Accounting Assistant - Senior/Accounting Technician

This position is limited to regular employees of Public Works and is located in Santa Barbara. This management classification is responsible for a significant division within a department or for managing a core business or service of the department.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Program/Business Leaders are senior-level managers in the civil service system and report to executive management. All County leaders are expected to uphold the values of accountability, customer-focus, and efficiency (ACE). Incumbents lead others and model behaviors that exemplify quality customer service; provide effective and ethical leadership; creatively and strategically plan, develop, and implement programs that use human and financial resources to achieve results; are accountable for strategy and goal formation consistent with the County’s mission and key business objectives; engage stakeholders; communicate and collaborate effectively at multiple levels; develop employees; analyze issues and data; and efficiently use public resources. Leadership positions in a County Supervisor's office are at-will and serve at the pleasure of the Supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Leads a significant departmental program or key service area that may have multiple major programs, projects, and/or functions; sets program goals and measurements; and assumes accountability for program results.
• Makes broad policy decisions for the program/business, the work that is performed, and the expansion of services.
• Oversees the program budget development; balances fiscal priorities; prioritizes and allocates resources within the program; and coordinates resources with other programs or departments.
• Supervises others, including Administrative and/or Team/Project Leaders.
• Exercises a high-level of independent action and decision making at the program level.

Requirements

• Possession of and the ability to immediately demonstrate core competencies consistent with the position’s level in the leadership series and the specific work assignment.
• Experience and/or education directly related to the level of leadership and the scope of organizational authority/responsibility required by the position (typically determined at the time of recruitment).

Core Competencies

• Intensity: Goes after the goal with passion; is results-oriented, and gets the job done.
  • Key Concepts: Risk-taker; results-oriented; and initiative driver.
• Ethical Behavior: Does what is right regardless of temptations and pressures to do otherwise; upholds the public’s trust; and conducts self according to a set of principles.
  • Key Concepts: Respect; trust; responsible; fair; and caring.
• Influence: Affects successful outcomes for the organization through the use of masterful leadership, collaboration, and a keen understanding of the organization, its goals, and the interests of all parties.
  • Key Concepts: Engaged; collaborative; strategic orientation; situational awareness; organizationally savvy; inspirational; energizing-empowering; team orientation; and change agent.
• Commitment: Successfully builds relationships with and promotes involvement of diverse groups; considers the needs of diverse clients when developing policies and procedures related to service; works closely with diverse groups to identify and deliver services that meet their needs and the strategic objectives of the program; establishes customer service as the single purpose to which all resources are dedicated; focuses on delivering the best services possible to the public; focuses on customer needs; and is committed to public service.
  • Key Concepts: Public servant; and customer service.
• Interpersonal Skills: Possesses and uses versatile communication styles and approaches; understands the underlying psychology of why people act as they do and changes approach to affect positive outcomes; builds rapport throughout the organization; and develops human potential.
  • Key Concepts: Staff development; communication; listening; delegation; recognition; and buy-in.
• Resiliency: Is adaptable; takes direct action; leads by example; exhibits tenacity. This leader is ready, flexible, self-reliant, and has a reputation for finding opportunities in difficult situations.
  • Key Concepts: Action-orientation; adaptability; flexibility; agility; tenacity; survivability; courage; confidence; and intuition.
• Craftsmanship: Rejects the “good enough for government work” attitude; takes ownership of work done and results accomplished; takes pride in delivering quality services to customers; seeks out opportunities to develop new and creative solutions and programs; imagines possibilities; defines a vision, and works to bring vision into reality.
  • Key Concepts: Innovative; imaginative; inventive; pride-in-work; accountability; self-development; and self-starter.

Supplemental Information

Some assignments may require incumbents to possess some or all of the following:

• Current technical/professional knowledge of the complex principles, methods, standards, and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession.
• Possession of license(s) and/or certifications associated with the assignment.
• Educational degree in a specific area of study.
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License, Class C or higher, by the date of appointment.
• Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County.

Benefits

• Retirement Plans:
  • Generous County Defined Benefit Plan
  • Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans
• Health Benefits:
  • Choice of dental, vision, and medical plans
  • County contributions toward medical and dental premiums
  • On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria providing ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and dependents
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems
  • Healthcare Advocacy Program to help navigate health plan benefits
  • Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, and more
• Paid Time Off:
  • Vacation Leave: 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
  • Sick Leave: 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement
  • Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit
  • Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative commuting methods
• Miscellaneous Benefits:
  • County Paid Term Life Insurance
  • County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Childcare and Employee Discounts
  • Relocation Assistance may apply
  • Flexible work schedule may apply

This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.