Senior Accountant - Payroll

Job Overview

The Auditor-Controller's Office in Riverside County seeks a Senior Accountant for its Payroll Unit located in Riverside, CA.

The Payroll Division is responsible for payroll processing, accounting, and reconciliations. It comprises the Payroll Operations Unit, which processes payroll timely and accurately, and the Accounting/Reconciliation Unit, which remits payroll reports to state and federal agencies quarterly, reconciles bi‑weekly payrolls, maintains accurate records and reconciliations, and reports retirement earnings and contributions to CalPERS. The primary mandate is to pay over 26,000 County employees bi‑weekly while ensuring compliance with County, IRS, state, and federal regulations.

The Senior Accountant performs advanced professional accounting work within County Payroll Operations, including overseeing daily warrant validation and Treasury Cash Receipts distribution, managing direct‑deposit transmissions and reports, and processing 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, handling long‑term disability (RSA), fringe‑benefit taxation such as 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.

• Maintain and control the fiscal record‑keeping functions and systems in a departmental accounting function involving complex and diversified work.
• Examine and analyze complex fiscal record‑keeping 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 assist in the revision, design, and implementation of accounting systems.
• Provide advice and assistance to departments and other officials on a variety of accounting and budgetary problems.
• Review laws, legislation, and policies to determine impact on accounting procedures and provide guidance in the performance of accounting and fiscal work.
• Coordinate work with other sections, departments, or outside fiscal intermediaries; may coordinate accounting functions with data processing systems.
• Represent the department at meetings relative to fiscal and budgetary operations.
• Perform purchasing or other fiscally related staff services; assist in the preparation of district and departmental budgets.
• Train, lead, and assist in the evaluation of work performance of accounting and clerical personnel.
• Perform special accounting‑related assignments or projects as required.

Work Schedule:

9/80.

5% added premium pay for those who possess a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting, or another field of study that included at least 18 semester or 27 quarter units in accounting, finance auditing, taxation, financial reporting, business finance, financial statement analysis, or external and internal reporting, or closely related coursework. One year of experience as a professional accountant with the County of Riverside may substitute for the 18 semester or 27 quarter units of specialized coursework.
• One year of professional‑level accounting or auditing experience equivalent to the County of Riverside Accountant II classification.

• Possession of a valid…