Financial Systems Analyst I

Salary : $110,258.72 - $132,899.52 Annually
Location : Santa Barbara, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-3510-01 (O)
Department: Multiple Departments
Opening Date: 10/02/2026
Closing Date: 10/23/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Description
Salary:

Financial Systems Analysts I: $110,258.72 - $132,899.52 Annually

Financial Systems Analysts II: $115,498.24 - $139,299.68 Annually

The County of Santa Barbara seeks a Financial Systems Analysts I/II who has a solid background in technology and finance. We are establishing one employment list to fill current and future vacancies for full-time and part-time positions. The current vacancy is within the Behavioral Wellness Department, located in Santa Barbara, CA. This will be a flexibly hybrid position.
In this role, you will participate in and coordinate the design, testing, implementation, and evaluation of both automated and manual financial accounting systems. Additionally, you will be responsible for supporting system processes, resolving issues, and improving workflows as part of an innovative and collaborative team.
Listed below are department descriptions for the three departments that have this position:
The Behavioral Wellness Department was founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers. For more information, please visit:


The Auditor-Controller's Office is one of the most innovative, efficient, and effective departments in local government. This position is a great opportunity for an experienced problem solver who is detail-oriented, enjoys data and technology, and desires a rewarding career in public service - where your job makes a difference.

The Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator is responsible to the voters of Santa Barbara County to receive, safeguard, and invest county, school, and special district funds; to collect property and other taxes and revenues; to administer decedents' estates and public conservatorships for county residents; and to assist county veterans in obtaining State and Federal Benefits.

BENEFITS: For more information on County benefits, please click In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS : Financial Systems Analyst I/II is a flexibly staffed series. Incumbents learn County accounting policies and procedures and the operation of existing accounting systems and provide functional supervision over professional, technical, and clerical accounting staff and systems analysis and programming staff.

Financial Systems Analyst I is the entry-level class, in which incumbents are responsible for coordinating the design, modification, and implementation of smaller or less complex systems or processes, involving only one or a small number of departments. Incumbents are expected to progress to the II level within a reasonable period of time.

Financial Systems Analyst II is distinguished by its responsibility for coordinating the design, modification, and implementation of a full range of financial accounting systems, including large, complex, Countywide systems, such as the Financial Management Information System.

The Financial Systems Analyst class series is distinguished from the Accountant-Auditor class series and from the EDP Systems and Programming Analyst class series in that incumbents integrate their knowledge of systems analysis and design methods, computer application systems and development procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards to develop, modify, and implement financial accounting systems.

Examples of Duties

1. Evaluates manual and automated financial accounting work processes, systems, and procedures for efficiency of workflow and conformance to principles of government accounting; gathers information on processes, organizational structure, policies and procedures, and computer technology; identifies needed process improvements and analyzes system design alternatives for new financial accounting systems and improvements to existing systems.
2. Obtains input and feedback on system needs from appropriate parties; assigns and reviews the work of accounting and systems analysis and programming staff in developing or modifying systems; interacts with staff to resolve issues and problems related to platforms and data communications; conducts or obtains evaluations of system performance and makes modifications or adjustments as necessary.
3. Reviews and evaluates proposals for new departmental systems involving financial accounting methods, policies, and procedures, and recommends needed improvements; evaluates internal controls and security of new and existing automated accounting applications to ensure adherence to auditing standards; monitors the procurement, development, and implementation of those systems to ensure proper integration with other financial accounting systems; assists departmental staff in the ongoing maintenance of accounting information systems.
4. Prepares and presents comprehensive evaluations, proposals, and recommendations to executive management, advisory committees, and elected officials; prepares specifications and documentation, such as user manuals and systems/code documentation, for new and revised computerized accounting systems.

Employment Standards

1. Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant; AND one year of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or computer programmer analyst that included participation in the design of financial accounting systems; OR,
2. Possession of a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, computer science, or a related field, AND two years of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or computer programmer analyst that included participation in the design of financial accounting systems; OR,
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, including internal control systems; Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; methods of systems analysis and computer systems design; computer programming principles; applications development procedures; relational databases and database design methods; principles and practices of project management; standard English usage and grammar.
Ability to: gather and analyze data, develop solutions, project consequences, and evaluate results; plan, organize, and prioritize work; establish and maintain working relationships with a variety of County staff and vendors; interact with staff with limited computer knowledge; prepare a variety of written documents; make presentations to groups; maintain impartiality and objectivity; learn principles of governmental accounting and County accounting policies and procedures; provide direction to others.

