Principal Accountant - County of Riverside
Riverside, CA 92501
About the Job
Public Health has an opportunity for a Principal Accountant who will be assigned to the Finance and Business Division located in Riverside.
Under direction, plans, organizes, and directs the fiscal, accounting, and auditing activities of a large County department or assists in the management of a major division of the Auditor-Controller's Office; directs the establishment, maintenance, and review of accounting and fiscal records; supervises the preparation of complex reports; and performs other related duties as required.
The Principal Accountant is the first management level classification in the professional Accountant series and reports to a manager or director level position. When used in operating departments, it is characterized by its emphasis on management of a large and diversified accounting division with a sizable staff, including subordinate lead or supervisory professional and fiscal clerical accounting positions, which have responsibility over various accounting functions or projects. In a division of the Auditor-Controller's Office, this class directs difficult accounting or auditing work involving the fiscal activities of several County departments and assists in the management of various functional units within the division.
The Principal Accountant is distinguished from Supervising Accountant classification in that the latter is the full supervisory level in the series and is further distinguished from the next higher level of Chief Accountant in that the latter has major division head responsibility in the Auditor-Controller's Office.
This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311(C) of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.
Advancement to the next level if obtained by competitive selection through an open recruitment.
The most desired candidates will possess the following:
- Excellent team player
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to make good business relationships
- Knowledge of both inter/intra fund accounting
- Understanding of budget process
- Strong analytical skills
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate through subordinate supervisors the establishment, review, revision, and daily operation of a departmental accounting function or a major division of the Auditor-Controller's Office.
• Determine how the departmental or division accounting management program should be structured and how accounting principles should be applied.
• Supervise specialized audits in the Auditor-Controller's Office of the fiscal records and accounting procedures in various County departments, divisions, and agencies.
• Participate in the selection, training, and evaluation of subordinate professional accounting and fiscal clerical personnel; coordinate accounting functions with data processing systems.
• Evaluate, develop, recommend, and coordinate implementation of computer applications to accounting systems and procedures.
• Supervise and participate in the development and maintenance of systems forms for fiscal transactions, recordkeeping and budgetary controls; supervise and perform analysis of complex fiscal recordkeeping systems and procedures.
• Provide technical guidance, direction, and training to subordinate staff performing complex accounting and auditing work, including computer applications.
• Review laws, legislation, and policies to ensure compliance and to determine impact on accounting procedures and recommend changes where appropriate.
• Coordinate the work of subordinate staff with other sections, departments, or outside fiscal intermediaries; assist in the budget preparation process.
• Confer with and advise department and other officials on a variety of accounting and budgetary matters.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting, or another field of study that included at least 18 semester or 27 quarter units in accounting, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, financial statement analysis, or external and internal reporting. (One year as a professional accountant with the County of Riverside may substitute for the 18 semester or 27 quarter units of specialized coursework.)
Experience: Three years as a professional accountant, including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity over other professional accountants.
OPTION II
Certificate: Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
Experience: Three years as a professional accountant, including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity over other professional accountants.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: The principles and techniques of supervision; the theory, principles, and practices of general and governmental accounting, budgeting, and auditing; state and local codes, rules, and regulations influencing County fiscal operations; data processing systems and their application to accounting operations; the methods of developing systems forms for various types of accounting records and reports; the principles, methods, and techniques of public administration, personnel, and business office management.
Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct a complex accounting or auditing program; evaluate and supervise the work of subordinate staff; apply legal and administrative accounting policies to general County accounting systems; analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and recommend effective courses of action; communicate effectively in oral and written form; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Supplemental information
Condition of Employment
In accordance with the California Department of Public Health Order dated January 26, 2022, all healthcare workers currently eligible to receive the booster must comply and receive the booster by March 1, 2022, or within 15 days of becoming eligible for the booster.
The Order allows for workers to be exempt from the vaccination requirements by providing the facility with a declination form signed by the individual stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs; or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reasons. Workers who are exempted from the vaccination requirements must observe all other infection control requirements, including face coverings and regular COVID testing at the frequency required by their work site.
A requirement of employment is to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a completed COVID-19 Vaccination Declination form (filled out by the candidate and their medical provider as appropriate), during the pre-employment process. Failure to submit the required documentation may render a candidate ineligible to move forward in the process.
Veterans 'Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans 'preference. See the policy here: https://www.rivcocob.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/C-3-Veterans-Preference-Program.pdf
Other Requirements:
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License will be required.
What's Next?
This recruitment is opened to all applicants. Applicants who are current employees of the Riverside University Health System may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.
Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.
Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or ( NACES ) Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AIC).
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
For questions regarding this recruitment:
Please contact DeNeen Culberson at dculberson@rivco.org with any questions regarding this recruitment.
MEDICAL/DENTAL INSURANCE: A Flexible Benefit Credit is provided on a monthly basis as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit. Vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP) at no cost to employee or eligible dependents.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
- Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
- Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
- Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
401(a) MONEY PURCHASE PLAN: County contribution of $50 per pay period towards choice between two 401(a) plan providers.
ANNUAL LEAVE (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0 < 36 months = 8.92 Hours
36 to <108>108 or more months = 12.00 Hours
Maximum Annual Leave accumulation is 1,800 hours. Employee may receive pay in lieu of up to 80 hours per calendar year. Agency/Department Head may approve an additional 80 hours.
ANNUAL LEAVE for Unrepresented Management Attorneys: Effective July 12, 2012, the specific affected Unrepresented Management Attorney classifications as stated in Article 22 of the Management Resolution will receive an additional 4 hours per pay period to their Annual Leave accrual. This additional leave accrual will expire at the end of the last pay period in June 2014. In addition, the maximum accrual for Annual Leave (or vacation) will be raised by 200 hours for eligible employees only. Maximum Annual Leave accumulation is 2,000 hours.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 days can be taken through use of accrued leave balances).
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD): Benefit pays 66.67% of earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month; 30-day waiting period; pays to age 65. Benefit can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of pay.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, Management Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.