Senior Accountant - Controller's Office (Open and Promotional)

Salary : $113,256.00 - $141,648.00 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: E009AX
Department: Controller's Office
Opening Date: 02/06/2026
Bargaining Unit: 35


Description


Are you interested in enhancing your accounting skills in a comprehensive work environment that provides high-quality training, welcomes diversity, and strives for inclusion? Are you open to working in a constant learning environment and enhancing your accounting skills? Do you want a "bird's eye" view of the accounting processes across a complex government organization with distinct departments?


If the answer to any of these questions is "yes" this position may be for you. The County of San Mateo is seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Senior Accountant - Controller's Office .


Senior Accountants in the Controller's Office exercise a high degree of independent judgment on diverse and specialized projects and have significant accountability and ongoing decision-making associated with their work. While overseeing a significant accounting functional area, Senior Accountants perform complex professional accounting work relative to centralized and/or departmental County accounting procedures and records, and may direct the work of accounting professionals and support staff.


The current vacancies are in the General Accounting and Accounts Payable Division of the Controller's Office. This division is responsible for preparing Countywide financial reports, the State Controller's Transactions report, and Budget Schedules, reviewing capital assets, and completing journal entries and month-end and year-end closing. The Division also responds to accounting questions from County departments. The Senior Accountant - Controller's Office position offers an exceptional opportunity to be a part of an office that is committed to ethics, equity, and accountability.


The ideal candidate for the Senior Accountant - Controller's Office position will have:

• Three to five years of journey-level accounting experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a proven ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers and stakeholders.
• Excellent technical skills in accounting, internal controls, and research analysis.
• Knowledge of GAAP.
• Experience in day-to-day governmental accounting and reporting.
• Experience supervising fiscal staff.
• Experience with project management.
• The ability to identify and implement process improvements.
• The ability to work independently, problem solve, and exercise sound judgment within established guidelines.
• Experience in accounting, including financial statements and auditing.

Because of the comprehensive work completed in the Controller's Office, Senior Accountants are often able to leverage their experience toward promotional opportunities throughout the County. Controller's Office experienced employees are highly desired by other County departments. The County of San Mateo offers competitive salaries and benefits, including an extensive wellness program and a solid pension plan. The County of San Mateo is a leader in addressing many pressing issues, including the response to COVID-19, homelessness, health care inequity, and the disenfranchisement of underrepresented populations. County employees play a key role in helping to solve these issues, which positively impact the lives of County residents.

NOTE: This position is based entirely onsite and does not include remote work options.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

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

• Recommend the selection of professional staff and provide direction, supervision, training, work review, and/or evaluation of assigned professional and fiscal support staff on a project or ongoing basis.
• Train fiscal staff of other departments in accounting and system procedures.
• Coordinate and calculate month-end and year-end closings.
• Prepare journal entries and periodic reconciliations of general ledger, journal, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
• Compile and prepare financial statements, general and subsidiary ledgers, and supporting schedules; maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts.
• Maintain varied departmental cost accounting records, disbursing funds to various accounts and/or billings for reimbursement as required.
• Provide technical support to internal auditors and governmental program auditors.
• Analyze programs and legislation to determine fiscal impact.
• Review and recommend improvements to accounting systems and procedures, and implement new or modified systems and procedures upon approval.
• Coordinate the development of updated procedures and procedural manuals and implement changes.
• Review documentation for accuracy and conformance to legal and procedural requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of accounting and reporting requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Recommend accounting and reports changes to ensure compliance with governmental requirements and regulations.
• Represent the department in responding to inquiries concerning accounting methods and procedures, confer with department personnel on accounting questions and problems, and explain the implications of complex accounting matters to non-financial managers and decision makers.
• Make verbal presentations and conduct trainings regarding accounting policies and procedures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Experience and Education:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skills is:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field and one year of journey-level accounting experience.


This classification requires the successful completion of a minimum of twelve semester units of college-level accounting coursework.

Knowledge of :

• Basic supervisory principles and practices.
• Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund, and governmental accounting.
• Principles and practices of business data processing, particularly as related to the processing of accounting information.
• Principles of public finance.
• Applicable laws regulating public fiscal operations.
• Budgeting principles and terminology.
• Auditing and financial reconciliation principles and methods.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, direct, review, and evaluate the work of assigned support staff.
• Train others in work procedures.
• Review, analyze, post, balance, interpret, and reconcile complex financial data and accounts.
• Develop and implement accounting systems and procedures.
• Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
• Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements.
• Interpret and apply complex financial procedures and legal documents.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established policy guidelines.
• Prepare and direct the preparation of clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements, audit reports and audit work papers.
• Make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the San Mateo County Human Resources Department.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Continuous
Application Screening: TBD
Civil Service Panel Interview: TBD

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.
Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (02062026) (Senior Accountant - Exempt E009)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01



IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.

• I have read, and I understand.

02


This classification requires the successful completion of at least twelve (12) semester units of college-level accounting coursework. Do you have 12 college-level units of accounting coursework? (A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

03


This classification requires the successful completion of at least twelve (12) semester units of college-level units of accounting coursework. Please provide the following information regarding your coursework: a) Course Titlesb) Units received c) Institution d) Completion date (Failure to list information regarding your coursework may disqualify you from this recruitment.)
04


Describe your specific experience with research and/or financial analysis.
05


Describe two of your experiences, specially to the areas below. 1. Reviewing and processing journal entries for:a) Reclassificationb) Interfund transferc) Distribution from trust fund2. Capital assets:a) Work-in-Progress (WIP) or Software Project-in-Progress (SPIP)b) Building, Equipment, Software
06


Describe your experience with system or software implementation(s) that you have implemented (as the lead) or a member of the implementation team, specifically to the areas below. a) Objective of the System or softwareb) Your rolec) Project development and implementation
07


Describe your experience with Accounts Payable process, specifically to the areas below. 1. Reviewing and Payment of these two forms of invoices: a) Invoice for goodsb) Invoice for Services2. Communication to a County Department or Requestor (not vendor) of the payments.
08


Describe your supervising experience specifically to the areas below. a) Number of staff and position.b) Monitoring of staff performance.c) Feedback to staff for improvement.d) Disciplinary actions and recruitments.
09


How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

10


If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question