Class Title:	PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT
Class Code:	77414
Salary:	$30.95 - $42.49 Hourly $2,476.25 - $3,398.97 Biweekly $5,365.20 - $7,364.43 Monthly $64,382.45 - $88,373.17 Annually

Description  Benefits
Under direction, to plan, organize, and direct the fiscal, accounting, and auditing activities of a large county department or to assist in the management of a major division of the Auditor-Controller's Office; to direct the establishment, maintenance, and review of accounting and fiscal records; to supervise the preparation of complex reports; and to do other work as required. The Principal Accountant class is the first management level class in the Accountant series. This class is utilized in large county departments and in major divisions of the Auditor-Controller's Office. When used in operating departments, it is characterized by its emphasis on management of a large and diversified accounting division with a sizable staff, including subordinate lead or supervisory professional and fiscal clerical accounting positions, which have responsibility over various accounting functions or projects. In a division of the Auditor-Controller's Office this class directs difficult accounting or auditing work involving the fiscal activities of several county departments and assists in the management of various functional units within the division. This class is distinguished from Supervising Accountant in that the latter is the full supervisory level in the series and is distinguished from the next higher level of Chief Accountant in that the latter has major division head responsibility in the Auditor-Controller's Office.
Examples Of Essential Duties:
• Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates through subordinate supervisors the establishment, review, revision, and daily operation of a departmental accounting function or a major division of the Auditor-Controller's Office. • Determines how the departmental or division accounting management program should be structured and how accounting principles should be applied. • Supervises specialized audits in the Auditor-Controller's Office of the fiscal records and accounting procedures in various county departments, divisions, and agencies. • Participates in the selection, training, and evaluation of subordinate professional accounting and fiscal clerical personnel; coordinates accounting functions with data processing systems. • Evaluates, develops, recommends, and coordinates implementation of computer applications to accounting systems and procedures. • Supervises and participates in the development and maintenance of systems forms for fiscal transactions, record keeping and budgetary controls; supervises and performs analysis of complex fiscal record keeping systems and procedures. • Provides technical guidance, direction, and training to subordinate staff performing complex accounting and auditing work, including computer applications. • Reviews laws, legislation, and policies to assure compliance and to determine impact on accounting procedures and recommends changes where appropriate. • Coordinates the work of subordinate staff with other sections, departments, or outside fiscal intermediaries; assists in the budget preparation process. • Confers with and advises department and other officials on a variety of accounting and budgetary matters.
Recruiting Guidelines:
EITHER OPTION I Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in business or public administration, economics, finance, accounting, auditing, or a closely related field with a specialization in accounting. (A specialization is interpreted as the completion of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in accounting coursework.) OR OPTION II Possession of a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor. AND Experience (Both Options): Three years of experience as a professional accountant, including one year in a supervisory or lead capacity over other professional accountants. Knowledge of: The principles and techniques of supervision; the theory, principles, and practices of general and governmental accounting, budgeting, and auditing; state and local codes, rules, and regulations influencing county fiscal operations; data processing systems and their application to accounting operations; the methods of developing systems forms for various types of accounting records and reports; the principles, methods, and techniques of public administration, personnel, and business office management. Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct a complex accounting or auditing program; evaluate and supervise the work of subordinate staff; apply legal and administrative accounting policies to general county accounting systems; analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and recommend effective courses of action; communicate effectively in oral and written form; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Other Requirements:
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required of some positions in this class.
Pre-Employment:
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment).
Probationary Period:
As an Approved Local Merit System, the County of Riverside requires all new regular or seasonal employees to serve an initial probationary period, the duration of which is indicated 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.