Job Description
Full job description
The Planning and Building Department is currently seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Accountant II.
Join us in shaping the future of San Mateo County! The Planning and Building Department is dedicated to achieving a better future for the County and its communities. The Department prepares and enforces land use plans and regulations, addresses housing and transportation needs, and permits and inspects new development. Together, these functions contribute to protecting public health and safety, preserving natural resources, advancing equity for all residents, and enhancing the overall quality of life in San Mateo County.
Definition
Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work relating to both centralized and departmental County accounting procedures and records.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Accountant II is the journey level class in this series, competent to independently perform the full range of accounting duties. Successful performance requires a thorough knowledge of governmental accounting procedures, the ability to exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines and may involve skill in directing the work of support staff. The use of computer technology and/or automated input and output documents varies with the department to which assigned. This class is distinguished from Senior Accountant, which is either the supervisory and/or advanced specialist level in the professional accountant series. The classes are distinguished from the fiscal office support classes in that the work requires not only process knowledge, but also analytical and systems development skills in addition to a strong accounting theoretical knowledge. They are further distinguished from the Internal Auditor series in that the latter classes perform internal and external audits in addition to performing accounting duties.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Review accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and calculations and make correcting entries.
Examine supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal regulations.
Prepare and maintain control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
Prepare trial balances; coordinate and calculate periodic closings.
Prepare journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger, journals, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
Compile and prepare general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
Assist in and/or coordinate the preparation and analysis of budgets for departmental and County funds.
Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts; prepare and coordinate budget appropriation transfers.
Confer with departmental representatives and provide information regarding budgeting and accounting processes.
Analyze and prepare varied financial statements and reports.
Apportion monies, including secured, unsecured, impounded, redeemed, and other taxes.
Review and approve claims for referral of tax, grant, or other monies and prepare claims for reimbursement from various state or funding agencies and/or programs.
Maintain varied departmental cost accounting records, disbursing funds to various accounts and/or billing for reimbursements as required.
Analyze programs and legislation to determine fiscal and budgetary impact; prepare budgetary appropriation transfers and supplemental budgets.
Review and recommend modifications to existing or creation of accounting systems and procedures; may assist with or coordinate the automation of manual accounting systems.
Provide technical support to internal and outside auditors and governmental program auditors.
May plan, direct, review, and evaluate the work of fiscal office support staff on a project or day-to-day basis; may train staff in work procedures.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Experience and Education:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Accountant II: Two years of accounting experience, preferably in a governmental or public agency.
NOTE: This classification requires the successful completion of a minimum of twelve semester units of college-level accounting coursework.
Knowledge of:
Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund, and governmental accounting.
Principles and practices of business data processing, particularly as related to the processing of accounting information.
Applicable laws regulating public fiscal operations.
Budgeting principles and terminology.
Basic auditing and financial reconciliation principles and methods.
Skill/Ability to:
Review, analyze, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements.
Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
Direct the work of others on a project or day-to-day basis.
Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
Make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
Maintain accurate records and files.
Establish and maintain effective working relations.
Application/Examination
County Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo or County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified, regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which will include a pre-interview written exercise. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: August 4 - 8, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interviews: August 14 and/ or 15, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (0716XXXXXX) (Accountant II - E011)
The Planning and Building Department is currently seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Accountant II.
Join us in shaping the future of San Mateo County! The Planning and Building Department is dedicated to achieving a better future for the County and its communities. The Department prepares and enforces land use plans and regulations, addresses housing and transportation needs, and permits and inspects new development. Together, these functions contribute to protecting public health and safety, preserving natural resources, advancing equity for all residents, and enhancing the overall quality of life in San Mateo County.
Definition
Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work relating to both centralized and departmental County accounting procedures and records.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Accountant II is the journey level class in this series, competent to independently perform the full range of accounting duties. Successful performance requires a thorough knowledge of governmental accounting procedures, the ability to exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines and may involve skill in directing the work of support staff. The use of computer technology and/or automated input and output documents varies with the department to which assigned. This class is distinguished from Senior Accountant, which is either the supervisory and/or advanced specialist level in the professional accountant series. The classes are distinguished from the fiscal office support classes in that the work requires not only process knowledge, but also analytical and systems development skills in addition to a strong accounting theoretical knowledge. They are further distinguished from the Internal Auditor series in that the latter classes perform internal and external audits in addition to performing accounting duties.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Review accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and calculations and make correcting entries.
Examine supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and state and federal regulations.
Prepare and maintain control and subsidiary accounting records involving a variety of transactions and accounts.
Prepare trial balances; coordinate and calculate periodic closings.
Prepare journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger, journals, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
Compile and prepare general and subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
Assist in and/or coordinate the preparation and analysis of budgets for departmental and County funds.
Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts; prepare and coordinate budget appropriation transfers.
Confer with departmental representatives and provide information regarding budgeting and accounting processes.
Analyze and prepare varied financial statements and reports.
Apportion monies, including secured, unsecured, impounded, redeemed, and other taxes.
Review and approve claims for referral of tax, grant, or other monies and prepare claims for reimbursement from various state or funding agencies and/or programs.
Maintain varied departmental cost accounting records, disbursing funds to various accounts and/or billing for reimbursements as required.
Analyze programs and legislation to determine fiscal and budgetary impact; prepare budgetary appropriation transfers and supplemental budgets.
Review and recommend modifications to existing or creation of accounting systems and procedures; may assist with or coordinate the automation of manual accounting systems.
Provide technical support to internal and outside auditors and governmental program auditors.
May plan, direct, review, and evaluate the work of fiscal office support staff on a project or day-to-day basis; may train staff in work procedures.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Experience and Education:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Accountant II: Two years of accounting experience, preferably in a governmental or public agency.
NOTE: This classification requires the successful completion of a minimum of twelve semester units of college-level accounting coursework.
Knowledge of:
Principles, practices, and terminology of general, fund, and governmental accounting.
Principles and practices of business data processing, particularly as related to the processing of accounting information.
Applicable laws regulating public fiscal operations.
Budgeting principles and terminology.
Basic auditing and financial reconciliation principles and methods.
Skill/Ability to:
Review, analyze, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements.
Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
Direct the work of others on a project or day-to-day basis.
Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
Make accurate mathematical and statistical calculations.
Maintain accurate records and files.
Establish and maintain effective working relations.
Application/Examination
County Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo or County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified, regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which will include a pre-interview written exercise. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: August 4 - 8, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interviews: August 14 and/ or 15, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (0716XXXXXX) (Accountant II - E011)
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Accountant II - Planning and Building (County Promotional Only) position is now open for candidates interested in the Accountant Jobs sector. This role in San Mateo offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Accountant Jobs is a plus.
