Senior Accountant - Payroll

for questions regarding this position, please contact the recruiter listed in the supplemental information section.
about the position
the auditor-controller's office in riverside county seeks a senior accountant for its payroll unit located in riverside, ca.
the payroll division of the auditor-controller's office is responsible for payroll processing, accounting, and reconciliations. The division is comprised of the payroll operations unit and the accounting/reconciliation unit. The objective of the payroll operations unit is to process payroll timely and accurately. The function of the payroll accounting/reconciliation unit is to remit payroll and report to state and federal agencies quarterly, reconcile the bi-weekly payrolls and maintain accurate records and reconciliations of all transactions relating to the payroll processes, and report all retirement earnings and contributions to calpers.

The division’s primary mission is to timely and accurately pay over 26,000 county employees bi-weekly. In addition to ensuring accurate reporting of taxable earnings, with holdings, and retirement earnings, we verify they are in compliance with county requirements, irs regulations, and state and federal rules and regulations.
the senior accountant performs advanced professional accounting work within county payroll operations, including overseeing daily warrant validation and treasury cash receipts distribution, direct deposit transmissions and reports, and the processing of bi-weekly payroll tax deposits, california edd payments and reports, and calpers retirement payments and reports. Responsibilities include preparing and reviewing journal entries for bi-weekly payroll general ledger activity, long-term disability (rsa), handling fringe benefit taxation such as the taxation of county-owned vehicles, reconciling payroll agency funds, and preparing quarterly and year-end payroll tax reports including forms 941, de9, de9c and w-2.

The senior accountant researches and interprets federal and state regulations, county policies and procedures, and provides technical guidance and payroll accounting expertise to payroll department representatives and accounting personnel throughout the county. The position also serves in a lead capacity by overseeing the work of lower-level staff, providing training and technical direction, reviewing work for accuracy and compliance, and assisting management with workflow coordination and performance monitoring.
the most competitive candidates will have strong leadership skills, experience in payroll processing and/or tax reporting, familiarity with People soft financials or a similar enterprise system, and proficiency in account reconciliations. Candidates with a fundamental payroll certificate are highly desired.
work schedule
this position offers a 9/80 work schedule.
5% added premium pay for those who possess a certified public accountant (cpa), certified internal auditor (cia), and/or certified information systems auditor (cisa).

• all applicants must upload a copy of their transcripts as proof of accounting specialization completed at an accredited college or university. **

meet the team!
the riverside county auditor-controller is an independent, nonpartisan elected office established to provide accounting, audit, payroll, and property tax administration services to county government, cities, k-14 schools and special districts. The auditor-controller is the chief accounting and disbursement officer of the county. Riverside county is the fourth largest county in california and the eleventh largest in the united states.
examples of essential duties

• maintain and control the fiscal recordkeeping functions and systems in a departmental accounting function involving complex and diversified work, or in the auditor-controller's office, plan, organize, and perform complex and specialized accounting work.
• examine and analyze complex fiscal recordkeeping systems and procedures; prepare, review, and verify a variety of accounting, statistical, and narrative reports.
• review accounting policies and procedures to ensure conformance to applicable laws, rules, and regulations; review, evaluate, and…