Accountant III - Tax Unit

Description

Under direction, to perform complex professional level accounting and fiscal work in the administration of the County's financial transactions, programs and budget, and may provide supervision to technical and support staff.

Financial Management Services (FMS), Social Services Agency (SSA) has an Accountant III position within the Tax Unit. Under direction, the successful candidate will be responsible for fiscal and supervisory duties related to preparing Federal and State tax returns for Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator (PAGC) clients. General duties include planning and managing tax activities, obtaining and analyzing financial information from various sources, meeting IRS and FTB tax filing and compliance requirements, contacting and/or responding to external agencies inquiries related to filing status and tax returns, and preparing and submitting required financial reports.

In addition to the employment standards, applicants must have Federal and State tax preparation experience, and must be an Enrolled Agent, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Tax Attorney.

NOTE:Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take the Written Examination tentatively scheduled for January 8, 2025.

Typical Tasks

• Plans and supervises a major segment of a department or the County's accounting functions;
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• Establishes and maintains a system of accounting controls for revenue and expenditure accounts;
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• Establishes County-wide and departmental cost allocations;
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• Prepares periodic and special financial reports and analyses of operations;
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• Coordinates the preparation of a segment of the County's budget; makes necessary computations to ensure that individual budgets are correct;
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• Prepares revenue and expenditure forecasts;
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• Administers the County's legal responsibility in relation to fiscal matters;
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• Reviews and approves documents authorizing financial transactions, assures the availability of funds, and encumbers funds;
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• Coordinates or prepares State mandate claims; and various State and Federal grants and revenue sharing reports; maintains accurate records and reports required for this function;
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• Advises management as to the financial status of projects and programs;
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• Reviews and reconciles computer-generated financial reports and makes required adjustments;
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• Develops accounting procedures for departmental functions;
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• Coordinates accounting with auditors and vendors;
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• Assigns and reviews the work of subordinate personnel;
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• May select, train, assign, and evaluate staff, including professional accountants who are responsible for the full range of fiscal duties, and paraprofessional staff;
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• Analyzes and evaluates changes in laws, legislation and departmental policies, and recommends an effective course of action;
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• Acts as liaison with other County departments and various governmental agencies in matters concerning fiscal operations;
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• Prepares or verifies a variety of complex accounting and narrative statements andreports requiring extensive analysis and interpretation of data;
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• Advises management on accounting standards and procedures and on a variety of accounting, internal control and budgetary problems;
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• Reviews and analyzes accounting records and fiscal activities to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting/program/legal requirements/internal controls, and identifies issues, trends, and patterns;
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• Establishes and maintains general and subsidiary accounts and related ledgers, including revenue and disbursement, and reconciles various accounting reports to the County's general ledger;
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• Gathers, compiles, and prepares financial and statistical reports to County, State, and Federal agencies;
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• Reviews financial documents such as vouchers, purchase orders, and invoices;
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• Makes verbal presentations and conducts training on accounting policies and procedures; explains the implications of complex accounting matters to non-financial managers and decision makers;
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• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
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• Performs related work as required.
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Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities.

Training and Experience Note:The knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Economics or closely related field;

And

Three (3) years of professional experience in accounting or auditing work.

Possession of a Master's Degree in Accounting, Master's Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting, or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, may substitute for one (1) year of experience.

- OR -

Possession of sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units of college of which twelve (12) semester units or fifteen (15) quarter units must be in accounting and/or auditing;

And

Five (5) years of experience compiling and maintaining a wide variety of fiscal, accounting, financial or statistical data, at least three (3) years of which should be at a level equivalent to an Accountant II with the County of Santa Clara.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to obtain and maintain a County driver authorization.
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• Some positions may require Live Scan screening as part of the background check process.
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Knowledge of:

• Theory, principles and practices of accounting and auditing, along with their application to governmental accounting and budgeting;
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• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and specifically Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statements, Interpretations, and Technical Bulletins;
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• County financial policies and procedures and applicable departmental policies and procedures;
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• Laws and regulations governing the financial operation of the County and the assigned department;
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• Office management practice and procedures, including recordkeeping systems;
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• Principles and practices of supervision and training;
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• Concepts, systems and terminology of accounting and budget systems;
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• Accounting systems, software applications, and spreadsheets.
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Ability to:

• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with subordinates, co-workers, management, the public and others contacted in the course of work;
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• Identify, analyze and evaluate complex problems and propose solutions;
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• Prepare clear and concise reports;
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• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
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• Plan and direct the work of others;
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• Exercise independent judgment;
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• Understand and apply relevant principles, laws, rules, regulations and procedures;
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• Audit, analyze and evaluate complex financial and statistical data;
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• Prepare, maintain and reconcile a variety of complex accounting and financial records, documents and reports;
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• Use various computer applications and software in support of accounting activities.