ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST)

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 59,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Gym

On-site Bistro

EV charging stations

Job summary

California Highway Patrol is seeking an Accounting Officer (Specialist) to manage complex voucher processing and supplier payments using FI$Cal. The role ensures accuracy, proper approvals, and adherence to state payment laws and procedures, while reconciling contract variances and maintaining supplier records.

Based in Sacramento, this permanent full-time position supports the Fiscal Management Section, with in-office work and a focus on internal controls, data accuracy, and efficiency in

Qualifications

• Knowledge of accounting.
• Ability to communicate effectively with excellent customer service.
• Ability to maintain a workload with few errors with the ability to prioritize.
• Flexibility with meeting the needs of the Department.
• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Excel and Word applications.
• Ability to work with others at all levels internally and externally.
• Excellent attendance, dependability and reliable.
• FI$Cal experience.

Responsibilities

• Uses FI$Cal to create vouchers including complex payments and procurement-related vouchers.
• Verifies invoices for accuracy, approvals, and compliance with payment acts and regulations.
• Reviews and approves procurement-card vouchers and manages voucher builds; creates and replenishes petty cash and confidential funds.
• Researches and resolves issues with vendors, recoups overpayments, and ensures correct coding for payments.
• Assists accounts payable staff and trains new staff; handles mainline inquiries and mail distribution.
• Creates or updates supplier records in FI$Cal and ensures supplier data is current.

Skills

Knowledge of accounting

Customer service

Prioritize workload

Flexibility

Excellent attendance

Teamwork

Confidence in handling inquiries

FI$Cal experience

Tools

FI$Cal

Job description

Accounting Officer (Specialist)

Job Posting: Accounting Officer (Specialist)

Job Code: JC-530620

$5,266.00 - $6,591.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 9/14/2026

Using the Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal), creates vouchers for the most complex payments which may include purchase orders, purchase orders for contracts, utility, direct pay, and more.

Verifies invoices for accuracy, appropriate authority, and approvals. Makes payments in accordance with the California Prompt Payment Act, State Administrative Manual, State Controller's Office (SCO), Board of Control and all applicable rules, regulations, and departmental procedures. This is accomplished by validating charges on supplier invoices against the purchase order, if applicable, ensuring invoices have the appropriate approvals, identifying issues in goods and/or services received. Identifies payment errors or inaccuracies and notifies suppliers and program staff and follow up to ensure charges were corrected by supplier on subsequent invoices. Ensures that invoices are coded correctly and, where there is one contract for multiple areas, ensures that the amount allotted for each area within the contract is not over expended. Ensures that variances between the contract accounting records and independent payment logs are researched and reconciled; ensures that contract payment amounts reflect the latest rates included in the contracts; maintains and reviews payment and transaction histories to ensure that cumulative payments do not exceed contracted authority; and all documentation is provided, as necessary, to SCO to efficiently process the payments.

Creates vouchers in FI$Cal using the Office Revolving Fund (ORF) as requested. Ensures the ORF is replenished timely and in accordance with State laws, rules, and regulations. This requires constant communication with area and division offices to ensure appropriate documentation is acquired to process revolving fund replenishment.

Reviews and approves Procurement-card vouchers which are created through the voucher build process as well and monitoring and correcting any voucher build errors. Creates new petty cash, change funds, and confidential fund and replenishing them through the creation of vouchers.

Independently researches and provides information, assistance, necessary action and correspondence to various levels of departmental staff, suppliers, and control agencies; researches and responds to various requests for financial information from Department managers via e-mail and phone calls. Prepares dispute notifications and stops payment requests. When necessary, determines the cause of overpayment and the appropriate course of action needed to recoup any duplicate payments. Works with vendors to recover over payments, and when received, ensures that payments are coded correctly to properly abate the funds.

Assists other accounts payable staff in resolving issues and providing guidance, as necessary. Assists in the training of new staff. Answers accounts payable unit 's mainline phone and sort and distributes the incoming mail on a rotational basis.

Using FI$Cal, creates new suppliers. Updates current supplier information, as needed (i.e., address or name change). Works with suppliers to obtain the information necessary to pay the supplier.

Performs other duties, within the scope of the classification, as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST)

# of Positions: 1

Work Location

601 N. 7th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811

Telework

In Office

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

California Highway Patrol

Fiscal Management Section

601 N. 7th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811

The mission of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security. The CHP offers challenging and exciting careers in the field of law enforcement. If you are interested in diversity, challenges, and opportunities, the CHP invites you to apply to become a part of our professional organization. We remain competitive and current with training and technology, keeping the citizens of California safe. We have many employment opportunities, and we invite you to look into the California Highway Patrol for your future.

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified before appointment. To satisfy the minimum qualification requirement with education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for initial review. Original diplomas or official, sealed transcripts will be required before the start date. Applicants with foreign transcript(s)/degree(s) must provide a third-party transcript/degree credential evaluation that indicates the number of units, course by course, to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at https://naces.org/ and https://aice-eval.org/ .

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, no more than one page in length, and 12-point Arial font.

• Explain why you believe you are the best candidate for this position.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of accounting


• Ability to communicate effectively with excellent customer service


• Ability to maintain a workload with few errors with the ability to prioritize


• Flexibility with meeting the needs of the Department


• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Excel and Word applications


• Ability to work with others at all levels internally and externally


• Excellent attendance, dependability and reliable


• FI$Cal experience

Benefits

• Newer gated campus located close to Downtown Sacramento; offers free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, gym, an ATM, on-site Bistro, and is close to a light rail station. Close to bike/walking paths along the American River.


• Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California 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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.