Finance Staff Analyst

Salary : $94,531.00 - $137,069.00 Annually
Location : 2223 E. Wellington Ave. Suite #100 Santa Ana, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 8035MR-0926-157(O)
Department: Orange County Employees Retirement System
Opening Date: 09/29/2026
Closing Date: 10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Max Number of Applicants: 300

CAREER DESCRIPTION
FINANCE STAFF ANALYST

This recruitment will remain open until Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM, or until the first 300 applications are received, whichever occurs first.
THE OPPORTUNITY
OCERS is seeking a highly analytical and motivated Finance Staff Analyst to join its Finance team and play a key role in supporting the organization's fiduciary, operational, and regulatory responsibilities. This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to work across investment accounting, financial reporting, retiree payroll, auditing, and financial analysis while helping to advance the use of technology, automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools within Finance operations. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and committed to accuracy, integrity, and continuous improvement. This position offers the opportunity to work on complex financial matters, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen efficiency, data integrity, transparency, and internal controls across OCERS.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The Finance Staff Analyst is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and system efficiency. This classification is distinguished by its broad scope across investment-related accounting, retiree payroll operations, and enterprise financial reporting, combined with an expectation to proactively identify opportunities to improve data integrity, accuracy, efficiency, transparency, and internal controls. The Finance Staff Analyst serves as a subject-matter contributor and supports the effective use of technology, automation, and continuous process improvement.

PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES
Include but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze, reconcile, and summarize complex financial data related to cash management, investment holdings, management and performance fees, security lending activity, and other investment-related transactions.
• Participate in the annual external audit including researching, reconciling and interacting with external auditors, custodian bank, investment managers, and multiple departments.
• Assist in the preparation of investment-related disclosures included in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Perform analytical review and reconciliation of retiree payroll and benefit payment activity to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and plan provisions.
• Support monthly and year-end retiree payroll processes including variance analysis, exception resolution, and coordination with internal teams and third-party administrators.
• Identify, design, and implement process improvements and process automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, data integrity and internal controls across finance operations.
• Use available reporting, automation tools, data analysis, and AI-enabled technologies to streamline journal entry preparation, reconciliations, reporting, data validation, and exception detection.
• Develop and maintain standardized procedures, documentation, and workflows that support scalability, knowledge transfer, and risk reduction.
• Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and integrations related to financial, payroll, and reporting systems.
• Participate in special projects for the resolution of complex issues regarding the operations and management of OCERS.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff at all levels, custodial bank, investment managers, and other third-party vendors.
• Ability to train and/or supervise team members on OCERS finance-related processes.
• Perform work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet strict deadlines with minimal supervision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications required for entry into the classification

Education and Experience
Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or closely related field,
AND
Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in government, public or private industry accounting.

Special Notes, Licenses or Requirements

• A valid California Class C driver's license or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel
• May be required to use personal vehicle
• Successful candidates must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including a Live Scan fingerprint screening.
• Highly Desirable: A Current Certified Public Account (CPA) license

Please click for additional information about the Finance Staff Analyst classification.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to perform essential duties of the position include:

Knowledge of:

• Accounting and auditing principles, theories and procedures applicable to the control of various accounting systems.
• Federal, State, and local financial reporting requirements, including the CERL of 1937.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and other governmental accounting principles and practices, including GASB Statement No.'s 40, 53 and 72.
• Investment accounting concepts, custodial banking functions, and retirement system operations.
• Retiree payroll and benefit payment processes, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Internal control frameworks, process documentation, risk mitigation practices.
• Financial systems, reporting applications, data analysis tools, and emerging technologies applicable to finance operations and financial reporting.
• Methods used to organize, validate, analyze, and present financial information for accounting, reporting and finance purposes.
• Telephone, office and online etiquette.

