Financial Services Manager I - Controller's Office (Open and Promotional)

This position is in the Disbursements and Financial Reporting Division of the Controller's Office and will be responsible for supervising the division's accounting staff to provide accounting services to County departments and agencies. The position is also responsible for the preparation of financial and budget reports, Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), the State Controller’s Annual Transaction Report, and the State Controller’s Budget Schedule. The position acts as a back-up for the Division Manager for the preparation of the County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE
The Controller's Office contributes to the stability and efficiency of the County by having a diverse staff who works collaboratively with County departments, cities, special districts, other local agencies, and the taxpayers of San Mateo County to provide high-quality accounting and financial, auditing, payroll, property tax accounting services, and financial reporting in a courteous, cooperative, and cost-effective manner.
  
THE DISBURSEMENTS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING DIVISION
The Disbursements and Financial Reporting Division is committed to performing all duties with integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency of its processes and services. The Division provides accounting services and are a resource to County departments and agencies and is responsible for the preparation of the County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), and other required financial reports. The Division is also responsible for Disbursements of payments to vendors and mandated reporting. Mandated reporting include IRS 1099, CDTFA Sales and Use Tax, EDD vendors operating as individuals, and others.

The IDEAL CANDIDATE will:

• Have a strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB).

• Have demonstrated success in preparing comprehensive and highly complex financial reports, compilations and written communications as applicable.

• Possess strong organizational skills.

• Establish positive working relationships and demonstrate willingness to learn, including the ability to train and provide guidance to staff.

• Have the willingness to maintain detailed records substantiating the outcomes.

• Have the determination to complete assigned projects in a timely manner.

• Strive for continuous improvement of existing policies, internal control, and procedures.

• Have the ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and professionally both verbally and in writing.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Administering and interpreting county administrative policies and procedures; implementing division goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Preparing financial analyses, schedules, and reports, such as the following: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Financial Report for the San Mateo County Joint Powers Financing Authority (JPFA), Annual State Controller's Report of Financial Transactions for the County and the Joint Powers Financing Authority, Popular Annual Finance Reporting (PAFR), and County Budget Schedules.
• Reviewing and updating changes in the governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles, including procedures for implementation of the changes to the County's financial reports and business processes.
• Coordinating year-end closing activities with the controller’s staff, county departments, and agencies.
• Supervise and support division staff in day-to-day operations.
• Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for staff and direct training opportunities for staff.
• Assist departments on complex accounting issues.
• Coordinate annual audit activities with external auditors.
• Participate in accounting system upgrades with the Controller's Information Systems Division and county departments’ and agencies’ systems as needed.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education or experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of accounting, research methods, and financial planning.

• Basic principles and practices of County department operations and its administration and organization.

• Advanced principles of financial administration, including public budgeting and reporting.

• Principles of personnel training, supervision, and evaluation.

• Additional for the Operations Option.

• Principles and techniques of systems analysis and design.

• Computer systems and applications as used within the County.

• Financial and operational activities related to a variety of County departments.

Skill/Ability to:

• Coordinate section activities with other departments, programs and/or outside agencies.

• Direct and participate in the analysis of a wide variety of moderate to complex
   administrative/operational problems and make effective operational and/or procedural recommendations.

• Interpret departmental policies, guidelines and procedures; develop recommendations for improvements, as necessary.

• Supervise, evaluate, and train assigned personnel.

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately.

• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and 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 will receive five points added to their final passing score.

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%). 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 https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

This is a continuous recruitment that may close at any time. 

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis, and selections may be made at any time within the process.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Continuous
First Round of Application Screening: Week of November 9, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: Continuous

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.