Staff Accountant-26240510

About the role

The County of San Diego has current openings for

Staff Accountant

Interviews will take place the week of December 14, 2026.

Job Offers will take place the week of December 22, 2026.

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications at time of appointment.

Future Salary Increases

• June 2027 - 4.30% increase to base pay (3% Across-the-Board +1.30% Market Increase)

Staff Accountants perform professional accounting work in the maintenance of financial records, audits/audit tests, and related work.

Staff Accountants are responsible for performing professional accounting work in the development and maintenance of a set of financial records; assisting higher level accountants in large audits; preparing trial balances, performing review for accounting transactions, preparing and reviewing journal entries for accuracy and validity on general ledger accounts of average difficulty; analyzing, verifying and performing account reconciliation processes; and for performing the more routine audit tests.

Staff Accountants may supervise others performing clerical and/or paraprofessional accounting work.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill vacancies as they occur in various County departments.

Read additional information for Staff Accountant including benefits, minimum qualifications, examples of duties, essential functions, etc.

Hiring Process and Timeline

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a California CPA certificate; OR
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in accounting or a closely related field such as finance, business administration, or economics, with at least twelve (12) semester or eighteen (18) quarter units of accounting from among the following courses; Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Fund Accounting, Cost Accounting or Auditing.

Additional information

In order for your CPA certificate or college education to be considered, you must attach a copy of the CPA certificate and/or college transcript, diploma, and/or foreign equivalency report during the application process.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Conditions of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Accommodation

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce.

We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

Strategic Plan

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of these values is infused throughout our operations. The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Read more about the Strategic Plan for more information.

Disaster Service Worker

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

Diversity & Inclusion

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.