Senior Accountant

The Ventura County Probation Agency is charged by the courts with the direct supervision of approximately 9,200 adult offenders and 400 juvenile offenders on probation, as well as performing two mandated functions: the preparation of sentencing reports for the courts and the operation of the Juvenile Facilities.  

Under direction, performs complex and fiscal accounting duties in assigned fiscal program areas; functional areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, compliance review, budgeting, grant accounting, cost accounting and financial analysis/reporting duties; may provide direct or lead supervision to lower level professional, technical or clerical staff.

Senior Accountant is the advanced journey level in the Accountant series; incumbents at this level perform more complex duties and responsibilities, exercising a significant level of independent judgment in the performance of their duties; work assigned to this advanced level requires a specialized technical or functional expertise beyond the journey level such as diverse accounting systems, extensive labor cost allocations and considerable financial analysis/reporting requirements.  Positions may also be assigned lead duties over lower level staff. 

Incumbents in this position may receive an educational incentive of either 2.5% for an Associate degree, 3.5% for a Bachelor degree, or 5% for a post graduate degree that is not required to work in the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

First Review of applications scheduled the week of May 14, 2018.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides advanced level accounting support for specialized and complex finance areas which encompass diverse accounting systems, extensive labor cost allocations and considerable financial analysis/reporting requirements.
• May assist in planning and directing the work of professional, technical or clerical staff in assigned fiscal program area; participates in the selection process; provides input on performance evaluations and/or performance reviews; provides training and employee development; documents performance issues and discusses corrective actions with management and human resources; may recommend corrective or disciplinary action.
• Conducts a review of staff work and performs quality control; ensures that staff are performing their work in compliance with County and program rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Reviews Board Letter submittals to ensure accurate and full disclosure of fiscal impact on recommended Board actions; conducts financial reviews of vendors/lessees/service providers to ensure full income/expense disclosure.
• Monitors and plans cash availability for the County's General Fund to ensure sufficient cash to meet daily needs; determines cash needs; prepares and processes necessary cash loans and repayments; reviews and prepares interfund loans as directed by management; calculates and prepares interest charges on internal cash flow loans.
• Analyzes daily cash variances; reports cash balances and major receipts and disbursements to County executive management for the General Fund and other major funds.
• Prepares monthly cash flow projections for the General Fund; monitors the flow of budgeted revenue and expenditures.
• Advises and consults with management concerning the development of departmental operating and program budgets, revenue producing or debt service proposals, as well as the accounting and financial implications of existing and projected departmental activities.
• Provides up-to-date detailed cost accounting information for budgeting and cost control purposes; assists program/division managers with budget preparation and monitoring; analyzes and explains variances, reports on irregularities, and prepares correction action plans for budget over-runs.
• Develops, reviews or adjusts the bases and techniques (models) used to develop realistic estimates of actual costs; recommends fees and service rates based on analysis of complex cost components, past utilization trends and impact on fund balances or retained earnings.
• Assumes responsibility for operational administration of the department's or agency's cost allocations; monitors appropriations and adjusts as necessary.
• Prepares Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) financial statements and Notes disclosures for assigned departments or agencies to ensure full and accurate disclosure; reviews and provides support for program specific accounting transactions; responds to inquiries from auditors and other agencies.
• Coordinates, reviews and compiles consolidated State and federal financial statements and reports including the CAFR, State Controller Annual Statement of Transactions, and Department Budget Report of Revenues and Expenditures.
• Performs fiscal management systems administration, systems interface and budget formulation in preparing and submitting the Annual Recommended and Adopted Budget to the Board of Supervisors and State Controller.
• Directs or conducts cost, revenue and accounting systems and procedures studies; writes reports of findings and secures approval for implementation of recommendations.
• Serves as lead fiscal grant administrator for multi-agency grants or capital projects; reviews and tracks costs and claims to ensure compliance with funding agreements; prepares consolidated claims/reports and allocates funds accordingly.
• Scopes, develops work plan, summarizes and consolidates monthly and semi-annual reporting for assigned grant programs; generates the fiscal portion of Change in Scope and Grant Applications; draws grant funding and prepares and submits cash flow reporting to same.
• Reviews and analyzes accounting records and fiscal activities to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting/program/legal requirements, and to identify issues, trends, and patterns; writes narrative reports and submits to management.
• Prepares complex financial statements and reports for outside governing or regulatory agencies and boards.
• Creates financial reporting templates, procedures and analytical tools used to instruct/train fiscal staff.
• Establishes and maintains general and subsidiary accounts and related ledgers including revenue and disbursement; reconciles various accounting reports to the County's general ledger; gathers, compiles, and prepares financial and statistical reports to county, state, and federal agencies.
• Reviews financial documents such as vouchers, purchase orders, and invoices to ensure that proper cost centers are charged, that expenditures and revenues are recorded in the proper classification, and that purchases and other transactions by the department are proper in accordance with their approved budget; determines the level and appropriateness of year-end closing accruals, prepayments, deferrals, depreciation, or adjustments.
• Prepares the Agency's annual Indirect Cost Rate Plan and Rates and Fees.
• Interprets and applies laws and regulations governing assigned tasks/duties.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

• Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; 

• Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, including preparation of financial statements; OR two (2) years as an Accountant II for the County of Ventura.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Intermediate skill with Microsoft Excel.
• Must possess a valid California driver license.
• Must be willing and able to work in a law enforcement agency/environment.
• Must be willing and able to travel regularly throughout Ventura County and California.
• Must be willing and able to complete an extensive background process successfully.

• Experience with governmental accounting.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field and/or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• Experience working with law enforcement agencies.
• The ability to communicate effectively in large group settings with staff, executives and various stakeholders.
• Experience with leading continuous process improvements, i.e., Lean Six Sigma.

Education/Experience Substitution:
Professional level accounting experience may be substituted for up to two (2) years of undergraduate education on a year-for-year basis, provided the candidate possesses at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Verification of the required college degree and college-level coursework is required.  Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect the date your degree was conferred and passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted to County Human Resources prior to the closing date of this recruitment.  If they are not submitted, your application will be screened out and you will not be allowed to continue in the process - no exceptions.  Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.  Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

You must submit this documentation with your application, a hard copy with a paper application or a scanned copy as an attachment for an online application.  If you submit a hard copy with a paper application, be sure it's a copy.  Whatever you submit will not be returned to you.  To attach a scanned copy to an online application, use the Add Attachment(s) link in the Attachments section at the bottom of the page where you can edit the various sections of your application.

If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program in assigned area; Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), practices, and standards; governmental accounting and auditing standards and guidelines; budgeting methods and processes; principles and practices of cost model development; principles and practices of cost accounting; laws and regulations affecting the financial operations of governmental and departmental operations; principles and practices of cash flow management; and, principles of business management; data processing systems applicable to accounting operations.

Some knowledge of: principles of supervision, training, discipline and performance evaluation.

Skill in: developing costing models and performing complex cost allocations; preparing and reviewing complex fiscal documents and reports; research and analysis; using initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines; use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to the work performed.

Ability to: prepare financial reports and statements; understand interrelationships among financial/accounting records and documents; analyze financial/accounting data and draw logical conclusions; understand, interpret and apply a variety of complex rules, regulations, contracts or legal documents in proper accounting context; organize and prioritize work assignments; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

This is a continuous recruitment and can be closed at any time; therefore, it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. The schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.  If interested, please click here for additional information.

Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire in order to determine eligibility.  A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying:  All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related written examination will be conducted to evaluate the candidates' knowledge of accounting principles, financial accounting and reporting, and budgeting. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies for this position or similar only.  There are currently two (2) Regular vacancies within the Ventura County Probation Agency.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:  A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record is required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jessica Ruiz by e-mail at jessica.ruiz@ventura.org or telephone at (805) 654-2419.