ACCOUNTANT I

Job Description:

ACCOUNTANT I

Description

Position Description

Final Filing Date Extended to : Friday, September 12, 2025

Exam# 25/20B10/08JA

Current vacancies in this classification exist in the Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department, and the Probation Department. The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis [County-wide].

The Public Works, Facilities & Parks Department (PWFP) brings together a range of functions to ensure safe building construction, plan for the future needs of the County, manage infrastructure and county facilities, and protect natural resources. The Department is responsible for public works, county roads and bridges, county parks, and county facilities.

The Monterey County Probation Department is a law enforcement agency within the County of Monterey, with 5 major divisions: 4 operational divisions (Adult, Juvenile, Juvenile Hall, and Youth Center), and one infrastructure division, Administration, which includes Finance, Personnel, Training, Grants and Contracts, and Technology. The Department manages a budget of about $90 Million and 300 permanent positions (with the majority being sworn officers), in addition to temporary staff and volunteers/interns. Probation is a fast-paced environment which requires personal initiative, creativity, strong ethics and commitment while maintaining a sense of family and camaraderie.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Under general supervision, the incumbent performs various technical and professional accounting, statistical, and budgetary duties involved in establishing, maintaining, analyzing, reconciling, and verifying financial records in support of designated programs. They provide financial administrative support in preparing, analyzing, and monitoring designated annual budget and accounts; prepares and reviews a variety of factual, analytical, narrative, financial, statistical, and budgetary reports, statements, and records utilizing GAAP; and does other work as required.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis County-wide.
Flexible staffing: This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

Examples of Duties

• Learns to and/or performs professional accounting and budgetary duties involved in establishing, analyzing, reviewing, reconciling, monitoring, and maintaining financial records and reports; ensures financial integrity of assigned accounts
• Learns to and/or prepares, analyzes, evaluates, and monitors a program, a division, or the department’s budget, and other designated budgets; learns to and/or prepares income and
• expenditure projections for budget preparation; analyzes program and project costs; provides recommendations
• Prepares or verifies a variety of routine and simple accounting, statistical, and narrative statements or reports, requiring analysis and interpretation of data
• Monitors cash flow from enterprise funds, internal service funds, special revenue, and special district funds; learns to prepare cash flow analyses and funding requirements for various funds and projects
• Calculates, posts, and adjusts journal entries; updates accounts to reflect revenue and expenditures; audits accounts for errors and makes appropriate adjustments; coordinates and reconciles different computer financial systems statements; reconciles various financial statements to ensure accurate fund accounting; matches financial statements with cash amounts; initiates account transfers and other transactions as needed; utilizes manual and computerized recordkeeping systems
• Reviews and monitors grants, contracts, claims; prepares financial statements, balance sheets, income and expense reports, and conducts cash flow analysis
• Reviews, analyzes, and documents a variety of accounts and transactions; reconciles general ledger, cash, and other designated accounting reports and statements with financial records; compares manual and automated records and transactions; identifies errors; verifies account balances; adjusts accounts; initiates transfers; and makes corrections
• Maintains current knowledge of and complies with applicable laws, codes, rules, regulations, established policies and procedures, and with generally accepted accounting principles; ensures accuracy of input and output data
• Responds to inquiries, resolves issues and conflicts, and provides detailed and technical information concerning related standards, practices, pending legislation, laws, codes, regulations, polices, and procedures; attends and participates in various meetings, committees, and professional groups
• Identifies, develops, and implements procedures and techniques to enhance fiscal accuracy, operational efficiency, financial effectiveness, and compliance with established requirements
• May oversee the work of paraprofessional and clerical finance staff
• Communicates with County staff, governmental agencies, and outside organizations to exchange information, coordinate activities, resolves issues and concerns; prepares and submits mandated reports within established timeframes

To view the complete job description, visit the Monterey County website: Accountant I .

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Working Knowledge of:

• Methods, procedures, and terminology used in professional accounting
• Financial and statistical recordkeeping techniques
• Related computer hardware and applicable software

Some Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Principles and practices of governmental accounting
• Principles and practices of budget preparation, monitoring, and controlling
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Internal control practices
• Principles and practices of research and statistical evaluation
• Principles and practices of financial statement preparation and comprehensive accounting reports
• Analysis of basic accounting and budgeting internal reports

Skill and Ability to:

• Learn to and/or accurately perform professional accounting and budgetary work involved in preparing, analyzing, reconciling, and maintaining financial records and reports
• Learn to and/or prepare, analyze, and monitor funds, budgets, and accounts
• Reconcile various statements
• Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Prepare accounting reports
• Analyze financial data and prepare reports, forecasts, and recommendations
• Understand administrative policies and their impact on routine accounting functions
• Perform mathematical calculations
• Meet schedules and timelines
• Operate standard office equipment, including a computer and associated software
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Provide excellent and courteous customer service and establish and maintain effective working relationships

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment listed above is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Education: Completion of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field from an accredited college or university;

OR

Experience: Four years of experience performing paraprofessional-level accounting duties, or two years of experience at a level equivalent to an Accounting Technician for the County of Monterey.

Additional Information

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting for some positions.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.

Benefits:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the J Unit Benefit Summary Sheet . This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

Notes:

As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Application and Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty , by

Final Filing Date Extended to: Friday, September 12, 2025 , 11:59 PM(PST)

Or

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:
Monterey County, Public Works, Facilities & Parks Department
Attn: Julie Aulenta, Senior Human Resources Analyst
1441 Schilling Place, 1st Floor, Salinas CA 93901
Email: aulentaja@countyofmonterey.gov
Phone: (831) 755-5014 Fax: (831) 784-5603

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to all of the Supplemental Questions

Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Julie Aulenta, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 755-5014, or aulentaja@countyofmonterey.gov.

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/human-resources/human-resources/benefits/benefit-summary-sheet

Closing Date/Time: 9/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$5,332.60 - $7,283.29 Monthly