Manager Accounting and Payroll

Job Overview:
Perform a vital leadership role within the Financial Services Division, overseeing accounting, payroll, and reconciliation operations to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. This role leads and develops a team of professionals, providing training, guidance, and performance feedback to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Serve as a subject matter expert, support process innovation, and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting. The position requires strong technical accounting and payroll knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to foster collaboration in a fast-paced environment while supporting the Clerk’s strategic goals.

Essential Functions: 
Employees performing in this job function may perform some or all the duties. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
•    Manage, coordinate, train staff and perform a variety of advanced/complex activities related to the efficient operation of the assigned functional areas of the Financial Services Division including serving as a team coach and liaison.
•    Perform/Assist with daily accounting, payroll, and reconciliation procedures; perform similar daily duties as Accountant, Payroll Administrator, and Reconciliation Accounting Specialist.  
•    Ensure productive daily performance and equitable workload distribution and tie this back to the performance management system; assign, schedule, review and evaluate the work of subordinates; assist in various areas of personnel administration to include preparation of employee performance evaluation, conduct of employee action plans, and employee counseling/discipline.
•    Be the go-to person for the assigned function areas; serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in key areas assigned, train team members on work procedures and practices, and provide ongoing divisional training to include efficient use of a variety of court software, financial systems, and other computer systems.
•    Assist team members with resolving routine to complex day-to-day issues and inform management of any team concerns or issues requiring their attention.
•    Ensure successful efficiency gains through process change; monitor process changes in order to evaluate performance and productivity; report these findings to management for appropriate action.
•    Lead and coach the assigned functional areas; motivate staff to achieve organizational and divisional goals.
•    Design and report performance measures to Assistant Director; develop, implement, and provide tools necessary for staff to collect accurate and useable data and to collect necessary information and report weekly/monthly performance and productivity data to the Assistant Director.
•    Fill the gaps in day-to-day activities; provide backup support to other team members including management in their absence. 
•    Ensure accurate coverage and attendance records; maintain time and attendance records and related reports for divisional personnel; review/approve employee leave requests.
•    Respond to complaints, difficult situations, non-routine inquiries, telephone calls, faxes, and other correspondence from the public in a professional and timely manner.
•    Conform with and abide by all regulations, policies, work procedures and instructions.  
•    Support the Clerk’s Strategic Plan to achieve desired results within the defined process areas.
•    Act, dress and behave in a professional manner to reflect a positive image of the Clerk’s Office.
•    Perform other functions, duties and conduct special projects and/or research as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required:
•    Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
•    Minimum of five (5) years of related experience with demonstrated strong financial knowledge and progressively responsible assignments; or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.
•    Previous supervisory experience.
•    Preference is given to those with sufficient division experience to be proficient in the performance of duties of the assigned functional areas.

Preferred Qualifications: 
•    Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
•    Experience managing or assisting with payroll and financial audits.
•    Experience using MUNIS.

Technical Requirements: 
•    Proficiency working with a personal computer in Windows environment and utilizing word processing (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook).
•    Ability to:
    o    Learn other Microsoft Office products and electronic software, such as case maintenance, HRIS, electronic case filing and tracking customer interaction software required.
    o    Display strong accounting and mathematical skills.
    o    Demonstrate extensive knowledge of payroll processing and accounting concepts, practices and procedures.
    o    Quickly master the various functions within a division(s) (or approved sub-unit thereof) and perform the duties of every position.
    o    Demonstrate knowledge of principles, practices and procedures pertaining to the division and of applicable state statutes, rules, regulations, laws, and ordinances.
    o    Foster a productive work environment which elicits the utmost from subordinates and promotes a process of continual improvement in both quality and productivity throughout the organization.
    o    Supervise, counsel and motivate employees to ensure accurate payroll and other related compensation payments for employees.
    o    Make sound and independent judgments.
    o    Plan and organize, implement goals, objectives and procedures.
    o    Train others in policies and procedures.
    o    Use standard office practices and procedures.
    o    Demonstrate knowledge of the statutes, rules, regulations, principles, practices and procedures pertaining to the division.
    o    Interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations and policies.
    o    Make decisions in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
    o    Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
    o    Assemble and organize data; prepare reports using such data.
    o    Interact professionally and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, coworkers, government officials, and the public.
    o    Communicate effectively with others and express ideas clearly (both written and verbal).
    o    Effectively use business English, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
    o    Meet/interact courteously and cooperatively with the public.
    o    Work with sensitive material; maintain highest level of confidentiality and integrity.
    o    Work in a fast-paced, automated environment that experiences many interruptions.
    o    Use standard office equipment (computer, fax, telephone, copier, etc.).
    o    Travel to all work locations including outlying branches.

Working Conditions: 
This job is eligible for Hybrid Remote and Flexible Work Schedule.
This job is absent of disagreeable working conditions. This job is performed in an office work environment.
This is a Safety and Security Sensitive Position in which a drug impairment constitutes an immediate and direct threat to public health, safety, or security, requiring a high degree of public trust in protecting court records and individual PII (Personally Identifiable Information). The Orange County Clerk of Courts Safety and Security Sensitive Positions requires the employee to perform one or more of the following:
•    Work with confidential customer and/or employee information.
•    Access our Case Management System “Odyssey” that contains PII (personally identifiable information).
•    Access our “Munis System” that contains our banking accounts information, financial information, and PII (personally identifiable information).
•    Access to Court Evidence that includes but is not limited to (controlled substances, criminal investigation documents, weapons, and other like items).
•    Access to the juvenile facility.
•    Handle cash and other forms of payment such as credit cards.
•    Set up differed payments for customers.
•    Be sworn to “Oath by the Clerk”.
•    Operate heavy equipment such as a forklift and scissor lift.
•    Operate company vehicle.

Physical Requirements: 
•    Constant: sitting, speaking and hearing
•    Constant: typing, writing, and reading
•    Occasional: standing, walking, reaching over head, carrying, pushing, lifting (up to 25 pounds)
•    Occasional: driving