Senior Accountant​/Chief Deputy Tax Collector

Jefferson County, Oregon

Salary: $75,323 - $96,275

Jefferson County, (pop. 25,800), is located in central Oregon in a high desert climate east of Mount Jefferson and Mount Hood. The county’s largest city is Madras, (pop. 7,982), which serves as the county seat and gateway to central Oregon’s vast selection of outdoor recreational opportunities. The area’s low-humidity climate offers over 300 days of sunshine and only receives an average of 13 inches of precipitation each year.

Madras is located within 70 miles of four ski resorts and 30 different golf courses. The city is just 30 miles from Redmond, which has a regional airport, and only 40 miles from Bend, which has major shopping, specialized medical care and other amenities.

Jefferson County is governed by three part-time County Commissioners who have appointed a County Administrative Officer who coordinates the day-to-day activities of the organization and helps ensure compliance with County policy. The County operates with 157 FTEs on a 2026/2027 adopted budget of $84.9 million.

Operating with four FTEs on a 2026/2027 budget of $641,933, the Finance & Tax Department is responsible for implementing and maintaining sound budgetary practices and effective internal controls, preparing and presenting the County’s annual budget, monitoring budget-to-actual activity, and recommending budget adjustments as necessary. The Department provides oversight of the County’s entire budget and works closely with each department managing individual departmental budgets, helping ensure consistent financial stewardship across the organization.

The Department also supports the County’s financial reporting, which is prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and administers property tax billing and collection for all taxing districts within Jefferson County.

The Senior Accountant/Chief Deputy Tax Collector works under the direct supervision of the Finance Director/Custodial Officer/Treasurer/Tax Collector and performs professional accounting and financial analysis for the County’s Governmental and Proprietary funds. The position requires knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, methods, and practices, with a strong background in governmental fund accounting preferred. The Senior Accountant exercises independent and highly technical judgment in financial management and is responsible for preparing reports, statements, and analyses;

overseeing accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, monthly journal entries and reconciliations; and supporting other operational fiscal activities of the Finance & Tax Department as needed.

Education & Experience:

A bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in accounting from an accredited four-year college or university and three (3) years of experience in a progressively responsible financial and managerial accounting capacity; or equivalent experience in a related field. Candidates may alternatively possess an associate degree as listed above and have five (5) years of experience; or eight (8) years of an equivalent combination of related education, training and experience to perform the aspects of the job.

Jefferson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply by November 2, 2026. (Applications reviewed as submitted, open until filled.)