Associate Fiscal Analyst

Overview

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Associate Fiscal Analyst in the Trial Courts Administrative Services’ Payroll Financial Services unit of the Branch Accounting and Procurement office. This position reports directly to the Fiscal Supervisor. Primary responsibilities include direct support to assigned trial courts with completing day-to-day processing of payroll activities, accounting entries, general ledger account analysis/maintenance/reconciliation, and preparation of payroll-related financial reports. This position assists the Fiscal Analysts with completing tax-related services (e.g., deposits, etc.) and new hire reporting for the Phoenix HR/Payroll courts. 
 

The Judicial Council
 

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 monthly reimbursement towards public transit commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. In Sacramento, the office is minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s Sacramento office at least two days a week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the area surrounding this location. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Responsibilities

• Reconcile and record payroll data for assigned courts ensuring data accuracy and consistency for Non-Phoenix system payroll providers (county payroll system, Automated Data Processing, Workday, and Kronos).  
  • Format payroll files and reconcile using the Excel template. 
  • Validate data is mapped to the appropriate Personnel Services general ledger accounts.
  • Record payroll data in the Phoenix system. 
  • Research discrepancies and coordinate resolution with trial courts and TCAS General Ledger & Reports unit. 
  • Prepare and record adjusting payroll journal entries. 
  • Complete fiscal year-end accrual and adjustment entries.
• Perform general ledger account maintenance to monitor, analyze, and reconcile Personnel Services general ledger accounts, related cash accounts, and review trial balances. 
  • Review general ledger liability, cash accounts, and employee accounts receivables for variances between payroll files, vendor payments, employee collections, and banking entries.
  • Research discrepancies and coordinate resolution of variances with trial courts and applicable TCAS units, as necessary. 
  • Process adjusting journal entries when necessary.
  • Perform open item management process to clear reconciled entries in the general ledger liability accounts. 
• Assist trial courts and Fiscal Analyst with preparing benefit and insurance reconciliations to process vendor payments. 
  • Assist with processing vendor payments to complete the Third-Party Remittances (TPR) activities for courts using the Phoenix HR/Payroll System. 
  • Assist Fiscal Analyst and trial courts with preparing benefit and insurance reconciliations. 
  • Monitor the payment of time-sensitive payroll vendors (e.g., taxes, garnishments, retirement, deferred compensation, and union dues). 
  • Coordinate resolution of discrepancies with trial courts. 
• Complete employee payment processing and banking services. 
  • Print and mail employee checks and remuneration statements for courts using the Phoenix HR/Payroll system. 
  • Prepare payroll for mailing, including using production equipment to fold, stuff, and apply postage. 
  • Ensure the check room remains stocked with printing and delivery supplies; ensure mail room equipment is working properly. 
  • Monitor and confirm net pay payroll transactions and positive pay files using Bank of America CashPro; research any notifications, exceptions, or employee payment issues (e.g., check encoding errors, ACH rejects, or non-receipt of payment). 
  • Act as liaison between the bank, internal units, and the trial court to correct banking issues (e.g., stop payment requests and ACH Reversal requests).
• Assist Fiscal Analyst with completing payroll tax service activities and annual distribution of Employee Wage and Tax Statement (W-2) for trial courts using the Phoenix HR Payroll system. 
  • Assist Fiscal Analyst with reconciling taxes for each payroll process; remit payroll taxes by the established tax authority due date using the Bank of America Tax Express system.
  • Assist Fiscal Analyst with preparing, completing, processing quarterly tax activities, and tax reconciliation activities. 
  • Complete annual W-2 distribution. 
• Assist and maintain system accuracy, document business processes, and provide training. 
  • Validate system test results for changes and enhancements that impact payroll financial data.
  • Review, update, and create business processes. 
  • Prepare custom vendor related reports and update training materials. 
  • Provide on-going end-user training and knowledge transfer to trial courts and internal customers.

     

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, finance, accounting, or a directly related field that would provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the assigned area. An additional four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Two (2) years as a Fiscal Services Coordinator working in the procurement or accounting function with the Judicial Council of California or two (2) years of experience performing the duties of a class comparable in the level of responsibility to that of a Fiscal Services Coordinator in a California superior court or California state-level government entity.

Desirable Qualifications

• Working knowledge of payroll accounting and general ledger account analysis.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system experience.
• Ability to interpret and properly apply payroll rules.
• Ability to interact professionally at all levels with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.

   

Other Information

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment authorization to work in the United States will be required.

How To Apply

This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on January 23, 2026. 

To complete an online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

$6,909 - $9,673 per month 
 

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying mass transit costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flex Elect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer you performed these functions.  Your answers should not exceed a total of three pages.

1. When reviewing written work, either your own or a peer, what do you focus on to ensure quality and accuracy?