Accounting Manager

Salary : $143,332.80 - $192,067.20 Annually
Location : Headquarters - 1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine, CA 92602, CA
Job Type: FULL-TIME
Job Number: 2026-88-DS
Department: FINANCE
Opening Date: 10/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION
ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Finance Department is searching for a highly effective Accounting Manager to join our team! The ideal candidate will be

• Able to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, providing exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers, possesses excellent communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to exercise sound judgment on highly complex issues.
• Able to demonstrate political awareness, attention to detail, organization, and the ability to communicate at all levels of the OCFA effectively.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public agency finance, including general and governmental accounting, auditing, and reporting functions.
• Experience with the principles of agency budgetary, contract administration, administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Experience preparing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Experience in implementing an Enterprise Resources Program (ERP).

Schedule of Events:

• Last Day to Apply - Sunday, November 8, 2026 @ 11:59 pm
• Oral Interviews Interview - Week of November 30, 2026
• Selection Interviews - Week of December 7, 2026
• Position Start Date: TBD

DEFINITION

Under general direction, plans, organizes, manages, and provides oversight for the accounting staff and operations of the Accounting section of the Finance Division, including accounts receivable, cost accounting, general accounting, general ledger reporting, grants and fixed assets; performs professional accounting work to ensure regulatory compliance with governmental accounting standards; provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the Finance Division Manager in areas of expertise; and performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Finance Division Manager. Exercises direct and general supervision over professional and technical staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is a management classification responsible for developing, planning, and reviewing the programs, services, and activities of the Accounting section of the Finance Division including financial processing, reporting, and record-keeping activities. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and procedures, program evaluation, and management of staff for the assigned areas. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines. This class is distinguished from the Finance Division Manager in that the latter has management responsibility for all functional areas of the Finance Division including developing and implementing divisional policies and procedures, development and administration of the Division budget, and evaluation of the Division's programs and activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
To review the essential functions, knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position, please use the link below.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum of six (6) years of increasingly responsible government general accounting or finance experience including three (3) years of supervisory experience.
Highly Desired Qualification

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Good track record of promoting employee training and development
• High level and detailed analytical skills.
• Ability to manage complex financial data and effective problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication abilities.
• Experience implementing an Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) system.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various Authority and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
SELECTION PROCEDURE

Initial Selection Review

Human Resources reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be invited to the first phase of the recruitment process. The OCFA reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials.
Testing
Testing for this position may include, but is not limited to the following: written exam, practical exam, panel interview, physical ability test, assessment center, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. If a revision is made to a testing component during a recruitment process, the assigned recruiter will notify by email all affected applicants.
Recruitment and Selection Process and Requirements

All recruitment and selection processes and requirements will be held in accordance with the OCFA's Merit and Selection Rules, which are available for review at
Eligible List

Placement on the Eligible List will be established based on successful completion of all recruitment process components. The Eligible List will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all names on the list are exhausted. The Eligible List may be extended or abolished at the discretion of the Assistant Chief of Human Resources / Human Resources Director.
Withdrawing from the Recruitment Process

If an applicant chooses to withdraw from this recruitment process, he/she is required to submit an email notification to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at dukesteppe@ocfa.org requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include the applicant's current phone number.
Questions
All questions regarding this position should be directed to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at dukesteppe@ocfa.org.

Note
The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.
Orange County Fire Authority Management Association (OCFAMA) Representation

This classification is represented by the OCFAMA. Please contact OCFAMA President for information about joining OCFAMA.

Annual Merit Review Program
Administrative Managers are eligible for performance salary increases from 2.75% to 5.5% annually based on their work performance and until they reach the top of their salary range. Please note, new managers and newly promoted managers must be assigned to their position prior to March 1 during the annual performance rating period (August 1 through July 31) to be eligible for their initial merit review. Administrative Managers who are at the maximum of their salary range at the time they receive their annual performance evaluation will receive a $500 contribution to their 401(a) deferred compensation account if they received a rating of at least "standard."

Medical Benefit
Administrative Managers have a choice of medical plans under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, and receive a monthly cash allotment to be applied toward health care coverage and other benefits. In addition to purchasing health care coverage, at their option, Administrative Managers may receive any or all remaining funds in cash or defer such funds to other benefits. The enrollment period for a new employee is sixty (60) days from the date of employment. The effective date of coverage will begin on the first day of the month following submission of the CalPERS Health Benefit Plan Enrollment Form.

In 2026, the monthly cash allotment is $2,768.96 per month, paid over 24 pay periods.

Please visit for more information regarding the various plans offered under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, as well as the current premium rates.

Dental, Orthodontia, and Vision Care
Dental, orthodontia, and vision insurance are provided, at no cost to the employee, for the employee and dependents. Coverage begins on the first of the month following date of hire or promotion.

Longevity Pay
Administrative Managers will receive longevity pay as a percentage of base salary as follows:

• 1.50% at the beginning of the pay period that includes the commencement of their 5th year in any OCFAMA position.
• 3.0% at the beginning of the pay period that includes the commencement of their 10th year in any OCFAMA position.

Optional Benefit Plan (OBP)
An annual allocation of $2,065 (pro-rated for mid-year hire/promotion date) will be provided to Administrative Managers to cover health care costs and other select benefits including:

• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Cash prorated each pay period or lump sum of cash at year end

OBP begins on the 1st day of the month following a 28-day waiting period.

Retirement
All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.

Legacy General Members: Employees hired on or after December 1, 2012, who establish reciprocitywith OCERS are enrolled in the 2.0% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan N). Employees pays their maximum employee contribution based on age of entry into OCERS (or reciprocal retirement system), including any increases to the maximum employee contribution as calculated by OCERS. Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits.

New General Members (PEPRA): Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (Plan U). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into OCERS). Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits.

For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit , or view the Retirement Plan

Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
A life and AD&D policy is provided to Administrative Managers at no cost. Administrative Managers may purchase additional employee paid life, dependent life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage are provided to Administrative Managers at no cost.

Deferred Compensation:
Employees may participate in the Authority's 457(b) Deferred