Principal Accountant/Auditor*

The Job

Interested in this role You can find all the relevant information in the description below.

• The Auditor-Controller / Treasurer / Tax Collector office and the Human Services Auditing Division is recruiting for Principal Accountant / Auditors who perform the most complex professional accounting duties requiring preparation and interpretation of financial statements and reports;
• establishes new accounting procedures and controls; performs the most complex operational audits of departments, special districts, and programs;

analyzes and advises management on a variety of fiscal matters.

Primary Accounting and / or Auditing duties may include :

• Works as a lead accountant in the Auditor-Controller / Treasurer / Tax Collector’s Internal Audits Division Controller or Property Tax Divisions or Human Services Auditing Division performing the most high-level and complex accounting duties, which vary based on assignment.
• Research proposed and new auditing and accounting legislation, procedures and determines the departmental impact and presents recommendations to management.
• Prepares or verifies a variety of complex accounting, statistical and narrative financial statements and reports requiring extensive analysis and interpretation of data.
• Gathers, analyzes, and evaluates diverse accounting data; develops trends, forecasts, and projections; based on analysis, makes recommendations on the fiscal operation of a department.
• Consults with and advises departmental management and accounting / fiscal personnel on a variety of fiscal and operating matters.
• Advises officials and management on accounting standards and procedures and on a variety of accounting and budgetary problems.
• Trains subordinates; provides input on work performance evaluations; recommends disciplinary actions.
• Performs special research projects, creates procedures, determines the county-wide impact, and presents recommendations to management.
• Performs detail testing, utilizing statistical sampling techniques when appropriate, to verify accuracy of data and effectiveness of accounting procedures and controls.
• Assesses the quality of performance of the property tax, general accounting, and cost accounting activities and identifies opportunities for improvement.
• Reviews and analyzes proposed or adopted legislation’s (relating to financial, governmental, and tax accounting) impacts on county or group functions;

formulates and recommends the group's reaction to such legislation; initiates new legislation as appropriate; interprets existing legislation and ensures cost / effective compliance throughout the group.

• Conducts the most complex operational, and compliance audits of all departments, Board-governed special districts, and grants.
• Determines scope of audit in consultation with management and within the constraints of time and staff available; prepares audit program.
• Performs special research projects and assists external auditors in the preparation, audit, and issuance of various consolidated County financial statements.
• Assesses the quality of performance of the internal audit activity and identifies opportunities for improvement.
• Performs the most complex fiscal monitoring reviews of sub-recipients and vendors. Answers contractors’ technical questions regarding compliance with contract provisions, and state and federal regulations.

Responds to contractors’ request for budget revision.

• Documents unfavorable findings in workpapers and makes specific recommendations according to the Institute of Internal Auditors standards (IIA Redbook).
• Confers with management regarding audit findings and specific accounting problems. Interprets funding regulations and provides technical financial guidance.
• Documents audit and fiscal monitoring testing and conclusion in work-papers and makes specific recommendation for corrective actions relating to any unfavorable conclusion or for improvement of controls or operations.
• Reviews annual and single audit reports for findings and corrective actions. Reviews and evaluates cost allocation plans for appropriateness and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Coordinates all County External Audit contracts for audit activities with ATC and other County entities.
• Oversees the management of the case referrals from the ATC Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline.
• Writes draft and final audit reports, incorporating comments of the audited activity's management; makes recommendations and findings and ensures proper distribution of reports.
• Conducts in entrance and exit conferences with review or audit clients.
• Assigns segments of audits to subordinate Accountant / Auditors and determines scope of and approach to audits in consultation with management.

COMPETITIVE SALARY & BENEFITS

Annual Across the Board Salary Increases on February 2024 / 25 / 26*

Bi-annual step increases of 2.5% up to Step 14

Auditing Pay Differential - 2.0% above base rate of pay. (ATC and HS only)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Travel : Travel throughout the County is required. Incumbents will be required to make provision for transportation. At time of hire, a valid California Class C driver license and proof of automobile liability insurance must be produced for the individual providing the transportation.

Sponsorship : San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.

• Salary increases contingent upon Property Related Revenue and / or statewide Realignment Sales Tax Collections performance.
• Classification contingent upon Board approval.

Minimum Requirements

REQUIRED : EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Must possess b achelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or closely related field .

Substitution : An active California Certified Public Accountant license may substitute for the education requirements. You must list your license on the license / certification section on your application.

EXPERIENCE

Must possess three (3) years of professional-level auditing or accounting experience.

IMPORTANT NOTES : EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE

Professional-level experience is defined as occupations that require specialized knowledge usually acquired through principal work experience.

Clerical / bookkeeping experience is not considered qualifying.

EDUCATION

Qualifying degrees or coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Degrees or coursework completed outside the U.S. must be accompanied with an evaluation report from a reputable credential evaluation service showing equivalency to degrees or coursework completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Must be attached if applicable.) Click here for more information on evaluation services.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, extensive governmental accounting / auditing experience and possess one of the following designations : California Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner or Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Selection Process

Examination Procedure :

There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire;

therefore, it is to your advantage to provide as much relevant and detailed work experience as possible , as resumes will not be reviewed in lieu of the application materials.

Application Procedure :

Complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire as soon as possible as this recruitment may close at any time .

To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the posted filing deadline.

Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline.

Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and / or print these for your records.

Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.

If you require technical assistance , please click HERE to review the Government Jobs online application guide or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627.

Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer or browser used to submit the application.

EEO / ADA : San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.

ADA Accommodation : If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.

Veterans’ Preference : Eligible veterans and their spouse or widow(er) who are not current County employees may be awarded additional Veterans’ Preference points.

Click here for information and instructions to request Veteran's Preference points.

For important information on employment processes and submitting job applications, see links below :

Guide to Completing a County Job Application

Applicant Information and the County Employment Process

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