Financial Reporting Manager

Salary : $99,409.53 – $120,844.25 Annually

Location : Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 23/08-0419-OAUD

Department: Auditor – Controller – Treasurer – Tax Collector’ Office (AUD)

Division: ACTTC General Accounting EFS 51301-11010101-10005

Opening Date: 08/25/2023

Closing Date: 9/18/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Position Information

The County of Sonoma seeks a talented and highly experienced accountant to become their Financial Reporting Manager!

Starting salary up to $57.90/hour ($120,844/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office is hiring a Financial Reporting Manager to supervise the Accounting & Reporting Section of the General Accounting Division. This position will oversee the preparation of the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and implementation of new accounting standards, and will support various county departments in accounting and financial reporting matters, capital asset accounting, and long term debt accounting, including Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB).

Additional responsibilities include overseeing and participating in the design and implementation of various fiscal procedures, developing and reviewing internal programs and controls, providing training to subordinate staff in accounting and auditing, and supervising professional, technical, and clerical staff; including managing a team of five.

The ideal candidate will bring strong supervisory capabilities with the ability to connect with staff as a team leader, be an engaged and positive team member, and possess:

• A solid understanding of accounting principles and experience communicating technical accounting requirements
• Experience with team leadership and personnel managment
• The ability to lead the implementation of new technical accounting standards and update Countywide accounting policies and procedures accordingly
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to analyze accounting-related problems, and identify and recommend novel solutions
• Experience preparing complex financial statements, footnotes, and supplemental schedules
• Advanced MS Office skills, especially Excel and Word
• A valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is highly desired, but not required

The Department

The Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s (ACTTC) office provides a broad range of quality accounting, financial reporting, auditing, collection, financing, and investing services to County Departments, agencies, districts, and the public. Their mission is to provide reliable and relevant financial services in an efficient, ethical, and effective manner to the citizens of Sonoma County while promoting fiscal responsibility and accountability. The Office is comprised of nine divisions, which are overseen by an executive management team that includes the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector and three Assistant Auditor-Controllers. The ACTTC is staffed by 108 full-time employees and has an annual budget of approximately $167 million.
What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework – A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement – A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off – Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions – 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay – Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement – County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement – A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave – May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the .

The ACTTC office is currently recruiting to fill a Financial Reporting Manager position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Supervising Accountant.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, possession of a Certified Public Accountant’s Certificate, or possession of a college degree in accounting, finance, or business administration with at least 21 semesters or 28 quarter units of accounting, including principles of accounting, intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, governmental accounting, cost accounting or auditing; would provide such opportunity.

OR

Four years of experience in governmental auditing and/or accounting at a position comparable to an Accountant III or Accountant-Auditor II with at least 21 semester units of accounting, including principles of accounting, intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, governmental accounting, cost accounting or auditing would provide such opportunity.

Experience: Training and/or experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of full-time paid work experience in a position comparable to Accountant III or Accountant-Auditor II in a local government agency, or four years in a professional level auditing or accounting position which demonstrates competency in the many different facets of accounting and/or auditing theory.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Extensive knowledge of: accounting and auditing principles, theories, and practices as they apply to a wide variety of accounting transactions and fiscal troubleshooting activities.

Thorough knowledge of: the principles, techniques and procedures used in governmental accounting, auditing, and budgetary analysis; the laws, ordinances and regulations which regulate county fiscal operations; modern supervisory practices and principles.

Considerable knowledge of: modern office management, including the application and use of standard office and electronic data processing equipment; expertise in word processing, spreadsheet and database software.

Ability to: plan, coordinate and direct the work of a complex accounting or auditing entity which is composed of diverse fiscal functions; set up, revise, review and maintain complex accounting systems using different accounting and/or auditing functions; coordinate the accounting and/or auditing of division activities; interpret laws and regulations, and apply to a wide variety of fiscal operations; effectively supervise professional, technical and clerical personnel assigned to perform accounting and/or auditing duties; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with co-workers, subordinates and others as required; present ideas in a clear, logical fashion in writing or orally.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONA background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLYApplications are accepted online at. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County paid premium contribution.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01

How did you first learn about this opportunity?

• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
• Careers in Government
• College or University
• Craigslist
• DiversityJobs
• Employee of Sonoma County
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Google Jobs
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Handshake
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
• Indeed
• Instagram
• Job Fair
• La Voz
• Latino Service Providers
• LinkedIn
• Los Cien
• Minority Organization or Group
• Press Democrat
• sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
• Sonoma County Human Resources Office
• Sonoma County Job Line
• Start Here!
• Twitter
• Veterans Services Office
• Women’s Organization or Group
• Workplace Diversity
• ZipRecruiter
• Other Internet Site
• Other Publication

02

Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

• I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
• I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
• I am only interested in full-time positions

03

For this question, and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.
Please detail how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, which normally includes:

• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant’s Certificate, or possession of a college degree in accounting, finance, or business administration with at least 21 semesters or 28 quarter units of accounting, including principles of accounting, intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, governmental accounting, cost accounting or auditing
  OR
• Four years of experience in governmental auditing and/or accounting at a position comparable to an Accountant III or Accountant-Auditor II with at least 21 semester units of accounting, including principles of accounting, intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, governmental accounting, cost accounting or auditing.
  AND
• Two years of full-time paid work experience in a position comparable to Accountant III or Accountant-Auditor II in a local government agency, or four years in a professional level auditing or accounting position which demonstrates competency in the many different facets of accounting and/or auditing theory

Please make sure to list your relevant degree(s), coursework, and/or training. For each position you list, detail your relevant experience and for each position include your job title, employer’s name, dates of employment (mm/yy to mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities.

04

Please provide an example that best demonstrates your experience developing and implementing new GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) or FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) pronouncements and accounting-related policies/procedures/systems. Describe the research and analysis you conducted, what conclusions you developed, the methods used to implement your policy/procedure/system, and the number of employees impacted.

05

Please provide an example of a complex accounting/financial report you have prepared. Specify the purpose of the report/intended audience, government rules/laws you interpreted and applied, types of data analyzed, systems/applications utilized, and your overall role in the project.

06

Please describe your experience as a supervisor/lead worker, including any experience with hiring, training, and/or performance management. Specify the number of staff, types of positions you supervised/led, and the scope of duties you performed.

Required Question