Accountant - I

This is an excellent entry-level career opportunity for candidates with accounting training and/or education. Placer County offers opportunities for growth and a generous benefits package. Apply for this exciting career opportunity today!

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.visitplacer.com.

Placer County is currently accepting applications for Accountant - I and Accountant - II. Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. To participate in the recruitment at the I level, II level, or both levels, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment:

Accountant - I                     #2021-14624-01

Accountant - II                    #2021-14625-01

There are currently several vacancies within our Health and Human Services Department. Please note that the eligible list established from this recruitment will be utilized to fill current and future vacancies as they occur within the County. The following departments hire Accountants: Information Technology, HHS, County Executive Office, Auditor-Controller, Sheriff's Office, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Department of Public Works and CDRA. 

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform a variety of professional accounting work involving judgment and discretion in the analysis and application of accounting principles and practices in maintaining fiscal controls and records, preparing transactions, and developing financial and statistical reports; develop and implement accounting and financial procedures and systems; monitor and report on budget trends, financial transactions, tax billings and collections, or accounts; provide recommendations for efficiencies and improvements; and perform related duties.

This is the entry level class in the Accountant series.  This class is distinguished from the journey level of Accountant II by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision progressing to general supervision while learning job tasks.

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel.

Exercises direct supervision over technical and clerical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide responsible professional and technical assistance in the administration, review, and implementation of the County and/or departmental accounting programs and integrated accounting financial systems.
• Participate in and assume responsibility for various departmental accounting functions including financial statements, general ledger, monthly statements, and special projects accounting; participate in special studies and reports.
• Prepare a wide variety of  financial, statistical, and narrative reports, including year-end, budgetary, monthly financial statements, cash flow, investments; assist in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and custom reports, graphs, schedules, and other documents as needed.
• Participate in the compilation and preparation of the annual budget, including assisting divisions with budget preparation, preparing and updating cash flow and cost projections, estimated revenues and expenditures, monitoring expenditures to ensure compliance with adopted budget, and assisting in publication of the budget.
• Monitor and review expenditures, revenues, and budget allocations to determine financial status; analyze and reconcile expenditure and revenue accounts, including bond accounts; review and process appropriation transfer requests between accounts; reconcile bond statements and bank statements to the general ledger.
• Prepare and review ledgers and journal entries; balance and maintain complex accounting records such as trusts, funds, and claims; maintain and balance tax trust accounts.
• Perform quality control and review procedures  to ensure accounting documents are prepared accurately and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and County policies.
• Interpret, explain, and apply general and governmental accounting/auditing principles and procedures, laws, and regulations affecting the financial operations of the department assigned.
• Provide supervision to technical and clerical staff in support of assigned department and program(s); participate in the selection of, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned personnel; work with employees on performance issues; recommend discipline.
• Record and maintain appropriate controls for capital assets, including vehicles; perform annual inventory reconciliation including inspections and reconciliation of discrepancies.
• Maintain and monitor the department grant funds and ensure compliance with rules and regulations governing the use and the accounting of each grant; compile and prepare financial and other data for claims; prepare grant applications.
• Track Capital Improvement expenditures and allocate funds to the appropriate Capital Improvement account.
• Assist in the coordination of audits; schedule, provide information, and reporting for audits; ensure availability and accuracy of required reports and documentation.
• Assist with investments, portfolio management, cash management, debt management, new financing, annexations and subdivisions, and revenue and expense projections.
• Review and implement accounting, auditing, and financial procedures and systems.
• Examine, verify, and approve fiscal documents such as vouchers, warrants, requisitions, and invoices.
• Record and review transactions in subsidiary and general ledgers; prepare trial balances, reconciliations and work sheets.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be: 

Experience: No experience is required.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, or a closely related field. 

NOTE: Depending on the area of assignment, additional governmental accounting, auditing, and finance experience which involves the application of state and local laws and/or governmental accounting standards may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis if: 

• The experience was performing duties equivalent to those of an Accounting Technician in Placer County; and
• At least eighteen (18) units of college course work or related technical training in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field have been completed, including a minimum of six (6) units in Accounting.

Experience used to substitute for the required degree cannot also be used to meet work experience requirements.

Required License or Certificate: May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position and in accordance with the California Vehicle Code. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Generally accepted accounting principles, governmental accounting standards, and other governmental accounting and auditing procedures.
• Cost accounting, fund accounting, enterprise accounting, and financial reporting.
• Statutory laws, rules, and regulations applicable to governmental accounting, auditing and finance, and fiscal operation related to areas of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review, and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Pertinent local, state and federal rules, regulations, and laws.
• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs and operational needs of the assigned division.
• Application and operation of computerized accounting systems and spreadsheets, using common accounting and spreadsheet software.
• General principles and practices of data processing and its applicability to accounting operations.
• Principles and theories of internal control including indicators of fraud and risk.
• Principles and techniques of property tax billing and collections. Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently prepare and analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve problems of operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift light weight.
• Prepare and maintain the full range of standard accounting records and reports.
• Analyze complex data, identify discrepancies, develop accurate and concise summaries, and tables and draw logical and appropriate conclusions; present technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgement within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Operate accounting equipment, including calculators, personal computers and 10-key adding machine by touch.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; conduct interviews.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Understand, interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Length of Probation:

This position shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.  

Bargaining Unit:

Professional

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline:  

Week of November 1, 2021 - Minimum Qualifications Screening
Week of November 1, 2021 - Not Qualified Notices Sent 
Week of November 8, 2021 - Training and Experience Rating
Week of November 8, 2021 - Establish Eligible List

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Beth LaChapelle, Administrative Technician, at ELAChape@placer.ca.gov or (530) 889-4064.