SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
Career Family: ACCOUNTANT
Exam openExam status, as of November 4, 2026. Our captured announcement shows a promotional examination for MERCER COUNTY (symbol PC4230H) accepting applications until November 23, 2026. Confirm current status with CSC. Only employees with permanent status in the unit it names may file. Exam schedule
Provisional hiring can precede the examination. See the provisional route
Rules that apply to this title
A guide to the rules, not legal advice.
Senior Accountant is a local-government title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
On paper it calls for a bachelor's degree, though the specification lets enough relevant experience stand in for the degree.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Examination announcements for this title
Promotional announcements
A promotional announcement for this title is accepting applications as of November 3, 2026. A promotional examination produces its own eligible list and is open only to people who already hold permanent status in a qualifying title within the department named on the row, not across that employer generally; filing without eligibility means an ineligible determination and no refund of the fee.
| Title | Symbol | State or local, and unit who may file | Closes | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SENIOR ACCOUNTANT$80,102 to $109,886 a yearPromoted from: Accountant | PC4230H | LocalMercer CountyBoard of Social Service | November 23, 2026 | Open | Announcement |
Previously announced, and no longer listed by the Commission
The Commission removes an announcement once it has closed and republishes nothing, so these 2 examinations are no longer on any of its own lists. We keep what we have read, here covering 2026. None of them can be filed for now; a title announced once is often announced again, so this is the record of whether that has happened.
| Title | Symbol | State or local, and unit | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior AccountantOpen competitive | C1196H | LocalAtlantic County | October 21, 2026 |
| Senior AccountantOpen competitive | C0935H | LocalOcean County | September 21, 2026 |
Every row is CSC's own; see the full announcement calendar.
Promotion paths the Commission has published
Titles the Commission accepted as feeders for this one
Holders of the title below were eligible to compete in a promotional examination for SENIOR ACCOUNTANT.
- ACCOUNTANTstated by 1 employer
Titles this one has led to
Holders of SENIOR ACCOUNTANT were eligible to compete in a promotional examination for the title below.
- PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTstated by 5 employers
Each line comes from a promotional examination announcement, which sets its own eligibility for that employer and that examination — so this records what the Commission has accepted before, not a rule about who qualifies now. Most of these paths have been stated by a single employer, and the count beside each says how many. A promotional examination is also closed to anyone without permanent status in the unit the announcement names. How promotional eligibility works.
Salaries stated in examination announcements
One Civil Service Commission examination announcement has stated a salary for this title. Local pay is set by each employer under its own ordinance or contract, so this is one employer's figure for one position rather than a rate for the title.
| Employer | Salary as published | Basis | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer CountyBoard of Social Service | $80,102.00 ~ $109,886.00 | A year | November 2026 |
Each figure is quoted as the Civil Service Commission printed it in that employer's announcement on the date shown. It is evidence of what was advertised then, not a statement of what the position pays now, and an announcement does not say whether a post is full or part time. No average, range or comparison is given across employers, because each sets its own pay and nothing here establishes that two of these positions are alike. Where an employer has announced the title more than once for the same department, only its most recent figure is shown. How this data is sourced.
Who employs this title
Senior Accountant is used at 5 independent authorities.
Independent authorities
Where this title is used
Senior Accountant is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a Supervising Accountant or other fiscal officer, performs complex professional accounting work concerned with designing, maintaining, analyzing and operating accounting record and reporting systems in support of agency operations; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Performs more complex financial audits of documents and implements accounting functions, systems, policies and plans. Monitors and inspects complex expenditures to ensure that all transactions comply with accounting and tax policies, procedures, recommendations and regulations. Provides guidance to professional and clerical staff who perform accounting tasks. Prepares required financial statements and fiscal reports including the compilation and analysis of data for monthly, quarterly and/or annual reports. Conducts complex investigative book audits and financial record examinations. Prepares and interprets budget requests and prepares current statements of allocations and disbursements of budgeted funds. Conducts surveys to prepare recommendations for improvements, controls and other changes to improve the efficiency of accounting systems. Audits and records expense invoices. Conducts operational audits and edits cost reports and other financial summaries and statements. Checks disbursements and controls adherence to contractual obligations. Compiles, analyzes and prepares a variety of statements and reports for use in financial, budget and personnel planning. Maintains essential accounting records and files. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting theories, principles, methods, practices and equipment. Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation and maintenance of accounts and their application to specific situations. Knowledge of the techniques commonly used in analyzing, correcting and maintaining accounts. Ability to analyze accounting problems, organize assigned work and develop effective work methods. Ability to ensure that prescribed accounting procedures are followed. Ability to provide technical advice and assistance to those charged with keeping financial records. Ability to apply established accounting methods, procedures, interpretation, and facts. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Five (5) years of professional accounting or auditing experience, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in professional accounting courses. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in professional accounting courses; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned experience. OR: Possession of a valid certificate as a Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) issued by the New Jersey State Board of Certified Public Accountants or as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgement and make accurate and informed decisions.