Senior Accounting Technician (20706258)

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) is seeking a self-motivated and highly experienced accounting professional to join our team as our next Senior Accounting Technician!  The incumbent will perform the most difficult and complex types of duties assigned to this classification, exercising a high level of independent judgment and initiative.  Join our cohesive team at our amazing mission-driven agency! 

About Midpen:  Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with more than 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.  Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.  If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.

About the Position:  Midpen aims to recruit and retain employees who embody professionalism, accountability, and respect, who value working in a mission-driven agency focused on inclusivity, diversity, and equity.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of five years’ experience performing the full range of technical work in the areas of general accounting and auditing.  Responsibilities include:

• Accounts receivable/payable.
• Reconciling expenditure and revenue accounts including capital assets and long-term debt funds.
• Verifying availability of funds and classification of expenditures.
• Reconciling expenditure and revenue accounts, including land acquisition worksheets, capital assets, and long-term debt funds; reconciling bank statements.
• Assist in processing debt service obligations, including creating payment schedule, paying annual obligations, posting interest on bonds and notes from statement, updating liability balance, and posting journal entries.
• Review credit cards monthly and ensure that transactions are properly coded and approved.
• Providing technical assistance to the Accountant in preparation of the year-end audit.
• Review, post, balance, reconcile, and maintain accurate and confidential accounting and payroll records.
• Assist in gathering data and preparing monthly financial and statistical reports.
• Verify, post, and record a variety of financial transactions; prepare and maintain databases.
• Maintain a variety of ledgers, registers, and journals according to established accounting policies and procedures; reconcile transactions and account statements; record changes and resolve differences; maintain the accuracy of accounting and financial records.
• Report generation.
• Produce journal entries to post  to the general ledger,
• Accurately prepare employee and vendor payments for retirement and other benefits; submit reportable compensation to CalPERS and process payments; prepare Federal and State tax reports.

Top candidates:

• Have experience working with financial systems and have the ability to adapt to new technology and information systems.
• Have excellent written and interpersonal skills.
• Can organize, prioritize and follow-up on work assignments.
• Can interpret and accurately record data.
• Can work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Have demonstrated experience fostering positive and effective working relationships.

This is an advanced journey-level classification which requires the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality.

Experience in public sector finance, with the knowledge of principles of governmental financial recordkeeping and bookkeeping, is highly desired.

For additional information about the position, see the Job Description on our website. 

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

Work Environment:  This position is part of Administrative Services at Midpen’s office in Los Altos, California.  Midpen offers a hybrid office/telecommute work schedule for this position.

Education and Experience:  any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: 

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college-level coursework in accounting or finance, and
• At least five (5) years in the maintenance of financial and accounting records.
• Experience in public sector finance, with the knowledge of principles of governmental financial recordkeeping and bookkeeping, is highly desired.

Licenses & Certifications Required:   Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Benefits:   Midpen provides an excellent benefits package including health, life & disability insurance as well as CalPERS pension. Please see the Benefits page on Midpen’s website for details.

How to Apply: apply online at CalOpps.org

(To avoid missing email communication about this recruitment, add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders.)

Application deadline: March 8, 2026.  Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Cover letter 

3. Resume 

4. Supplemental question responses

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

Interview Schedule: (dates subject to change)

First Interview (virtual): March 19, 2026

Second Interview & written exercise (in person): March 24, 2026

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation

by contacting the Human Resources department at

(650) 691-1200 or via email at hr@openspace.org