Disbursement & Financial Reporting Division Manager (Open and Promotional)

County of San Mateo; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Mateo's Controller's Office seeks a Disbursements & Financial Reporting Division Manager to oversee day-to-day centralized fiscal services, including disbursements and complex financial reporting for ACFR, JPFA, and state reports. The role requires leadership of professional staff, development of accounting procedures, and coordination with external auditors.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration and at least five years in financial

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of government accounting standards and GAAP.
• Experience preparing complex financial reports and communications.
• Experience supervising professional staff in public agency setting.
• Knowledge of Federal expenditures, depreciation, cost accounting, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Organize, direct, and coordinate accounting and financial operations.
• Prepare ACFR, JPFA, annual state reports, PAfr, and audit-related schedules.
• Coordinate year-end closing with Controller's staff and departments.
• Supervise division staff and provide performance feedback.
• Develop division procedures and training for staff.

Skills

Government accounting

GAAP/OMB/Federal regulations

Financial analysis

Staff supervision

Communications (verbal & written)

Problem solving

Process improvement

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration

Job description

Disbursements & Financial Reporting Division Manager

The San Mateo County Controller's Office is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Disbursements & Financial Reporting Division Manager.

THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE

The Controller's Office maintains the County's financial accounting system, processes disbursements and journal entries, produces independently audited and award-winning annual financial reports, and performs internal audits of departments' operations. The Controller's Office is staffed with accountants, auditors, fiscal, and other professional personnel.

THE DISBURSEMENTS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING DIVISION

The Disbursements and Financial Reporting Division is committed to performing all duties with integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency of its processes and services. The Division provides accounting and financial services to the County departments and agencies and is responsible for the preparation of the County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), and other required financial reports.

The ideal candidate for this position will manage the Disbursements and Financial Reporting Division and will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day centralized fiscal services (disbursements and financial transactions) including preparation and submission of all countywide financial reports: County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority, Annual State Controller's Report of Financial Transactions for the County, Joint Powers Financing Authority, and Dependent Special Districts; which include, but are not limited to: State Controller’s Budget Schedules 1 – 10, Single Audit, Local Transportation Financial Statements, System developments and Disaster Cost Recovery efforts.

The Disbursements & Financial Reporting Division Manager will develop implementation and interpretation of accounting procedures, including implementation of the Government Accounting Standards Board’s Pronouncement for preparation of County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority, and Single Audit. Candidates for this position should have experience managing fiscal and professional staff and performing accounting and fiscal functions such as preparation of financial reports, accounting transactions, fiscal policies, and complex financial analysis.

Qualifications

• Be proficient in government and/or public accounting.
• Advanced knowledge and implementation of Governmental Financial Accounting Standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and Code of Federal Regulations (OMB).
• Have demonstrated success in preparing comprehensive and highly complex financial reports, compilations, and written communications as applicable.
• Possess knowledge of and experience with Federal Expenditures, Financial Reporting, Capital Assets, Depreciation, Amortization, and Cost Accounting.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Possess critical thinking skills and be a problem solver.
• Possess experience in managing and supervising professional staff.
• Identify existing or potential problems, determine causes and solutions to fix the problems to prevent future occurrences.
• Research and analyze business and/or system processes and make recommendations for improvements.
• Develop and maintain a cohesive, collaborative team with emphasis on communication, contributions, and mutual support, and create an environment of trust and confidence.
• Plan, organize, manage, coordinate, and evaluate the functions and staff for operation and special projects.
• Analyze, interpret, implement, and explain related laws, accounting rules, and regulations.
• Develop and implement division goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Interpreting complex laws and regulations and reviewing and assessing the implications of changes in laws and Federal and State regulations on the County's general accounting operations.
• Reviewing and updating current accounting practices.
• Training professional personnel to keep current with governmental accounting principles, providing timely feedback and performance evaluations.
• Reviewing and assessing changes in the governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles and developing procedures for implementation.
• Certified Public Accountant license issued by the State of California is preferable but not required.

Duties

• Organize, direct, and coordinate accounting and financial operational activities.
• Prepare financial analyses, schedules, and reports, including the following:
  • Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
  • Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA)
  • Annual State Controller's Report of Financial Transactions for the County and the Joint Powers Financing Authority
  • Popular Annual Finance Reporting (PAFR)
  • Single Audit Report
  • County Budget Schedules
• Administer and interpret county administrative policies and procedures; implement division goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Review and update changes in the governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles, including procedures for implementation of the changes to the County's financial reports and business processes.
• Coordinate year-end closing activities with Controller’s staff and County departments.
• Supervise and support division staff in day-to-day operations.
• Organize and supervise the training and work of professional and clerical staff, including Financial Management, Senior Accounting, and other Accounting classifications.
• Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for staff and direct training opportunities for staff.
• Consult with departments on complex accounting issues.
• Coordinate annual audit activities with external auditors.
• Participate in accounting system upgrades with the Controller's Information Systems Division or county department /agencies’ systems as needed.
• Develop the Division’s procedures handbook for implementation of county policies.
• Conduct special financial analysis.
• Provide excellent customer service to departments, which includes managing the relationships with external and internal vendors/customers.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration or a related field.

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience performing a wide variety of financial, managerial duties in a large, complex public agency, including at least three years of direct experience managing and/or supervising an accounting and financial reporting function related to the assigned division.

Knowledge

• Advanced principles and practices of accounting, research methods, and financial planning.
• Basic principles and practices of County-wide operations and their administration and organization.
• Advanced principles and practices of management and organizational effectiveness.
• Principles of personnel training, supervision, and evaluation.
• Relevant automated fiscal/financial information systems, applications, and terminologies.
• Federal, State, and local laws and regulations applicable to assigned areas of responsibility as well as laws and regulations governing the financial operations of public agencies.

Skills/Ability

• Analyze and evaluate complex accounting, auditing, and/or financial problems, records, and reports.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Direct and participate in the analysis of a wide variety of highly complex accounting and operational problems and make effective operational and/or procedural recommendations.
• Develop, administer, and interpret policies, guidelines, and procedures related to the assigned program area.
• Perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date: Continuous

First Round of Application Screening: Week of October 13, 2026

Panel Interviews: Continuous

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, as an employer, 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.

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

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (09242026) (Controllers Division Manager - D026)