Accountant Auditor III; General Accounting

Overview

Final Filing Date: Monday, March 2, 2026

Exam #: 26/20B22/01ND

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Auditor-Controller is an elected official who provides the County of Monterey with financial leadership and expert advice on a wide range of fiscal matters and advocates financial integrity and accountability in all County business practices. The department consists of five divisions:
Administration, Systems, General Accounting, Internal Audit, and Disbursements (Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Property Tax).

Under direction, performs the most complex professional accounting duties involved in establishing, maintaining, analyzing, auditing, reconciling, and verifying financial records in support of County-wide programs; provides fiscal administrative support in preparing, analyzing, and monitoring accounting transactions and balances; prepares and audits a variety of accounting and complex financial, statistical, and budgetary reports, statements, and records utilizing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP);

and performs other work as required. Incumbents may be assigned the following professional specialized areas:
General Accounting, Property Tax, Accounts Payable, Auditing, Systems and Payroll.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used County-wide to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

• Prepares the most complex accounting records and transactions; reviews accounting records and transactions for accuracy; analyzes records and transactions in order to project results; reviews large or complex federal or state claims; performs professional accounting and auditing duties.
• Calculates, posts, audits, and adjusts journal entries; updates accounts to reflect revenue and expenditures; audits accounts for errors and makes appropriate adjustments; reviews and reconciles different financial systems; reconciles various financial statements to ensure accurate fund accounting; matches financial statements with cash amounts; reviews and approves account transfers and other transactions.
• Provides complex technical accounting and auditing consultation to departments, divisions, or programs; responds to inquiries, resolves issues, and conflicts, and provides detailed and technical information concerning related standards, practices, pending legislation, laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures; attends and participates in various meetings, committees, and professional groups.
• Oversees the preparation of or prepares a variety of comprehensive financial, narrative, and statistical reports, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, state and federal reports, and special district reports; prepares and submits mandated reports within established time frames.
• Ensures integrity of financial information provided to Board of Supervisors, County Administrative Officer, state and federal officials and auditors, and county staff; makes corrections to balance sheet accounts; reviews reconciliations, such as warrants, payables, cash, and investments; performs variance analysis and makes appropriate corrections.
• Assists Auditor-Controller Analysts and Auditor-Controller Division Chiefs with the implementation, oversight, and auditing of accounting, budgetary, operational, and other fiscal-related policies and procedures. Provides consulting services for departmental executive staff, finance and accounting managers, and CAO Budget Office staff.
• Maintains current knowledge of and complies with applicable laws, codes, rules, regulations, established policies and procedures, and with generally accepted accounting principles; ensures accuracy of input and output data.
• Monitors and assesses budgetary and accounting systems, techniques, and procedures for financial effectiveness and operational efficiency; identifies, develops, and implements policies, procedures, techniques, and systems to enhance fiscal accuracy, operational efficiency, financial effectiveness, and compliance with established requirements.
• Communicates with County staff, governmental agencies, and outside organizations to exchange information, coordinate activities, and resolve issues and concerns.

The Successful Candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: GAAP; internal control systems, cost accounting, and general ledger; methods, procedures, and terminology used in professional accounting; principles and practices of governmental accounting; financial statement and report analysis; techniques of financial forecasting; principles,…