Accountant I - Sacramento - Merit System Services

Description

Salary: $62, $75,857.60 Annually
Location : Mariposa
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: MSS05734
Department: Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency
Opening Date: 01/05/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Information
Under general supervision, performs a variety of professional accounting, auditing, and/or fiscal analysis involved in coordinating and overseeing various accounting activities in the preparation, maintenance, analysis, and verification of the department's fiscal and budget records; directs a variety of complex accounting and related business management work; performs highly responsible staff assistance to the fiscal manager and performs related duties as assigned.
Working under close supervision, Accountant I is the entry/trainee class in the Accountant series. Employees in this class receive in-service training in the less difficult and more routine professional accounting, auditing and/or fiscal analysis in the establishment and maintenance of accounts and records while learning specialized agency activities, systems, and fiscal control activities. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and full scope of responsibility is exercised. Some positions may be permanently allocated at Level I due to the nature of the work. Incumbents are expected to promote to Accountant II after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following. For Accountant I, duties are performed at the trainee level:

• Performs a variety of professional duties in the coordination and oversight of various accounting and/or auditing activities supporting department-wide operations; maintains accuracy of general, revenue, and expenditure ledgers and subsidiary financial systems.
• Assists in annual budget preparation and monitors budget activities; assists in preparing the final budget document; prepares and reviews a variety of monthly, periodic, and annual financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical studies and reports.
• May provide lead direction to paraprofessional and/or clerical employees engaged in maintaining department accounts and records and control of the approved budget; provides or coordinates staff training.
• Prepares periodic fiscal reports, processes financial documents, and performs related functions such as accounting for specialized activities, preparing payrolls, billing, and collecting for agency services.
• Oversees, reviews, audits, and posts accounts payable, cash receipts, payroll, and other accounting records and transactions; analyzes and audits transactions for proper account classification; prepares journal entries for recording in the accounting system.
• Reconciles financial ledgers and records; prepares financial statements and reports; researches and resolves discrepancies.
• Interprets budget policies in relation to the department's needs.
• Advises superiors on the condition of accounts and the status of the approved budget, and makes recommendations to resolve specific problems.
• Develops and implements improvements and changes in agency accounting procedures and methods.
• Maintains special accounting systems that reflect the condition of agency and sub-vented or cooperative federal funds.
• Prepares, analyzes, and reviews estimates for revenues, reimbursements, expenditures, and other accounts.
• Provides responsible staff assistance to the fiscal manager; prepares special studies and reports.
• Audits departmental records to ensure compliance with fiscal policies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition section.
Knowledge of:

• General accounting theory, principles, and practices, and their application to a variety of accounting transactions and problems.
• Governmental cost accounting and budgeting procedures.
• Uniform accounting system and financial organization procedures.
• Federal, state, and county laws, rules, and regulations.
• Principles of business management, including office methods and procedures.
• Principles and techniques of personnel management and supervision.
• Budget development and control.
• Principles of public finance and business law.

Ability to:

• Apply general accounting principles and procedures.
• Plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
• Analyze data and draw sound conclusions.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Make sound decisions and recommendations in regard to the department's budget, accounting and business management activities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Speak and write effectively.

Minimum Qualifications
Pattern 1: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, or a closely related field. Successful completion of the Certified Public Accountant exam may be substituted for the required education.
OR
Pattern 2: Successful completion of sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter college units from an accredited college or university, including fifteen (15) semester or twenty-two and one-half quarter units in accounting; and two years of full-time experience as an Accounting Technician, or two years of full-time technical advanced journey level experience in financial, accounting, or statistical record keeping activities.
OR
Pattern 3: A combination of education and experience at the technical advanced journey level in financial, accounting or statistical record keeping activities equivalent to four years of full-time experience which includes a minimum of fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and one-half quarter units in accounting, finance or a closely related field. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and one-half quarter units equal six months of experience.
Supplemental Information
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.

VETERANS PREFERENCEIf you would like to request Veteran's preference points as part of the application packet, please attach a copy of your DD-214 form to your application.
EXAMINATION INFORMATIONTRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%
The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.
ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Mariposa. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.
RETEST PERIOD
Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.
SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at or upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.
If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not ensure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.
General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for 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.
ABOUT MARIPOSA COUNTYMariposa County is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with the central portion of Yosemite National Park comprising the eastern section of the County. There are no incorporated cities or even any traffic signals in the county--it is instead known for its amazing scenery, outdoor attractions, and history made famous by the California Gold Rush in the 1800's. "Mariposa," translates to "butterflies" from Spanish, and the town of Mariposa was so named by Spanish explorers because of the vast clusters of butterflies found there. In honor of this, each year in May, residents commemorate the annual arrival of the migrating monarch butterflies with a "Butterfly Days" festival and parade. The county is an amazing place to call "home"--a key objective is to maintain clean water, wildlife preservation, healthy ecosystems, clean air, and a fire-safe environment. The climate is sunny and comfortable for much of the year. The area's spectacular scenery, a multitude of things to enjoy, including fishing, hiking, gold panning, arts and culture, spas, breweries and more, and its historic roots make this a sought-after place of residence as well as a popular vacation destination.