Senior Accountant - Payroll

Senior Accountant - Payroll

Salary

$77,860.96 - $106,545.40 Annually

Location

Riverside

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-77413-05

Department

Auditor Controller

Division

County Payroll

Opening Date

07/06/2026

Closing Date

7/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION

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

The Payroll Division of the Auditor-Controllers 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, withholdings, 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 PeopleSoft 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-Controllers 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 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.
• May review laws, legislation, and policies to determine impact on accounting procedures and to 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.
• May represent the department at meetings relative to fiscal and budgetary operations.
• May perform purchasing or other fiscally related staff services; may assist in the preparation of district and departmental budgets.
• May train, lead, and assist in the evaluation of work performance of accounting and clerical personnel.
• Perform special accounting related assignments or projects as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors 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.)

Experience: One year of professional level accounting or auditing experience equivalent to the County of Riverside Accountant II classification.

OPTION II

Certificate: Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.

Experience: One year of professional level accounting or auditing experience equivalent to the County of Riverside Accountant II classification.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Accounting principles and practices; governmental accounting and budgeting; laws and regulations affecting governmental financial operations; the principles of business management and office methods and procedures; data processing systems applicable to accounting operations.

Senior Accountant positions assigned to the Internal Audits Division of the Auditor-Controllers Office are required to have knowledge of auditing principles, practices, and standards.

Ability to: Interpret and analyze complex data and material, and draw logical conclusions; understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to accounting operations; maintain complex records and prepare complex reports and financial statements; prepare oral and written reports; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

For questions regarding this recruitment

For specific questions regarding this position, contact Genesis Ochoategui at gochoategui@rivco.org or call (951) 955-4593. Please allow 1-2 business days for response to general inquiries.

____

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veterans Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

BENEFIT PROGRAM: SEI

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,

Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY:

Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for individuals who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave Benefits. The wage replacement rate is determined by current law, offering 60-70% of the wages earned during the SDI eligibility period.

Additionally, employees receive employer-paid Long-Term Disability Benefits, which cover 66.67% of pre-disability earnings, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month. There is a 365-day waiting period before these benefits become active. Employees may coordinate these benefits with other available leave balances to receive up to 100% of their regular pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01

Are you a current or temporary employee with the County of Riversides Auditor-Controllers Office (ACO)?

• Yes
• No

02

Have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelors 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? (Please attach a copy of your transcript as an attachment)

• Yes
• No
• I have a bachelors degree, but it does not include the specialized coursework
• None of these

03

Do you possess a valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor? (Please upload copy as attachment)

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of professional level accounting or auditing experience equivalent to the County of Riverside Accountant II classification do you possess? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

05

How many years do you have submitting taxes for payroll? (Include details on your resume/application)

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06

How many years of experience do you have processing payroll? (Include details on your resume/application)

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

07

How many years of supervisory or lead level experience do you possess? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

08

I acknowledge that I am required to provide proof of my degree and a copy of my transcript(s) as verification of educational units completed prior to the closing date of the job posting. (Official and unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation.)

• Yes

Required Question

Employer County of Riverside

Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569

4080 Lemon St., 7th floor

Riverside, California, 92502-1569

Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information

Website http://www.rc-hr.com