Accountant / Senior Accountant

CTAPP Accountant / Senior Accountant

The CTAPP Accountant / Senior Accountant plays an important role in a new regulatory program designed to protect client funds held in trust by California attorneys through detection and deterrence of client trust accounting misconduct. This position involves conducting compliance reviews and complex investigative audits of attorneys' trust accounting practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws, including the Rules of Professional Conduct, while also developing and adapting procedures as the program evolves. The Senior Accountant prepares detailed reports, analyzes findings, communicates with licensees to educate them when possible, and recommends corrective actions. Additionally, this role requires collaboration with external accountants, emphasizing effective communication and knowledge of accounting practices, auditing standards, and investigative methodologies.

Accountant

Under general supervision, the Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) Accountant performs professional accounting and investigative work, including conducting compliance reviews and targeted investigative audits of attorney trust accounts to confirm licensee compliance with applicable laws, including the Rules of Professional Conduct; prepares compliance reviews and investigative audit reports; coordinates with external accountants and communicates with licensees; reviews and recommends compliance review outcomes based on the findings of external accountants' reports; and other related functions as assigned. The CTAPP Accountant may act as an individual contributor or serve on engagement teams, working closely with individual professional, technical, and support staff.

Senior Accountant

Under general supervision, the Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) Senior Accountant performs professional accounting and investigative work, including planning, organizing, and performing compliance reviews and complex investigative audits of attorney trust accounts to confirm licensee compliance with applicable laws, including the Rules of Professional Conduct; prepares compliance reviews and investigative audit reports; reviews, analyzes, and approves recommended outcomes for the compliance reviews and investigative audits conducted by CTAPP Accountants; coordinates with external accountants and communicates with licensees; and performs other related functions as assigned. The CTAPP Senior Accountant may act as an individual contributor or serve in a lead capacity over engagement teams or individual professional, technical, and support staff.

Employment Standards

• Knowledge of Principles of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP).
• Knowledge of Principles of U.S. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of electronic data processing necessary to audit financial records.
• Knowledge of Principles of computer information systems, including database, report generation, word processing, and spreadsheet analysis in auditing software management, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
• Knowledge of Principles of problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Knowledge of Principles of data analysis and research tools.
• Knowledge of Principles of effective written and verbal presentations.
• Knowledge of Principles of public relations / customer service.
• Knowledge of Principles of organizational behavior and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of Principles of project planning and implementation.
• Ability to Plan, organize, and perform agreed-upon compliance review procedures and conduct directed investigative audits, utilizing a variety of professionally accepted accounting methodologies to identify violations of the California Rules of Professional Conduct, including evidence of economic fraud or criminal or unethical activity.
• Ability to Work collaboratively with team members to problem solve issues and findings identified during compliance reviews and investigative audits.
• Ability to Utilize audit management software to organize, plan, assign, and execute procedures.
• Ability to Monitor and recommend refinement of standard compliance review procedures.
• Ability to Use professional judgment to recommend an appropriate outcome of a compliance review or investigative audit and communicate expectations to the licensee in a clear, professional, and educational manner.
• Ability to Receive and relay detailed information through verbal and written communication.
• Ability to Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, computer, and in writing.
• Ability to Perform under stress and adopt practical courses of action.
• Ability to Effectively interact with others.
• Ability to Effectively address conflict.
• Ability to Create professional work products, including detailed analysis, utilizing computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to Manage multiple, simultaneous assignments to plan and prioritize day-to-day work independently and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to Maintain appropriate confidentiality in program administration and interactions with contractors, consultants, experts, and others.
• Ability to Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Ability to Interpret and analyze complex written documents.
• Ability to Act with integrity in all State Bar-related business.
• Ability to Quickly adapt to changing environments and critical needs; adopt and effectively implement courses of action.

Minimum Qualifications

Accountant

Senior Accountant

Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar's selection process for this classification.