ACCOUNTANT I

THE JOB: Accountant I is the trainee and first working level in the Accountant series. Incumbents work initially under close supervision to perform professional operating or cost accounting work requiring the standardized application of well-established accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices. The accounting systems to which incumbents are assigned are typically stable and well established. Incumbents receive less direction as they acquire additional accounting knowledge and abilities. Incumbents are expected to gain the knowledge and ability to promote to the class of Accountant II with one-year experience.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in accounting or a closely related field, including at least 15 semester units in elementary and advanced accounting, management information systems, business law and cost accounting.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of accounting principles, practices and procedures; business law; and the application of data processing to accounting operations.  Some knowledge of auditing principles and practices; and office practices and systems.
 

Ability to: Learn to perform a wide variety of governmental accounting work; analyze and evaluate accounting problems and take appropriate action; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; develop pertinent accounting and related data to prepare reports and statements; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; and learn to operate a personal computer, or computer terminal, to design programs to store, retrieve and analyze data.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years.  Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT  – CAlPERS retirement plan 2% @55 FAE 1 retirement formula (single highest year compensation). County pays a portion of retirement contribution.
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
EMPLOYEE CREDIT UNION – Offers systematic savings and low interest loans.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement.  If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list.  The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

 An Equal Opportunity Employer