Financial Services Manager I - Controller's Office (Open and Promotional)

Salary : $139,734.40 - $174,720.00 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: D060BE
Department: Controller's Office
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Bargaining Unit: 50B

Description
The Controller's Office of the County of San Mateo seeks highly qualified candidates for the position of

Financial Services Manager I.

This position is in the Disbursements and Financial Reporting Division of the Controller's Office and will be responsible for supervising the division's accounting staff to provide accounting services to County departments and agencies. The position is also responsible for the preparation of financial and budget reports, Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), the State Controller's Annual Transaction Report, and the State Controller's Budget Schedule. The position acts as a back-up for the Division Manager for the preparation of the County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

The IDEAL CANDIDATE will:

• Have a strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB).
• Have demonstrated success in preparing comprehensive and highly complex financial reports, compilations and written communications as applicable.
• Possess strong organizational skills.
• Establish positive working relationships and demonstrate willingness to learn, including the ability to train and provide guidance to staff.
• Have the willingness to maintain detailed records substantiating the outcomes.
• Have the determination to complete assigned projects in a timely manner.
• Strive for continuous improvement of existing policies, internal control, and procedures.
• Have the ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and professionally both verbally and in writing.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Administering and interpreting county administrative policies and procedures; implementing division goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Preparing financial analyses, schedules, and reports, such as the following: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), Annual State Controller's Report of Financial Transactions for the County and the Joint Powers Financing Authority, Popular Annual Finance Reporting (PAFR), and County Budget Schedules.
• Reviewing and updating changes in the governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles, including procedures for implementation of the changes to the County's financial reports and business processes.
• Coordinating year-end closing activities with the controller's staff, county departments, and agencies.
• Supervise and support division staff in day-to-day operations.
• Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for staff and direct training opportunities for staff.
• Assist departments on complex accounting issues.
• Coordinate annual audit activities with external auditors.
• Participate in accounting system upgrades with the Controller's Information Systems Division and county departments' and agencies' systems as needed.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education or experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Education: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, auditing, economics, or business administration, or other field applicable to the responsibilities and abilities required by the position.
Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience performing a wide variety of financial duties in a large, complex public agency.
Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of accounting, research methods, and financial planning.
• Basic principles and practices of County department operations and its administration and organization.
• Advanced principles of financial administration, including public budgeting and reporting.
• Principles of personnel training, supervision, and evaluation.
• Additional for the Operations Option.
• Principles and techniques of systems analysis and design.
• Computer systems and applications as used within the County.
• Financial and operational activities related to a variety of County departments.

Skill/Ability to:

• Coordinate section activities with other departments, programs and/or outside agencies.
• Direct and participate in the analysis of a wide variety of moderate to complex
  administrative/operational problems and make effective operational and/or procedural recommendations.
• Interpret departmental policies, guidelines and procedures; develop recommendations for improvements, as necessary.
• Supervise, evaluate, and train assigned personnel.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the"Apply"button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.orgto apply.

This is a continuous recruitment that may close at any time.
Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis, and selections may be made at any time within the process.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: ContinuousFirst Round of Application Screening: Week of November 9, 2026Civil Service Panel Interview: Continuous

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (10202026) (Financial Services Manager - D060)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will weigh heavily in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling, and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume and/or the work experience section of your job application will NOT be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.

• I have read and understand this important information.

02

Describe how your educational background and work experiences have prepared you for the position of Financial Services Manager I. Please include your experience supervising or managing staff, including your role and responsibilities, and the number and type of employees you supervised.
03

Describe your knowledge of and experience with preparing financial reports. Specify the types of financial reports and sections of the report considered complex, including the size of revenues you have prepared and monitored, or with which you have been involved.
04

Describe your knowledge of and experience with capital assets. Be specific about the sections of capital assets you have been involved in, prepared, and responsible for.
05

Describe your background and experience in accounting systems. Be specific about the level of your experience, the automated systems you have used, where you gained the experience, and your responsibilities.
06

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• Civic Match
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

07

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question