Salary: $99,546.00 - $107,758.00 Annually
Location : Coupeville Campus, WA
Job Type: Full Time Regular
Job Number: 2025-069
Department: Auditor
Opening Date: 02/27/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Summary
A Chief Accountant (or Chief Accounting Officer) oversees all accounting functions, managing day-to-day financial operations, financial reporting, and compliance with GAAP or regulatory standards. They lead the accounting department, supervise staff, manage audits, and provide strategic financial analysis to optimize accountability.

The responsibilities of a chief accounting officer (CAO) include leading the accounting department of the duties and managing its day-to-day operations. In this career, you prepare the departmental budget and annual county financial statement creation, reporting, monitoring and analyze finances relative to the budget or other metrics. Other duties include leading the accounting staff, putting together quarterly, and annual financial reporting, including audited financial statements, studying historical financial reporting, and managing general accounting, such as accounts receivable and payable and fixed assets. You are also expected to oversee accounting for the county employee payroll, workers' comp, healthcare, bonuses, bank reconciliations, and more. You prepare presentations and provide information for cost reports to analyze the financial position of the county while providing recommendations to the budget director to improve performance.
Position is open until filled.
Job Duties

We are seeking an experienced and thorough Chief Accountant to join our team of accountants, payroll and accounts payable. As the Chief Accountant, you will demonstrate your exceptional management skills and accounting expertise in a variety of governmental accounting practices: GASB, GAAP and accrual basis accounting, including overseeing payroll, auditing and taxes. Your accuracy, efficiency, and in-depth knowledge of these practices will ensure that consistent, accurate accounting services are provided to county departments on a daily basis.

• Manage and oversee the entire accounting team.
• Conduct necessary training to keep the team's skills and knowledge up to date.
• Ensure proper tax payments for departments and collect necessary documents.
• Review contracts to ensure accuracy and accountability for represented employees.
• Oversee the processing of state and federal payroll taxes.
• Nurture and build interdepartmental relationships.
• Monitor and mentor/train junior staff, clerks, and bookkeepers.
• Lead and train other county offices and their accounting staff via the Accounting Committee.
• Address potential compliance issues proactively.
• Maintain compliance with all state and federal regulations.
• Uphold the excellent reputation of our county.
• Maintain constant communication with the SAO, other state agencies, and county departments.
• Keep highly organized and updated contracts, files and reports.
• Work collaboratively with other teams to achieve shared goals.
• Report directly to the Auditor. This position also as Chief Deputy Auditor, representing the Auditor when he/she is unavailable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive government accounting experience (7-10) years
• Exceptional computer skills, including Microsoft Office and databases
• Expertise in drafting government financial statements (accrual) method is required.
• Consistent, accurate, and thorough, with an eye for details
• Outstanding communication skills, written and verbal
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
• Outstanding phone and email etiquette
• Able to thrive in a deadline-driven environment
• Able to motivate the team and lead by example. Must train staff in all aspects of the position, especially Financial Preparation.

Education, Experience & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a relevant field
• A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in good standing is desirable, but experience may meet a portion of the criteria.
• Minimum (5) years experience in management
• Minimum (5) years experience as a CPA in a corporate setting

Island County offers a wide range of employee benefits designed to meet the diverse needs of our workforce.
Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

Medical: Island County pays 100% of the premiums for most eligible employees and dependents. In addition, the County provides an annual Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (determined by Medical plan selected).
Dental: Island County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members for basic dental coverage (buy-up options are available).
Life and Disability Insurance: Employees are provided basic coverage of $24,000 and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents.
Retirement: Island County employees participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (additional 457(b) deferred-compensation plans are also available).
Life Flight: Island County pays 100% of the premium for emergency air transport coverage.
11 paid holidays each year
Generous paid time off and Washington-required sick leave
Flexible Spending Account (optional)
Wellness programs
Employee assistance program
Pet Insurance (optional - employee paid)
Additional benefits are available to be elected (employee-paid).
Student debt? Working for Island County can provide relief!
Island County is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF) for full time employees. See for more details.
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible Island County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.