Supplemental Information
Recruitment Process

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Application Ranking : Candidates that meet the employment standards will have their application evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the information provided on their application that demonstrates the skillset outlined in the ideal candidate section. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must pass every step in the selection process and receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the application ranking assessment to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.
Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process . Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.


Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.


Statement of Commitment
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.


APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Friday, October 23, 2026 at 4:59PM PST; Postmarks are not accepted. Applications and job postings can be obtained 24 hours a day at
Collin Graham: View email address on click.appcast.io
Retirement Plans

• Generous County Defined Benefit Plan
• Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
• Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans
• For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: and

Health Benefits

• Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums
• On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members
• Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits
• Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more!
• For more information on our health benefits, please visit:

Paid Time Off

• Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
• Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement
• Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below)
• Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting
• For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below)

Miscellaneous Benefits

• County Paid Term Life Insurance
• County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
• Childcare and Employee Discounts
• Relocation Assistance may apply
• Flexible work schedule may apply
• For more information on all of these benefits, please visit:

Compensation Summary

• To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit:

*This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.
01


Below is a list of departments and may have a description of type of work and environment as a Financial System Analyst I. Please check which department(s) you would want to be considered to work for. Please keep in mind that during the life of the employment list, some of these departments may not have vacancies that arise. This is your only opportunity to make your selection. Please note that the current vacancies are in the Behavioral Wellness Department.

• Auditor-Controller's Office:
• Behavioral Wellness:
• Treasurer-Tax Collector:

02


If you are applying for the Behavioral Wellness Department, do you have professional experience working in a behavioral health setting?

• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable. I did not select the Behavioral Wellness Department.

03


To be considered for this position your application must CLEARLY state how you meet each of the requirements under EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS on the Job Bulletin or you will not be considered for this position. If you are unsure, go back and review your application before continuing. Which Employment Standard do you meet and clearly state on your application?

• Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant; AND one year of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or computer programmer analyst that participation in the design of financial accounting systems.
• Possession of a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, computer science, or a related field; AND two years of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or computer programmer analyst that included participation in the design of financial accounting systems.
• A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• None of the above - I do not meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

04


If you selected the third option in question 5, "a combination of training, education, and experience...", describe in detail how your training, education, and experience is equivalent to the employment standard on the job posting. If you did not select that option, type "N/A."
05


Which of the following best describes your years of experience participating in the design of financial accounting systems?

• Two (2) or more years of experience participating in the design of financial accounting systems.
• One (1) year of experience, but less than two (2) years participating in the design of financial accounting systems.
• Less than one (1) year of experience participating in the design of financial accounting systems.
• None of the above. I do not possess experience participating in the design of financial accounting systems.

06


Describe in detail your professional experience in the design of financial accounting systems. Include all employer name(s), duration of employment, title(s), and responsibilities. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A".
07


Do you have an international degree? If yes, please attach your documentation from Evaluation Service that shows you meet the education U.S. standard and your transcripts. Below is a link to a list of Evaluation Services you can use. You are required to attach to your application at the time you apply.

• Yes, I do have international degree and attached required documents.
• I have international degree, but do not have the required documents. I understand that I do not qualify.
• Not applicable.

08


I understand that the Civil Service Examination for this recruitment is an Application Ranking Assessment, and the information provided on my application will be used as a weighed, scored selection device that will determine my ranking on the employment list for this job classification. I understand that the Application Ranking criteria will be based on the ideal candidate section on the job bulletin. I understand that the raters will not have access to my demographics, resume, cover letters, attachments, or responses to my supplemental questionnaire when evaluating and scoring my application. For information on protest procedures for the supplemental questionnaire, please see Civil Service Rules 612 and 613:

• I understand it is my responsibility to provide complete information on my application, and I agree to the terms of the Application Ranking Assessment.

Required Question