Senior Accounting Officer (Specialist)
Who are we?
The California State Auditor ensures the effective and efficient use and management of public funds and programs. We provide nonpartisan, accurate, and timely assessments of California government's financial and operational activities. Our work results in truthful, balanced, and unbiased information with recommendations for actions that lead to improving government operations.
Why should you join us?
- You want to make a difference for Californians and future generations, and make sure California government is effectively serving its people.
- You are highly collaborative, solution-oriented, and a strong communicator.
- You have a strong work ethic and thrive when working under pressure.
- You possess knowledge and experience processing invoices, travel expense claims and CalCard purchases.
- You have experience preparing year-end financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and state reporting procedures and policies.
- You desire an annual salary range of $ 70,260- $ 87,948.
What is the position?
Under general direction of an Accounting Administrator II, the Senior Accounting Officer independently performs the more difficult professional accounting duties. Specifically, the Senior Accounting Officer will:
- Process vendor payments including matching invoices with authorizing documents, obtaining approval for payment and resolving invoice disputes.
- Independently performs monthly payroll process, including preparing checks for salary advances, tracking and collecting accounts receivable, and payroll distribution.
- Provide accurate and timely customized reports and financial data to management and program staff.
- Process travel expense claims including performing compliance reviews with state and office travel policies, issuing travel advances, and reconciling advances with actual expenses.
- Update travel policies and procedures ensuring compliance with state and Office policies.
- Provides training to staff related to travel policies and procedures.
- Leads staff in making user changes to the travel booking system and reconciles booking data with accounting system and other tracking systems.
- Plans, develops, and performs accounting system tests and makes sound recommendations for any program upgrades/changes to improve business processes.
- Serves as a subject matter expert in the implementation of new processes or systems including travel systems, CalCard program, and 1099 processing.
- Researches and resolves sensitive complex issues related to accounting transactions to ensure that accounting and reporting activities comply with state and Office policies.
- You have working knowledge and experience with financial, government, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) accounting functions.
- You have experience preparing monthly closing procedures and year-end financial statements.
- You have experience applying state travel program rules and policies.
- You have knowledge and experience processing complex vendor invoices and tracking related contract balances.
- You possess strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to self-manage in an environment with multiple projects with moving deadlines.
- You have the ability to develop strong working relationships and to interact with individuals at all levels in a professional manner.
- You have the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
- Take the State exam for the Senior Accounting Officer (Specialist). If you are a current state employee with transfer eligibility, you can skip this step.
- Submit a completed State of California job application (STD. 678) and a copy of your resume.
- Submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) responding to the question below using specific examples of your education, training and experience. Your responses will help us determine who to interview for the position. Create a document using a word processing application such as Microsoft Word, and limit your response to one page . We may not consider applications that do not include responses to the questions.
- Describe a time when you became aware of a potential problem, and resolved it before it became an issue.
Who are you?
How do I join?
The California State Auditor is part of the merit-based California civil service selection system. To complete this process, you must do the following:
You can submit your complete application package via your CalCareer account or by mail:
California State Auditor
Human Resources Office
621 Capitol Mall, Suite 1200
Sacramento, California 95814
The Fine Print:
This position is eligible for participation in the office's hybrid telework program. Work at the alternate work location must be in California and conducted in a space that is ergonomically sound, private, distraction-free, and has safe working conditions to be eligible to telework.
Any applicant receiving a conditional job offer will be subject to a background check, fingerprinting and an inquiry to the California Department of Justice to disclose criminal records prior to appointment. State Auditor's Office employees are excluded from collective bargaining. The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free state work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the state, the rules governing civil service and the special trust placed in public servants. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. The California State Auditor's Office is not an E-Verify employer.