Principal Accountant

County of Ventura

Ventura, CA
3 days ago

$106,386.74–$148,941.44 Per Year

Highlights

Ability to: effectively delegate, assign, and review the work of staff; motivate, teach, and instruct others in a work setting; organize and prioritize work assignments; manage change and encourage/support staff impacted by change; prepare financial reports and statements; understand interrelationships among financial/accounting records and documents; understand, interpret, and apply a variety of complex rules, regulations, contracts, or legal documents in proper accounting context; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Under general direction, performs working supervisory accountant functions which are highly complex in assigned fiscal program area; functional areas of responsibility may include the supervision and direction of staff performing professional or technical accounting work in an assigned department or agency fiscal program area; non-supervisory, expert-level responsibility for planning, organizing and directing a major department finance program or function; and directing and supervising fiscal staff and operations within smaller department settings.

Numbers & Facts

Location	Ventura, CA
Salary	$106,386.74–$148,941.44 Per Year

Description

Principal Accountant

Salary

$106,386.74 - $148,941.44 Annually

Location

throughout Ventura County, CA

Job Type

Various

Job Number

0813VAR-26AA (SG)

Department

Various Departments

Opening Date

10/28/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

Description
Benefits
Questions

Description

WHAT WE OFFER

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

Merit Increases - New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associates degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelors degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
Bilingual Incentive - Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Pay - A premium of $.47 per hour for a maximum of 80 compensated hours per biweekly pay period will be paid to employees in this classification who possess and maintain a valid, current CPA license or certificate.
Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule - We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80) and remote hybrid telework schedules for some positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
Annual Leave Redemption - After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the Countys 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
Health Plans-Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
Tier I - Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period
Tier II - Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period
Tier III - Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period
Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
Pension Plan - Participation in the Countys defined benefit pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
Holidays - 13 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.
Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY

Ventura County is located on Californias "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. The County includes 42 miles of coastline which is home to the following cities and points of interest: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Ventura County's beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County "home."

The County of Ventura employs nearly 10,000 staff members who serve Ventura County residents, all of whom have unique experiences and perspectives. Each of us has a responsibility to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace and in our communities. Our County is proud to have a diverse workforce and providing a respectful and inclusive workplace is a priority and aligns with the County's values.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, performs working supervisory accountant functions which are highly complex in assigned fiscal program area; functional areas of responsibility may include the supervision and direction of staff performing professional or technical accounting work in an assigned department or agency fiscal program area; non-supervisory, expert-level responsibility for planning, organizing and directing a major department finance program or function; and directing and supervising fiscal staff and operations within smaller department settings.

Principal Accountant is the fourth and highest working level in the Accountant series performing working supervisory accountant functions which are highly complex, but less policy focused than accountabilities assigned to management level positions. Functional areas of responsibility include the supervision and direction of staff performing professional or technical accounting work in an assigned department or agency fiscal program area; some positions may not directly supervise staff but instead may have expert-level responsibility for planning, organizing and directing a major department finance program or function; some positions may also direct and supervise fiscal staff and operations within smaller department settings.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Various departments

Principal Accountant is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

The following duties are considered characteristic but not inclusive and are examples only. Specific assigned duties may differ depending on the needs of the department/agency.

Examples Of Duties

Performs a variety of duties in supervising the operations, services, and staff within an assigned department or agency fiscal program; plans, directs and supervises the work of professional, technical, and clerical fiscal staff engaged in fiscal transactional processes, reconciliation, and balancing of fiscal accounts; budget development and financial reporting.
May plan, organize, and direct fiscal activities within smaller department/agency settings; areas of responsibility include staff supervision and operational oversight; budget development and monitoring, and preparing financial statements.
Participates in the selection and evaluation of staff; provides training and employee development; determines the most effective use of resources.
Completes performance evaluations and conducts regular conferences with employees to discuss their performance; documents performance and attendance problems; discusses corrective or disciplinary action with management and/or Human Resources; takes corrective or disciplinary action.
Conducts a review of staff work and performs quality control; ensures that staff are performing their work in compliance with County and program rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Develops staffing schedules to ensure sufficient coverage for operations; approves time off; verifies and approves time cards; communicates schedule changes to management and staff.
Advises and consults with management concerning the development of departmental operating and program budgets, revenue producing or debt service proposals, as well as the accounting and financial implications of existing and projected departmental activities.
Collects and analyzes financial information; prepares and oversees the preparation of periodic and ad hoc accounting and financial reports including, but not limited to, the quarterly reports, monthly financial reports, payroll reports and internal service funds reports.
Prepares and monitors the budget in assigned program area; calculates expenditures and revenues; analyzes budget variances and presents reports to executive management.
Performs fiscal, auditing, and compliance activities for diverse programs receiving local, state and federal funding; ensures programs are compliant with funding entity and County rules and regulations.
Performs funding allocation analysis and ongoing audits of multiple grant sub-recipients to ensure their fiscal and program compliance.
Interprets and applies laws and regulations governing assigned operations
Manages assigned grant programs including a review of monthly program reports, and communications with all service providers/grantees on fiscal and program operations.
Provides technical expertise and information to auditors, local, state, and federal agencies, supervisors, managers, and others regarding assigned functions.
Develops and oversees implementation of financial policies and procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the Countys Administrative Manual.
May serve as business case owner for implementation of fiscal management systems including modules for enrollment and claims payments, developing payment processes, report development and related systems elements; performs quality control testing for system integrity.
Reviews financial documents such as ledgers, reports, vouchers, purchase orders, and invoices to ensure that proper cost centers are charged, that expenditures and revenues are recorded in the proper classification, and that purchases and other transactions by the department are proper in accordance with their approved budget; determines the level and appropriateness of year-end closing accruals, prepayments, deferrals, depreciation, or adjustments.
Assists in rate setting for product lines and services.
Performs related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Completion of a Bachelors degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; AND Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, one (1) year of which must be at the lead or supervisory level; OR two (2) years as a Senior Accountant for the County of Ventura.

