28-day waiting period.
All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.
Legacy General Members: Employees hired on or after December 1, 2012, who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 2.0% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan N). Employees pays their maximum employee contribution based on age of entry into OCERS (or reciprocal retirement system), including any increases to the maximum employee contribution as calculated by OCERS. Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits. https://www.ocers.org/post/compensation-and-benefit-limits
New General Members (PEPRA): Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (Plan U). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into OCERS). Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits. https://www.ocers.org/post/compensation-and-benefit-limits
For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit OCERS, or view the Retirement Plan HERE.
A life and AD&D policy is provided to Administrative Managers at no cost. Administrative Managers may purchase additional employee paid life, dependent life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage are provided to Administrative Managers at no cost.
Employees may participate in the Authority’s 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan on a voluntary basis. This plan is 100% employee funded.
Employees participate in an employer sponsored retirement Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with a contribution of 4.0% of base salary.
OCFA employees are not covered under the provisions of Federal Social Security (OASDI); therefore, they are not required to contribute 6.2% of salary towards Social Security.
Employees contribute 1.45% to Medicare. Employees whose wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year shall contribute an additional 0.9%.
If qualified, bilingual pay is $0.30 per hour up to a maximum of forty (40) hours per FLSA workweek. Pre-designated languages include: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese/Mandarin/Cantonese, and American Sign Language. Other languages may qualify on a case-by‑case basis.
Administrative Managers are eligible for up to $2,000 per fiscal year in accordance with the program guidelines. Employees are also eligible to be reimbursed for job‑related licenses and certifications (including the costs necessary to obtain and/or maintain the license or certification).
- Upon employment and up to 3 years, approximately 120 hours per year
- After 3 years, but less than 10 years, approximately 160 hours per year
- After 10 years, approximately 200 hours per year
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
- Lincoln's Birthday
- President's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- Upon employment and up to 3 years, approximately 72 hours per year
- After 3 years, approximately 96 hours per year
After completion of new probation, an employee will be eligible to take up to forty (40) hours of paid time off each year, in addition to their accrued time. PAL is awarded on January 1 of the subsequent year and every year thereafter. PAL cannot be cashed out and must be used within the calendar year it is earned.
Administrative Managers are provided a voluntary annual physical examination by an Authority-designated physician at no cost.
The OCFA offers regular, limited‑term, and probationary employees both a Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which allow you to contribute pre‑tax dollars into an account that can be used throughout the year on qualified medical or dependent care expenses. Participants pay fewer taxes and take home more money.
OCFA offers a variety of behavioral health and wellness services to our employees and their dependents, including access to the OCFA Peer Support Team Members, OCFA Chaplains, and the Counseling Team International (TCTI). TCTI provides behavioral health and wellness services to public safety agency employees and their eligible family members with confidential professional assistance. Support services include, but are not limited to, the following types of situations: marital and family problems, stress/burnout, anger management, separation/divorce, child/adolescent issues, depression, and critical incident/trauma. TCTI also offers life care resource assistance for child care, adoption, elderly and senior care, and financial information.
OCFA has partnered with United Pet Care to offer a pet healthcare program. This program helps employees reduce the cost of escalating veterinary bills at an affordable rate. All pets are eligible regardless of their age or medical condition.
Employees have the option to join OCFA’s Benevolent Association which was created to “Take Care of Their Own”. Included in your $8.00 per pay period cost is $10,000 Member Death Benefit, $4,000 Dependent Death Benefit, $32,500 Annual Scholarships for Members and Dependents., Hardship Grants/Loans, Annual Picnic for Members, Holiday Ball, Retiree Tribute. In addition, Discount Offers- Recreation/Amusement Parks, fitness 19 & 24-Hour Fit. gym membership. Discount Movie Tickets, Angel Baseball Games with Tailgate Party, etc.). In addition, membership allows access to very good supplemental insurances of many type, including Long Term Disability, Long Term Care, Various AFLAC (ICU, Cancer, Accident Inj., CSFA membership, Living Trusts & more.) The Family Auxiliary and KIDS Fund ( provides monetary assistance only to kids of members), both operating under the Benevolent Assoc….
This benefit summary is intended to provide an easy way for current and prospective employees to access fringe benefit information, including voluntary options. This summary is intended to be accurate, but it is not an official plan document, and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contract, or otherwise, and does not alter or amend any provision of the Memoranda of Understanding, Personnel and Salary Resolution, retirement contract, insurance policy contract, or any other official document of the Orange County Fire Authority, including Standard Operating Procedures and General Orders. All insurance benefits described in the summary are subject to the terms and limitations of the Orange County Fire Authority's insurance contracts with individual insurance providers. Should you have any questions pertaining to information in this summary, please contact Human Resources Department at (714) 573-6800.
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