Principal Accountant

Salary : $106,386.74 - $148,941.44 Annually
Location : throughout Ventura County, CA
Job Type: Various
Job Number: 0813VAR-26AA (SG)
Department: Various Departments
Opening Date: 10/28/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

THE POSITION
Under general direction, performs working supervisory accountant functions which are highly complex in assigned fiscal program area; functional areas of responsibility may include the supervision and direction of staff performing professional or technical accounting work in an assigned department or agency fiscal program area; non-supervisory, expert-level responsibility for planning, organizing and directing a major department finance program or function; and directing and supervising fiscal staff and operations within smaller department settings.

Principal Accountant is the fourth and highest working level in the Accountant series performing working supervisory accountant functions which are highly complex, but less policy focused than accountabilities assigned to management level positions. Functional areas of responsibility include the supervision and direction of staff performing professional or technical accounting work in an assigned department or agency fiscal program area; some positions may not directly supervise staff but instead may have expert-level responsibility for planning, organizing and directing a major department finance program or function; some positions may also direct and supervise fiscal staff and operations within smaller department settings.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Various departments

Principal Accountant is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
The following duties are considered characteristic but not inclusive and are examples only. Specific assigned duties may differ depending on the needs of the department/agency.
Examples Of Duties

• Performs a variety of duties in supervising the operations, services, and staff within an assigned department or agency fiscal program; plans, directs and supervises the work of professional, technical, and clerical fiscal staff engaged in fiscal transactional processes, reconciliation, and balancing of fiscal accounts; budget development and financial reporting.
• May plan, organize, and direct fiscal activities within smaller department/agency settings; areas of responsibility include staff supervision and operational oversight; budget development and monitoring, and preparing financial statements.
• Participates in the selection and evaluation of staff; provides training and employee development; determines the most effective use of resources.
• Completes performance evaluations and conducts regular conferences with employees to discuss their performance; documents performance and attendance problems; discusses corrective or disciplinary action with management and/or Human Resources; takes corrective or disciplinary action.
• Conducts a review of staff work and performs quality control; ensures that staff are performing their work in compliance with County and program rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Develops staffing schedules to ensure sufficient coverage for operations; approves time off; verifies and approves time cards; communicates schedule changes to management and staff.
• Advises and consults with management concerning the development of departmental operating and program budgets, revenue producing or debt service proposals, as well as the accounting and financial implications of existing and projected departmental activities.
• Collects and analyzes financial information; prepares and oversees the preparation of periodic and ad hoc accounting and financial reports including, but not limited to, the quarterly reports, monthly financial reports, payroll reports and internal service funds reports.
• Prepares and monitors the budget in assigned program area; calculates expenditures and revenues; analyzes budget variances and presents reports to executive management.
• Performs fiscal, auditing, and compliance activities for diverse programs receiving local, state and federal funding; ensures programs are compliant with funding entity and County rules and regulations.
• Performs funding allocation analysis and ongoing audits of multiple grant sub-recipients to ensure their fiscal and program compliance.
• Interprets and applies laws and regulations governing assigned operations
• Manages assigned grant programs including a review of monthly program reports, and communications with all service providers/grantees on fiscal and program operations.
• Provides technical expertise and information to auditors, local, state, and federal agencies, supervisors, managers, and others regarding assigned functions.
• Develops and oversees implementation of financial policies and procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the County's Administrative Manual.
• May serve as business case owner for implementation of fiscal management systems including modules for enrollment and claims payments, developing payment processes, report development and related systems elements; performs quality control testing for system integrity.
• Reviews financial documents such as ledgers, reports, vouchers, purchase orders, and invoices to ensure that proper cost centers are charged, that expenditures and revenues are recorded in the proper classification, and that purchases and other transactions by the department are proper in accordance with their approved budget; determines the level and appropriateness of year-end closing accruals, prepayments, deferrals, depreciation, or adjustments.
• Assists in rate setting for product lines and services.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Completion of a Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting; AND Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, one (1) year of which must be at the lead or supervisory level; OR two (2) years as a Senior Accountant for the County of Ventura.

Education/Experience Substitution:
Professional level accounting experience may be substituted for up to two (2) years of undergraduate education on a year-for-year basis, provided the candidate possesses at least eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting coursework, including two (2) semesters of Intermediate Accounting.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Verification of the required college degree and college-level coursework is required.
  • Transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which reflect the date your degree was conferred and passing grades in the required subject areas must be submitted to County of Ventura, Human Resources within three (3) business days of the recruitment closing date. If transcripts or grade reports are not submitted, your application will be screened out and you will not be allowed to continue in the process.

You may submit transcripts using one of the following options:

• • • Attach the transcripts or grade reports to your application
    • Email the transcripts to
    • Mail to Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1970, Ventura, CA 93009

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.
You must submit this documentation with your application, a hard copy with a paper application or a scanned PDF copy as an attachment for an online application. If you submit a hard copy with a paper application, be sure it's a copy. Whatever you submit will not be returned to you. To attach a PDF scanned copy to an online application, use the Add Attachment(s) link in the Attachments section of your application.
If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate).

• Depending on position, may require the possession of, or the ability to obtain prior to appointment and maintain, a valid California driver license.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
When a disaster strikes of natural or manmade origin, Ventura County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations, different hours, and out of class. At the time of hire, all County employees will be required to sign an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (Sections 3102 and 3103, Government Code of California).

DESIRED

• Master's degree in Business Administration
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: operations, services and activities of a comprehensive fiscal program in assigned area; Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, practices, and standards; governmental accounting and auditing standards and guidelines; budgeting methods and processes; principles and practices of cost accounting; laws and regulations affecting the financial oper