Finance Staff Analyst

CalCPA; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

OCERS is seeking a Finance Staff Analyst to support investment accounting, retiree payroll, and enterprise financial reporting. The role emphasizes data integrity, automation, and continuous process improvement across finance operations.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least three years of accounting experience in government, public, or private sectors, with CPA highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business, or closely related field.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in government, public or private industry accounting.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, reconcile, and summarize complex financial data related to cash management, investment holdings, management and performance fees, security lending activity, and other investment-related transactions.
• Participate in the annual external audit including researching, reconciling and interacting with external auditors, custodian bank, investment managers, and multiple departments.
• Assist in the preparation of investment-related disclosures included in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Perform analytical review and reconciliation of retiree payroll and benefit payment activity to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and plan provisions.
• Support monthly and year-end retiree payroll processes including variance analysis, exception resolution, and coordination with internal teams and third-party administrators.
• Identify, design, and implement process improvements and process automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, data integrity and internal controls across finance operations.
• Use available reporting, automation tools, data analysis, and AI-enabled technologies to streamline journal entry preparation, reconciliations, reporting, data validation, and exception detection.
• Develop and maintain standardized procedures, documentation, and workflows that support scalability, knowledge transfer, and risk reduction.
• Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and integrations related to financial, payroll, and reporting systems.
• Participate in special projects for the resolution of complex issues regarding the operations and management of OCERS.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff at all levels, custodial bank, investment managers, and other third-party vendors.
• Ability to train and/or supervise team members on OCERS finance-related processes.
• Perform work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet strict deadlines with minimal supervision.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or closely related field

Job description

This recruitment will remain open until Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM, or until the first 300 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OCERS is seeking a highly analytical and motivated Finance Staff Analyst to join its Finance team and play a key role in supporting the organization’s fiduciary, operational, and regulatory responsibilities. This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to work across investment accounting, financial reporting, retiree payroll, auditing, and financial analysis while helping to advance the use of technology, automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools within Finance operations. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and committed to accuracy, integrity, and continuous improvement. This position offers the opportunity to work on complex financial matters, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen efficiency, data integrity, transparency, and internal controls across OCERS.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Finance Staff Analyst is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and system efficiency. This classification is distinguished by its broad scope across investment-related accounting, retiree payroll operations, and enterprise financial reporting, combined with an expectation to proactively identify opportunities to improve data integrity, accuracy, efficiency, transparency, and internal controls. The Finance Staff Analyst serves as a subject-matter contributor and supports the effective use of technology, automation, and continuous process improvement.

PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES

Include but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze, reconcile, and summarize complex financial data related to cash management, investment holdings, management and performance fees, security lending activity, and other investment-related transactions.
• Participate in the annual external audit including researching, reconciling and interacting with external auditors, custodian bank, investment managers, and multiple departments.
• Assist in the preparation of investment-related disclosures included in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Perform analytical review and reconciliation of retiree payroll and benefit payment activity to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and plan provisions.
• Support monthly and year-end retiree payroll processes including variance analysis, exception resolution, and coordination with internal teams and third-party administrators.
• Identify, design, and implement process improvements and process automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, data integrity and internal controls across finance operations.
• Use available reporting, automation tools, data analysis, and AI-enabled technologies to streamline journal entry preparation, reconciliations, reporting, data validation, and exception detection.
• Develop and maintain standardized procedures, documentation, and workflows that support scalability, knowledge transfer, and risk reduction.
• Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and integrations related to financial, payroll, and reporting systems.
• Participate in special projects for the resolution of complex issues regarding the operations and management of OCERS.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff at all levels, custodial bank, investment managers, and other third-party vendors.
• Ability to train and/or supervise team members on OCERS finance-related processes.
• Perform work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet strict deadlines with minimal supervision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum qualifications required for entry into the classification

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or closely related field,

AND

Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in government, public or private industry accounting.

Special Notes, Licenses or RequirementsA

• A valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel
• May be required to use personal vehicle
• Successful candidates must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including a Live Scan fingerprint screening.
• Highly Desirable: A Current Certified Public Account (CPA) license