Finance Staff Analyst

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Educational reimbursement up to $10,-k

Job summary

OCERS is seeking a Finance Staff Analyst to join the Finance team, handling investment accounting, financial reporting, retiree payroll, and audits. The role emphasizes data integrity, technology use, and internal controls in a hybrid work setting.

The ideal candidate has a strong accounting background, 3+ years of experience, and a commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement within a fiduciary environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance or related field.
• Minimum three years of government/public accounting experience.
• CPA highly desirable

Responsibilities

• Analyze, reconcile, and summarize complex financial data for various accounts.
• Participate in annual external audit and interact with auditors and managers.
• Assist in preparation of investment disclosures for ACFR.
• Oversee retiree payroll processes and variance analysis.
• Support monthly/year-end payroll and internal controls improvements.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Problem solving

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/ Economics/ Business

Tools

Excel

GAAP software

Job description

FINANCE STAFF ANALYST

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.

WHO WE ARE

Established in 1945, the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) provides retirement, death, disability, and cost-of-living benefits to retirees of the County of Orange and certain County districts. Serving approximately 55,000 members, OCERS is governed by a ten-member Board of Retirement that is responsible for managing a $30 billion dollar fund.

OCERS' mission is to provide secure retirement and disability benefits with the highest standards of excellence.

OCERS' vision is to be a trusted partner providing premier pension administration, distinguished by consistent, quality member experiences and prudent financial stewardship.

• Open and Transparent
• Commitment to Superior Service
• Engaged and Dedicated Workforce
• Reliable and Accurate
• Secure and Sustainable

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.

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

• 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

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 Requirements

• 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

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Accounting and auditing principles, theories and procedures applicable to the control of various accounting systems.
• Federal, State, and local financial reporting requirements, including the CERL of 1937.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and other governmental accounting principles and practices, including GASB Statement No.’s 40, 53 and 72.
• Investment accounting concepts, custodial banking functions, and retirement system operations.
• Retiree payroll and benefit payment processes, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Internal control frameworks, process documentation, risk mitigation practices.
• Financial systems, reporting applications, data analysis tools, and emerging technologies applicable to finance operations and financial reporting.
• Methods used to organize, validate, analyze, and present financial information for accounting, reporting and finance purposes.
• Telephone, office and online etiquette.

Skills/Ability to:

• Work independently under little or no supervision while completing a large volume of work and managing competing priorities and strict timelines to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Finance department.
• Demonstrate professional level experience in presenting ideas and complex financial material clearly, concisely, and logically both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate integrity when applying accounting principles and practices, dealing with large amounts of money and funding, ensuring the validity and acceptance of accounting and financial data, and resolving accounting discrepancies.
• Identify and define actual and potential issues or concerns pertaining to the accuracy and integrity of accounting and financial data, use sound and logical judgment, and make effective decisions to develop resolutions.
• Use advanced Excel functions, financial systems, reporting tools, automation features, and AI-enabled technologies to support financial analysis, reporting, reconciliations, and process improvement.
• Analyze financial information to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
• Adapt to and effectively use new systems, tools, technologies, and reporting requirements to support evolving Finance operations.
• Read, understand and interpret complex technical accounting information and complex Federal and State governmental regulations.
• Prepare, interpret and evaluate a variety of narrative and statistical data and reports.
• Communicate effectively in English orally and in writing with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures, and backgrounds.
• Establish and maintain cohesive working relationships with public officials, vendors, supervisors, directors, technical and non-technical staff, consultants and others encountered in the course of work.
• Train and supervise staff on financial processes as needed.
• Demonstrate strict confidentiality, professionalism, integrity, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations at all times.
• Use standard office equipment such as: computer, printer, scanner, photocopier, and calculator.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Physical and Mental Demands

• Speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person, over the telephone and in small groups.
• Vision sufficient to read fine print, and a computer monitor.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a telephone, keyboard, write and use a calculator.
• Mental stamina to interact professionally with members of the Board of Retirement, Employers, peers, and members.
• Independent body mobility, agility, and stamina to stand, walk, stoop, bend, and twist, to access a standard office environment.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.

Environmental Conditions

• The primary workplace is in a hybrid remote/office environment, working with standard office equipment both in the office and remotely.
• Peripheral office equipment generates a quiet to moderate noise level.
• Operates in an environment that includes elected officials, non-elected officials, government agencies, community interest groups and the general public in the development and coordination of OCERS affairs.
• Out of area travel may be required to attend professional conferences, due diligence, and meetings.

BENEFITS

OCERS offers a competitive benefits package that includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave, and paid holidays. Additionally, OCERS has a defined benefit pension plan which has reciprocity with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and a deferred compensation 457 plan. OCERS offers up to an annual $10,000 Educational and Professional Reimbursement, a $3,500 taxable optional benefit plan, and a flexible/hybrid work schedule.

OCERS, as an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Please note, the information provided in your application may be shared internally within OCERS to evaluate your qualifications for potential opportunities in other teams or departments.