Senior Accountant

Salary: See Position Description
Location : 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA
Job Type: Full-time (100%)
Job Number:
Department: BSO (Business Services Office)
Division: FAS (Finance and Administrative Services)
Opening Date: 10/01/2026
Closing Date: 10/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Please apply for this job directly on the Cabrillo College job opportunities page here.

This full-time, twelve (12) months per year, Senior Accountant position performs a variety of complex professional accounting duties in the review, preparation and maintenance of District financial records, reports and systems for general fund, categorical and grant-funded operations, programs and services; prepares reconciliations, projections, analyses, financial statements and reports regarding general ledger and expenditure and budget issues; ensures compliance with all federal, state and District regulations, policies and procedures; provides technical support for the District ERP and accounting systems; audits transactions and provides financial oversight of categorical and grant-funded programs and expenditures; and performs related duties as assigned.
The ideal candidate will share Cabrillo's commitment to educating its racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. Cabrillo College serves approximately 10,500+ students per term. As of the 2025 Academic Year, 71% of Cabrillo students are members of minoritized populations, identifying themselves as LatinX (49%), Multi Ethnic (20%), Asian (1%), Black Non-Hispanic (COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Starting Salary Range: $6,557to $7,590per month;plus 5% annual increases up to step 7. The maximum initial salary step placement on the classified salary schedule is step 4. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) assignment, 12 months per year, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with evenings and weekends as required
Classified employees are required to join the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and, as such, contribute 8% of their monthly salary to CalPERS on a pre-tax basis. Position scheduled to begin as soon as possible, pending continued funding and Governing Board ratification. Salary is subject to proration based on the beginning date of assignment. Cabrillo is unable to sponsor work visas.
Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, life, short- and long-term, and vision (optional) insurance provided at a share of cost on a pre-tax basis, CalPERS Retirement, and an Employee Assistance Program. Please see the Benefits link on the HR webpage for more information.
Work-Life Balance: For this full-time assignment, Classified employee benefits include:

• Twelve (12) days of vacation leave accrued annually; rate increases up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at year ten (10)
• Twelve (12) days of sick leave accrued annually, seven (7) of which can be used as Personal Necessity days annually
• Nineteen (19) paid holidays annually
• Five percent (5%) Longevity award annually after ten (10) years of service, with increases to fifteen percent (15%) at twenty (20) years
• Professional Growth educational incentive program

As a classified staff member at Cabrillo College, you will join a vibrant community of professionals and educators working together to provide a positive educational environment where our students experience diverse academic and cultural perspectives.
Examples of Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

