Accountant I/II - County Executive's Office (Open and Promotional)

Description

The County Executive's Office Finance Team is seeking well-qualified and highly motivated candidates with high standards of accuracy, exceptional attention to detail, and highly effective organizational skills for the position of Accountant I/II.

The Finance Team's work directly supports essential community programs and services, and offers exposure to high-level budgeting, forecasting, and policy-driven financial decisions that impact a large and diverse population. Working in this environment provides the chance to collaborate with other County Departments and contribute to transparent, accountable stewardship of public funds. The County's reputation for innovation and strong fiscal management makes this an ideal place to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact.

Successful candidates will be self-motivated, experienced, and effective communicators with the ability to work effectively in a high-volume and fast-paced environment while managing multiple tasks simultaneously.

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

• Review accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and calculation and make correcting entries.
• Examine supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal regulations.
• Prepare and maintain control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
• Prepare trial balances and coordinate and calculate periodic closings.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger, journals, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
• Compile and prepare general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
• Assist in and/or coordinate the preparation and analysis of budgets for departmental and County funds.
• Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts and prepare and coordinate budget appropriation transfers.
• Confer with departmental representatives and provide information regarding budgeting and accounting processes.
• Analyze and prepare varied financial statements and reports.
• Apportion monies including secured, unsecured, impounded, redeemed, and other taxes.
• Review and approve claims for referral of tax, grant, or other monies and prepare claims for reimbursement from various state or funding agencies and/or programs.
• Maintain varied departmental cost accounting records, disbursing funds to various accounts and/or billing for reimbursements as required.
• Analyze programs and legislation to determine fiscal and budgetary impact and prepare budgetary appropriation transfers and supplemental budgets.
• Review and recommend modifications to existing or creation of accounting systems and procedures.
• May assist with or coordinate the automation of manual accounting systems.
• Provide technical support to internal and outside auditors and governmental program auditors.
• May plan, direct, review, and evaluate the work of fiscal office support staff on a project or day-to-day basis and may train staff in work 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 qualify is:

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  Accountant I: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or a closely related field. Sub-professional accounting support work may be substituted for the education on a year for year basis to a maximum of two years.
  
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  Accountant II: Two years of accounting experience, preferably in a governmental or public agency.
  

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

Knowledge of:

• 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.
• Applicable laws regulating public fiscal operations.
• Budgeting principles and terminology.
• Basic auditing and financial reconciliation principles and methods.

Skill/Ability to:

• Review, analyze, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
• Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements.
• Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
• Direct the work of others on a project or day to day basis.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations.

Depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate, this vacancy could be filled at the Accountant I or the Accountant II level.

Accountant I is the entry level class of the professional accounting series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents perform the more routine duties while learning County policies and procedures and becoming familiar with the variety of departmental systems and practices. As experience is gained, duties become more diversified and are performed under more general supervision. This class is flexibly staffed with Accountant II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher-level class. The annual salary range for the Accountant I classification is: $78,978 - $98,758.

Accountant II is the journey level class in this series, competent to independently perform the full range of accounting duties. Successful performance requires a thorough knowledge of governmental accounting procedures, the ability to exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines and may involve skill in directing the work of support staff. The annual salary range for the Accountant II classification is: $92.352 - $115,440.

The Eligible List created from this recruitment will be used to fill this current vacancy and could be used to fill future regular, unclassified, extra-help, and limited term vacancies.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, extra-help, or limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

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 https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

Thorough and detailed responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (pass/fail) based on the candidate's application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include a short-written exam administered immediately preceding the interview. 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 .

All applicants who meet 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.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule
Final Filing Date for Applications: May 21, 2026, by 11:59 PM
Application Screening: May 26-28, 2026
Civil Service Interviews: June 10, 2026

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 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 committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Chet Overstreet (05082026) (Accountant I/II - E030/E011)

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• County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

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