Accountant-Auditor I

Accountant-Auditor I: $77,311.52 - $92,728.48 Annually

Entry-Level Accountant-Auditor I position with an opportunity for career advancement!

The Office of the Auditor-Controller is seeking an entry-level Accountant-Auditor to take part in the New Auditor Training and Development Program in Santa Barbara. The New Auditor Training and Development Program (NATD) provides a unique opportunity for entry-level Accountant-Auditors. Not only does it provide a useful overview of the Auditor-Controller’s Office, but it also provides an understanding of the role of the Auditor-Controller’s Office within the county organization. The NATD Program rotates new Accountant-Auditors over a 2 to 4-year period (depending on the candidate’s professional track) through the divisions within the Office of the Auditor-Controller to gain experience in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.

For more information about the Office of the Auditor-Controller, please check their website at: https://countyofsb.org/auditor/

We are currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time vacancy in Santa Barbara, CA. We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list for future Full-Time, Part-Time, Extra-Help (temporary) and 1414 vacancies.

Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination process but may not be considered for appointment until they have attained the required degree.

After a reasonable training and orientation period, the incumbent may be offered a hybrid work schedule and/or flexible workweek in accordance with our office policy. However, it is required that the incumbent be within reasonable travel distance to accommodate regular and infrequent in-person meetings and to support the in-office team culture.

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

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

ACCOUNTANT-AUDITOR I is the entry-level in this professional series. Incumbents learn departmental and County accounting policies, procedures, and systems; Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; departmental and County auditing policies, procedures, and systems; and practices associated with governmental accounting. Incumbents at this level may supervise clerical and paraprofessional accounting staff.

CAREER PROGRESSION: Accountant-Auditor I/II/III is a flexibly staffed series. The class of Accountant-Auditor is found only in the Auditor-Controller's Office. Incumbents in this class may be assigned accounting duties in the Operations, Financial Reporting, or Financial Systems Divisions of the Auditor-Controller's Office, or may be assigned auditing duties in the Internal Audit Division.

The Accountant-Auditor class is distinguished from the Accountant class in that the work of the Accountant-Auditors is broader in scope, encompassing the full range of responsibility for County, as opposed to departmental, finances; in addition, Accountant-Auditors may be assigned auditing duties.

Accounting Specialty:

1. Prepares the most complex accounting records and transactions; reviews accounting records and transactions for accuracy; analyzes records and transactions in order to project results, such as impact on financial statement; prepares large or complex claims to federal and state agencies and reviews claims prepared by subordinates for accuracy.
2. Initiates and participates in special studies of automated and manual accounting systems to ensure economy, efficiency, and adequate internal controls; establishes controls for fiscal accountability; implements automated systems and procedures; coordinates new system conversions and upgrades among Auditor's staff, department users, and vendors; consults with and advises department management and accounting personnel on a wide variety of fiscal and operating matters, such as payroll codes, Financial Management Information System, and processing of transactions; participates in the development and presentation of training programs in County financial processes and systems.
3. Reviews fees and indirect cost rates and measures cost per unit of service to determine whether fees are being set at appropriate levels; monitors revenues and expenditures to determine whether reported levels meet anticipated levels; reviews revenue estimates of departments and recommends revisions as appropriate; supervises or participates in the preparation of financial reports, such as final budget, cost allocation plan, and payroll tax reports, required by state and federal agencies; reviews revenue and expenditure contracts to ensure that grants or contracts are drafted in compliance with established standards.
4. May supervise an internal fiscal unit, such as payroll, disbursements, revenue, general accounting, or property tax; may supervise special projects, such as budget preparation, financial reporting, cost plan compilation, and grant accounting; may participate in the interviewing and selection of staff; may assign, schedule, and review work of staff; provides training; may evaluate employee performance and take disciplinary action.

Auditing Specialty:

1. Performs financial, performance, and electronic data processing (EDP) audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; performs operational efficiency and economy audits; determines whether internal control policies are adequate and recommends implementation of new or improved internal control policies and procedures; evaluates effectiveness of departments in achieving their desired program results; performs compliance audits for federally- and state-funded programs; investigates fraud and misuse of public funds.
2. Prepares audit work papers; writes audit findings and reports for communication to the Board of Supervisors, County Administrator, Grand Jury, and department management regarding audit findings and recommendations; consults with and provides advice to colleagues, as well as to departmental staff.
3. Reviews internal controls of EDP systems during design development stages to ensure their adequacy and to recommend improvements; analyzes and suggests changes to fiscal controls of installed EDP systems; develops computer databases and inquiry processes in order to obtain audit information through EDP systems.
4. May act in a lead capacity over a team of auditors performing a complex or difficult audit, providing technical advice and general direction.

To be considered for this position, applicants must provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet the employment standards. Please ensure all university transcripts and degrees are attached to your application.

1. Possession of a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field (Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination and departmental selection processes but may not begin employment in a position until they have attained the required degree.); or,
2. possession of an associate degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field, AND two years of paraprofessional accounting experience performing duties equivalent to a full-charge bookkeeper or to a Financial Office Professional III with Santa Barbara County (Applicants who are currently in their final year of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination and departmental selection processes but may not begin employment in a position until they have attained the required degree.); or,
3. three years of paraprofessional experience performing duties equivalent to a full-charge bookkeeper or to a Financial Office Professional III with Santa Barbara County, supplemented by professional training or college coursework in accounting or bookkeeping; or,
4. 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, cost accounting, and general ledger; personal computer applications; Standard English grammar and usage.

Ability to: gather, organize and analyze data; learn, interpret, and apply legal and procedural requirements; interpret and apply professional principles and standards; perform mathematical calculations; learn County financial processes and systems; learn principles and practices of government accounting; learn principles of management theory; explain regulations, principles, guidelines, procedures, and processes to others; establish and maintain working relationships with vendors and departmental staff and management; maintain impartiality and objectivity; learn to analyze fiscal data and operating procedures of routine complexity and make projections and recommendations; learn principles of supervision, including selection, training, evaluation, and discipline; write narrative reports.

Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required for some positions in this class.

Desirable: knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; automated accounting systems.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Microsoft Excel 2019 Skills Assessment: Candidates will be notified by email with instructions on obtaining and taking the Excel 2019 skills assessment. The deadline to complete the assessment will be clearly stated in the invitation e-mailed to applicants. All candidates must complete and pass the assessment in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.
3. Supplemental QuestionnaireRanking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire 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.

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 listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

VETERANS PREFERENCE POINTS:Veteran’s preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability. To receive veteran’s preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the test date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.

Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a criminal background investigation and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must also satisfactorily complete a twelve (12) month probationary period.

Disaster Service Worker: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.

Recruiters will correspond with applicantsby e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded tocheck spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

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: Thursday, May 7, 2026, by 5pm PT; Postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day atwww.sbcountyjobs.com.

Leza Patatanian - LPatatanian@countyofsb.org