County of Santa Barbara Hiring for Financial Office Professional I (Public Safety) at Lompoc, CA  Full Time

Financial Office Professional I:
Hourly rate of $21.90 – $26.33, plus bilingual and uniform allowance when applicable.

Start Your Professional Career with the County of Santa Barbara: The Financial Office Professional I position is a gateway to the County’s advanced Financial Office Professional career path in public sector. As you grow in your financial professional experience, you will develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to advance your County career to a Financial Office Professional II and Financial Office Professional Senior.

POSITION: The entry-level fiscal position commonly uses accounting, budgeting, and financial management procedures; while learning how to perform the full range of fiscal record keeping, clerical, and related tasks. Each Financial Office Professional position may be different depending on the needs of the department and the nature of the work that you will be performing.

Vacancies: We are accepting applications to establish one employment list to fill current and future full-time vacancies in the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department within the County of Santa Barbara.

Location: The list established will be used to fill current and future vacancies at All Locations (separate lists for different locations will not be established). Candidates must be willing to accept an assignment at any location throughout Santa Barbara County. Applicants must check “All Locations” on the application agency wide question and supplemental questionnaire.

To learn more about County benefits, please visit links below:

Health Benefits and Wellness:
Compensation Summary:

Retirement Plan:

• For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: ; Retirement reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, 1937 Act plans, and more.

To learn more about the hiring departments, visit websites listed below:

Sheriff’s Office: .

Probation Department:

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Excellent customer service
• Time management
• Professionalism
• Effective oral and written communication
• Learn new tasks quickly
• Prioritize and complete time-sensitive work tasks
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Work independently and as a team player
• Self-motivating
• Detail oriented

SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Example of duties include a wide range of accounting and financial duties within the Finance Bureau. Examples of duties include accounts payable, accounts receivable, petty cash custodian responsibilities, journal entries, deposits, assisting in the preparation of management reports, and other duties as assigned. This position also provides customer service to department employees as well as answering phones, corresponding with vendors, and county employees.

PROBATION DEPARTMENT: Examples of duties include a wide range of accounting and financial duties in support of the Fiscal Unit and the Department including processing accounts payable, creating purchase orders, answering phones, processing client payments, setting up client accounts, collections, and preparing journal entries. In addition, FOP staff assist in the preparation and monitoring of contracts, communicate with both department and county staff, contractors, and clients. Due to the high level of interaction required with individuals both internal and external to the department, a strong customer service focus is required.

The County of Santa Barbara strives to attract and maintain a work culture that is Accountable, Customer-focused and Efficient (our ACE IT values). Upon entering this job class, all Financial Office Professionals must possess the following competencies to successfully perform the essential functions of the job and to uphold our County values:

• Skill to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, decimals, and percentages.
• Skill to make change, receive payments, and reconcile amounts on documents and control.
• Use alphabetic and numeric computer keyboards to enter data and make calculations with skill and accuracy.
• Skill to use computer operating system, word processing, spreadsheet, and email software to create documents, enter data, and send and respond to email messages.
• Correct use of English parts of speech, vocabulary, sentence structure, and paragraphs to organize and convey information.
• Skill to meet and interact with the public and co-workers courteously and professionally.
• Skill to file information alphabetically, numerically, and chronologically.
• Skill to understand a customer’s needs and use techniques to educate customers in a courteous, relationship-building manner.
• Utilize an understanding of the County’s organizational structure to serve and direct customers.
• Understand departmental programs to prioritize and respond to service requests.
• Skill to understand and follow confidential and privileged procedures.
• Skill to problem solve and choose appropriate solutions from a fixed set of alternatives.

For more information regarding the position and the required competencies, click .

Some positions MAY require the following Additional Qualifications:

• A valid California Class C Driver’s License at the time of appointment.
• Work shift and weekends.
• The ability to read, write, and/or converse fluently in English and Spanish may be preferred. If you indicated on your application that you are bilingual, Human Resources will place you on the employment list for a job requiring bilingual skills. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications, in accordance with Civil Service Rule 7.
• Some departments require employees to wear uniforms.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

Please read the SELECTION PROCESS: Be sure to frequently check your email throughout this entire process, as this is the only way we will be notifying applicants regarding their status and to provide all of the important information throughout the recruitment process.

1. Review Supplemental Questionnaire: Supplemental questions will be used to verify applicant’s willingness to perform the functions of the job.
2. Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ): Qualified candidates will be emailed a notice to complete a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). Candidates who successfully pass the PHQ will be invited to the next step in the recruitment process. Failure to submit a PHQ by the deadline or successfully pass the PHQ, will result in disqualification from continuance in the recruitment.
3. Microsoft Excel Online Assessment PASS/FAIL: Candidates will be notified by email with instructions on completing this online skill assessment. The deadline to complete the assessment will be clearly stated in the invitation emailed to candidates. You must complete and pass this assessment in order to continue in the selection process.
4. Online Skill Assessments: Candidates will be notified by email with instructions to complete the online Office Professional assessment. The deadline to complete the assessment will be clearly stated in the invitation. Candidates must complete and pass the assessment to be placed on the employment list.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Office Professional assessment to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list. Human Resources will notify you by email if your name is removed.

NOTE: Veteran’s preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability. To receive veteran’s preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the closing date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We do require verifications of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: The Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department conduct a thorough background investigation which includes a polygraph examination. Current or excessive use of drugs, sale of drugs, serious criminal history, unfavorable credit history, satisfactory reference checks and employment history and no tolerance of deception.

BACKGROUND DISQUALIFIERS:

• An admission of having committed any act amounting to a felony within five years in California, or in another state which would be classified as a felony in California
• An adult felony conviction in California, or with a conviction for an offense in another state which would be classified as a felony in California
• Currently on Probation or Parole
• Adult felony and/or misdemeanor conviction(s) may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and how recent
• Conviction of/or sustained petitions for any sex crime
• Recent use and/or possession of illegal drugs; Failure to reveal prior use will be disqualifying
• Unfavorable work history
• Poor credit history
• History of committing domestic violence
• Dishonesty or failure to reveal pertinent information

Conditional Job Offer: A conditional offer is extended to those candidates who successfully complete the background investigation; if the offer is accepted, you will then be required to complete and pass a medical exam prior to hire.

Live Scan: Electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice is required for employment.

All Positions: Appointees may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Statement of Commitment
The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County’s mission and to embody a culture of “One County, One Future.” Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 3/29/24 at 5:00 PM PST; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at .

For recruitment questions, please contact Recruiter, Ms. Ryan at [email protected].