Skills/Ability to:

• Work independently under little or no supervision while completing a large volume of work and managing competing priorities and strict timelines to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Finance department.
• Demonstrate professional level experience in presenting ideas and complex financial material clearly, concisely, and logically both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate integrity when applying accounting principles and practices, dealing with large amounts of money and funding, ensuring the validity and acceptance of accounting and financial data, and resolving accounting discrepancies.
• Identify and define actual and potential issues or concerns pertaining to the accuracy and integrity of accounting and financial data, use sound and logical judgment, and make effective decisions to develop resolutions.
• Use advanced Excel functions, financial systems, reporting tools, automation features, and AI-enabled technologies to support financial analysis, reporting, reconciliations, and process improvement.
• Analyze financial information to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
• Adapt to and effectively use new systems, tools, technologies, and reporting requirements to support evolving Finance operations.
• Read, understand and interpret complex technical accounting information and complex Federal and State governmental regulations.
• Prepare, interpret and evaluate a variety of narrative and statistical data and reports.
• Communicate effectively in English orally and in writing with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures, and backgrounds.
• Establish and maintain cohesive working relationships with public officials, vendors, supervisors, directors, technical and non-technical staff, consultants and others encountered in the course of work.
• Train and supervise staff on financial processes as needed.
• Demonstrate strict confidentiality, professionalism, integrity, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations at all times.
• Use standard office equipment such as: computer, printer, scanner, photocopier, and calculator.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that are customarily required to successfully perform the essential functions of this class.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person, over the telephone and in small groups.
• Vision sufficient to read fine print, and a computer monitor.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a telephone, keyboard, write and use a calculator.
• Mental stamina to interact professionally with members of the Board of Retirement, Employers, peers, and members.
• Independent body mobility, agility, and stamina to stand, walk, stoop, bend, and twist, to access a standard office environment.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.

Environmental Conditions

• The primary workplace is in a hybrid remote/office environment, working with standard office equipment both in the office and remotely.
• Peripheral office equipment generates a quiet to moderate noise level.
• Operates in an environment that includes elected officials, non-elected officials, government agencies, community interest groups and the general public in the development and coordination of OCERS affairs.
• Out of area travel may be required to attend professional conferences, due diligence, and meetings.

BENEFITS:OCERS offers a competitive benefits package that includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave, and paid holidays. Additionally, OCERS has a defined benefit pension plan which has reciprocity with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and a deferred compensation 457 plan. OCERS offers up to an annual $10,000 Educational and Professional Reimbursement, a $3,500 taxable optional benefit plan, and a flexible/hybrid work schedule.

For additional information and details about the OCERS pension and benefits offered, please .
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RECRUITMENT PROCEDURE
Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer)

OCERS Human Resources Department will screen all applications and supplemental responses to identify qualified candidates. Applications submitted without a completed supplemental information form will be disqualified from further consideration. After screening, the more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process and notified of all further procedures applicable to their application status.
Applications Appraisal Panel (AAP) | Application Rating (Refer/Non-Refer)A panel of job knowledge experts will screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related education and experience as described above. Please be thorough in your responses to supplemental questions as each will be evaluated and rated accordingly. Additionally, please be thorough in aligning your education and work experience to the competencies and qualifications listed in this bulletin. Clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will also be considered in the evaluation. This is a competitive process and only the more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step.

Spark Hire InterviewReferred candidates will be required to complete a one-way pre-screening interview on the Spark Hire video interview platform. In this process, candidates will record their responses to a set of structured questions. Subject matter experts will then evaluate these video interviews to determine if candidates qualify for the next phase of the selection process.
Qualifications Appraisal Panel (QAP)
(Weighted 100%) Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job.

Based on OCERS' needs and the number of applications received, the selection procedures listed above may be modified and all affected candidates will be notified.
APPLICATION INFORMATION

Please note, the information provided in your application may be shared internally within OCERS to evaluate your qualifications for potential opportunities in other teams or departments.
HOW TO APPLY

Only online applications with the completed supplemental questions will be accepted. Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is on your application and only use one email account.
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