• Performs complex technical accounting work in the maintenance of financial records for assigned general fund operating, capital project and fixed asset accounts; prepares and posts journal entries for financial transactions by fund or sub-fund; analyzes and researches variances and discrepancies and processes correcting and adjusting entries; performs ongoing analyses and reconciliation of general ledger accounts; prepares schedules, statements and quarterly and annual financial reports; compiles and reconciles data and completes assigned sections of the Comprehensive Annual Financial and Budget Report (CCFS-311) required by the State Chancellor's Office.
• Analyzes categorical and grant costs to ensure they are valid and reimbursable in accordance with grant agreement provisions, college policy, GASB rules and federal audit guidelines; reviews financial transactions for all categorical and grant-funded programs, financial aid, scholarships and loans to ensure accuracy, assignment to correct budget/account codes, availability of funds, proper authorizations, completeness of required documentation, conformance with District accounting policies and procedures and compliance with all federal and state grant contract and budget provisions including in-kind contributions and maintenance of effort; verifies expenditures conform with District policies and procedures and comply with contract provisions and requirements; returns transactions to originators for required corrections; approves transactions for posting to the general ledger; prepares invoices to grantor agencies; monitors to ensure postings to the general ledger have occurred accurately and timely; assigns and activates fund and account numbers as required; ensures contracts are approved by the Board of Trustees.
• Compiles data and prepares assigned sections of the District's preliminary and final budgets; estimates revenues and forecasts expected expenditures; calculates salary and benefit costs; ensures all program costs have been determined and covered, including matching funds requirements; works with program staff to confirm expected funding levels; compiles detailed spreadsheets by program including revenues by source and all components of planned expenditures; works with program and budget staff to ensure all costs are accounted for and balanced and budget deadlines are met.
• Monitors and tracks student financial aid including federal work study, scholarships and loans; reconciles transactions with Financial Aid, Cabrillo Foundation staff and other programs and posts any required adjusting entries; approves federal fund cash drawdowns; prepares monthly close entries and reports to the Board of Trustees; compiles a variety of federal and state annual financial reports including the annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) report; works closely with the Financial Aid department to plan for annual close processes; prepares journal entries and checks to return unused Foundation funds and pay interest to the federal government on Cal Grant funds.
• Analyzes, verifies, and approves budget augmentations for grant-funded programs and other assigned budgets; calculates and/or verifies salary and benefit costs and other operating expenses; reviews and works with program staff to resolve concerns and/or approve budget modifications if required;
• Performs cash management and cash accounting functions; prepares journal entries for revenues from taxes, apportionments, interest and other sources; prepares journal entries for all payables including payroll, accounts payable and student financial aid disbursements; reconciles the County Cash Account; posts any correcting entries and prepares monthly reports to the Board of Trustees; monitors the Revolving Cash Fund; monitors cash flows and prepares or assists in preparing cash flow statements; performs cash and bank reconciliations on a timely basis.
• Assists in compiling annual financial reports, including footnotes regarding accounting standards, supporting schedules and working papers; serves as a point of contact for auditors for the annual financial audit and single audit for federal grants; prepares schedules and working papers requested by auditors; responds to requests for information and ensures completion in a timely manner.
• Serves as a technical resource and assists managers and staff in other departments in conducting queries, generating special reports and developing new processes and procedures, and developing preliminary and final budgets; provides guidance on appropriate courses of action to resolve budget and financial reporting questions and problems.
• Participates in the annual year-end close process; reconciles and allocates expenditures to the appropriate accounting period, establishes liability accounts for deferred expenses and revenues, ensures purchase orders are closed or rolled over to the next fiscal year, and carryover budgets are created in preparation for the annual financial audit.

OTHER DUTIES

• May serve as a designated member of the District's Budget Committee.
• Stays current on changes in accounting standards and regulatory requirements, particularly as they relate to California community colleges.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• An understanding of, and sensitivity to, the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty, and staff; AND
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field, AND
• Three years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, preferably in a governmental agency or educational institution; OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and procedures of general and governmental accounting, including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting, preferably in a community college environment.
• Generally accepted accounting principles, Government Accounting Board standards and other standards and requirements applicable to community colleges.
• Principles, practices and procedures of internal control and audit.
• Principles and practices of public agency budget development and management and grant tracking and monitoring.
• District policies, procedures and practices governing the processing and recording of financial transactions including purchasing and accounts payable transactions.
• Federal, state, local and District laws, regulations and policies governing fiscal requirements of community colleges and educational institutions, including those related to categorical and grant programs including Title V of the California Education Code, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Chancellor's Office Budget and Accounting Manual and guidelines and federal Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).
• Federal, state, local and District laws, regulations and policies governing payroll requirements of community colleges and educational institutions and the provisions of District collective bargaining agreements.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication including proper English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Research methods and financial analysis techniques.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Operate a computer and use standard business software and make advanced use of complex enterprise accounting system software and spreadsheet applications.
• Analyze, post, balance, and reconcile complex financial data and accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and legal requirements.
• Analyze information and issues, evaluate alternatives, reach sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations on complex financial data.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply District accounting policies and procedures, state and federal law, codes, ordinances and regulations and professional accounting standards regulating financial accounting, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Organize, set priorities, and exercise sound, independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive financial and other written materials.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Uphold the District's mission, values, and objectives, including equity and Guided Pathways.
• Support an inclusive work environment that fosters diversity, respect and engagement.

Additional Information
Application Process:

1. Complete the application with a minimum of three (3) professional references and answer all supplemental questions; provide detailed information to aid in determining that the minimum qualification requirements have been met
2. Attach resume
3. (Encouraged but not required) Attach all unofficial transcripts for college coursework completed, if applicable (copies, photos, and downloads are acceptable) displaying any degrees conferred. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency a