About this position
One -Full-Time position as
Accountant I, II or III
FINAL FILING DEADLINE: By 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) seeks a detail-oriented and collaborative accounting professional with experience working across a variety of funding sources, including tax measures. The ideal candidate brings strong technical accounting skills, a solid understanding of public sector, grant-funded finances, and the ability to manage complex financial activities with accuracy and integrity. This role requires clear communication, a team-oriented approach, and a solutions-focused mindset.
As a statewide leader in transportation planning and capital project delivery, RTC integrates vision, technical excellence, and collaboration to advance projects that improve safety, expand access, protect our natural environment, and strengthen connections between neighborhoods, jobs, and destinations. Our work, focused on improving mobility between Watsonville and Santa Cruz, reflects a commitment to delivering lasting public mobility improvements for decades to come.
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is a regional agency created by the State of California to carry out transportation responsibilities that cross city and county boundaries. The members of the RTC represent the County Board of Supervisors, the City Councils, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. Along with volunteer committee members and Commission staff, the RTC works in cooperation and consultation with other public agencies; business, environmental, neighborhood and advocacy groups; and members of the public to deliver a variety of transportation options to serve the community’s needs.
Key Issues and Priorities
Funding – Developing a long-range transportation plan and selecting projects to receive a variety of local, state and federal transportation funds, while also pursuing any and all funding sources for transportation projects in the region, including competitive state and federal grants.
Measure D – Assist in managing the Measure D ½-cent sales tax for local transportation improvements and overseeing the selection of local and regional transportation projects to receive these funds.
GENERAL DEFINITION
Under general direction of the Finance and Budget Officer, the Accountant performs difficult, complex and professional accounting and fiscal duties. The Accountant maintains fiscal records; prepares a variety of accounting statistical and narrative reports; and other accounting and fiscal work as required.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Include but are not limited to the following):
Accountant I
Is the entry level class in the professional Accountant class series. Under closer direction incumbents perform more routine duties while learning RTC policies and procedures and becoming familiar with the variety of systems and practices. This class is distinguished from the Accountant II in that the latter is the journey level class in this series.
Accountant II
Is the journey level in the Accountant series. Under direction, incumbents work independently, perform professional operating or cost accounting work, which requires the application of established accounting principles to a wide variety of problems. As distinguished from the Accountant I level, accounting assignments are relatively more wide ranging and complex.
Accountant III
Is the Advanced Journey Level in the Accountant series; incumbents are expected to perform complex accounting technical work. Assignments are more unpredictable and more analytical including: assisting in budget preparation, preparing indirect cost allocation plan (ICAP), prepare complex financial reports and staff reports for the Board, maintains payroll system, and maintain the fixed assets.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
· 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.
• Budgeting principles and terminology.
• Auditing and reconciliation principles and methods.
• Applicable laws, regulations, and requirements related to payroll processing and financial
recordkeeping in public agencies.
• Preparation of financial statements, balance sheets, budgets, reimbursement claims, and
other fiscal reports and documents.
• Oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills.
ABILITY TO:
· Analyze, balance, review, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
· Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
· Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
· Prepare clear, concise, and complete financial reports and statements.
· Exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
· Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
· Work independently from general instructions.
· Make accurate mathematic and statistical calculations.
· Maintain accurate records and files.
· Establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of the work.
FOR ACCOUNTANT III
· Assign, direct and review the work of others.
· Train others in work procedures.
· Analyze, balance, review, interpret, and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
· Verify the accuracy of financial data and information.
· Ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed above may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be
Accountant I
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in economics, business administration, finance, accounting, or a closely related field. Two years’ paraprofessional accounting experience at a level equivalent to the RTC’s classification of Accounting Technician and demonstration of proficiency of required work may substitute for the education requirement.
Accountant II
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance, accounting or a closely related field, which must have included at least 12 semester or 18 quarter units from among the following accounting courses: Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Governmental Accounting, Fund Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing, Financial Accounting or Managerial Accounting AND at least two years of experience performing duties comparable to an Accountant I in the public or private sector, some knowledge of governmental budgetary operations.
-OR-
Possession of a Certified Public Accountant Certificate AND at least two years of experience performing duties comparable to an Accountant I.
-OR-
At least 12 semester or 18 quarter units from the above listed accounting courses AND at least two years of experience as an Accountant I.
Accountant III
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance, accounting or a closely related field, which must have included at least 12 semester or 18 quarter units from among the following accounting courses: Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Governmental Accounting, Fund Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing, Financial Accounting, or Managerial Accounting AND four years of increasingly responsible professional accounting experience performing full working-level accounting duties with CPA firm, or four years of experience performing full working-level accounting duties in the public or private sector or least two year experience at a level equivalent to an Accountant II in the public sector.
-OR-
Possession of a Certified Public Accountant Certificate AND four years of increasingly responsible professional accounting experience, at least two of which must be at the Accountant II level in the public sector.
-OR-
At least 12 semester or 18 quarter units from the above listed accounting courses may be substituted for the required education AND at least four years of increasingly responsible professional accounting experience, at least two of which must be at the full journey level .
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid California Class C Driver's License is required for this position or must be able to provide suitable transportation approved by the Executive Director. Be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Position requires work at a computer/video display terminal and desk for extended periods of time. May require travel to various locations. May require work in evenings, weekends, satellite office and travel in county to board meetings.
MONTHLY SALARY:
ACCOUNTANT I: $6,976.32-$8,827.66
ACCOUNTANT II: $7,673.95-$9,709.16
ACCOUNTANT III: $8,440.09-$10,679.00
The RTC offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
· Health – medical, vision, dental and employee assistance program
· Retirement – defined benefit through CalPERS
· PTO – 4.4 weeks (22 days) per year with increases after 5-year anniversaries
· Holidays – twelve and one half days including a floating holiday
· Other – disability, life insurance, employee assistance program
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, completed supplemental questions and a completed employment application.
Application and job description are available at: Working with the RTC - SCCRTC . APPLICATION AND ALL OTHER MATERIAL MUST BE RECEIVED BY 2:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, TO BE GUARANTEED A PRIORITY REVIEW. Please indicate in the application materials for which level you are applying.
All resumes and correspondence will be held in confidence. Materials submitted become the property of RTC and will not be returned. Relocation assistance will not be provided.
For assistance or if you require special accommodations, please call
(831) 460-3200. RTC Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. The RTC will not fax application materials.
Salary Information