Education/Experience Substitution:

Professional level accounting experience may be substituted for up to two (2) years of undergraduate education on a year-for-year basis, provided the candidate possesses at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Verification of the required college degree and college-level coursework is required.
Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect the date your degree was conferred and passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted to County of Ventura, Human Resources within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing date. If transcripts or grade reports are not submitted, your application will be screened out and you will not be allowed to continue in the process.

You may submit transcripts using one of the following options:

Attach the transcripts or grade reports to your application
Email the transcripts to sarah.garcia@venturacounty.gov
Mail to Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1970, Ventura, CA 93009

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

You must submit this documentation with your application, a hard copy with a paper application or a scanned PDF copy as an attachment for an online application. If you submit a hard copy with a paper application, be sure its a copy. Whatever you submit will not be returned to you. To attach a PDF scanned copy to an online application, use the Add Attachment(s) link in the Attachments section of your application.

If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).

Depending on position, may require the possession of, or the ability to obtain prior to appointment and maintain, a valid California driver license.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

When a disaster strikes of natural or manmade origin, Ventura County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations, different hours, and out of class. At the time of hire, all County employees will be required to sign an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (Sections 3102 and 3103, Government Code of California).

DESIRED

Masters degree in Business Administration
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program in assigned area; Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, practices, and standards; governmental accounting and auditing standards and guidelines; budgeting methods and processes; principles and practices of cost accounting; laws and regulations affecting the financial operations of governmental and departmental operations; principles of business management; data processing systems applicable to accounting operations; principles of supervision, training, discipline and performance evaluation.

Skill in: effectively planning, organizing, and directing work to meet workload demands; preparing and reviewing complex fiscal documents and reports; research and analysis; analyzing financial/accounting data and drawing logical conclusions; using initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines; use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to the work performed.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

FIRST REVIEW: A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around November 9-12, 2026 and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

To apply online, please refer to our website at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura, Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Information for Transfer Candidates: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Note: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the recruitment and hiring process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies.

SELECTION INTERVIEW: When a position becomes available, applicants are referred to the employing department for interviews beginning with the highest scoring applicants, moving down the list from the top until the available positions are filled.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information about this recruitment, please contact Sarah Garcia by email at sarah.garcia@venturacounty.gov.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
Retirement FAQs
Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS

You are required to submit a copy of your college transcripts or grade reports to verify the successful completion of the required coursework for this recruitment. Please indicate the method of submission by selecting one of the options below. NOTE: All required education verification documentation must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing date.

A copy of my transcripts is attached to my online application.
I will mail or deliver a copy of my transcripts to County of Ventura, Human Resources. I understand that transcripts must be received by CoV HR within three (3) days after the closing date and that, if they are not, I may not be considered further in the examination process.
I will email a copy of my transcripts to Sarah Garcia at sarah.garcia@venturacounty.gov. I understand that transcripts must be received by CoV HR within three (3) days after the closing date and that, if they are not, I may not be considered further in the examination process.
I do not have and/or cannot submit a copy of my transcripts within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing date. I understand that this means that I will not be considered further in the examination process.

Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed.

No high school diploma or GED
High school diploma or GED
1 to less than 60 semester units of college coursework
60 or more semester units of college coursework, but no degree
Associates degree
Bachelors degree
Masters degree or higher

Have you completed at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework?

Have you completed two (2) semester courses of college-level Intermediate Accounting?

List the college-level accounting courses you have successfully completed. Include all of the following: Name of the accredited college(s) or university(ies) attended Course titles Number of semester or quarter units for each course

If you have not successfully completed any college-level accounting courses, please type "not applicable."

Do you possess a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license?

Do you have two (2) years of experience as a Senior Accountant for the County of Ventura?

NOTE: If you possess this experience, it MUST be reflected in the work history section of your application.

Which statement below best describes your full-time progressively responsible professional accounting experience?

(NOTE: Full-time work experience equals 40 hours per week. Part-time work experience must be prorated to get full-time equivalent, e.g. working 20 hours per week for 1 year equals 6 months full-time equivalent work experience.)

None
0 to less than 1 year
1 to less than 2 years
2 to less than 3 years
3 to less than 4 years
4 to less than 5 years
5 to less than 6 years
6 to less than 7 years
7 to less than 8 years
8 to less than 9 years
9 to less than 10 years
10 or more years

Describe your supervisory or lead-level worker experience in an accounting position. Be thorough in your response and include details about your duties and responsibilities which demonstrate the depth and breadth of your experience as a lead or supervisor. The experience you reference below must be included in the work history section of your application to be considered qualifying. Your answer must include all of the following:

Employer(s)
Your job title(s)
Time frame(s) served in a supervisory or lead role (start and end dates in month/year format)
Number of staff supervised
Responsibilities associated with assigning work and directing staff
Responsibilities associated with training staff
Responsibilities associated with evaluating staff performance and discipline