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CTAPP Accountant
Office of Regulation
Annual Salary Range: $94,819 - $126,422
FLSA Exempt / Union Represented
This position allows for up to 4 days of remote work per week.
The deadline to apply is 8/15/2026, 11 pm.
About the Office
The Division of Regulation ensures State Bar licensees comply with obligations imposed by the State Bar Act, the Rules of Court, and the Rules of the State Bar, including annual reporting and registration, licensing fee, Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP), Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements, and other programs and services.
The CTAPP program within the Division of Regulation was implemented in 2023. California attorneys are responsible for safekeeping over $14 billion in funds held in trusts for their clients and other persons. The CTAPP was designed to proactively enhance public protection related to an attorney’s handling of entrusted funds and property by ensuring proper accounting and safeguards for client and third-party funds entrusted to attorneys and by educating and supporting attorneys with the ethical and accounting requirements of managing client trust accounts.
About the Role
This position involves conducting and reviewing agreed-upon procedures engagements and investigative audits of attorneys' trust accounting practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws, including the Rules of Professional Conduct. The CTAPP Accountant performs procedures, analyzes and prepares documents of PBC records, writes specific and detailed description of findings based upon their observations, recommends conclusions and recommendations based upon observations, and communicates with licensees to educate and recommends corrective actions. Additionally, this role requires review of external accountants’ engagements, emphasizes effective communication and knowledge of accounting practices, auditing standards, and investigative methodologies.
The Ideal Candidate
Has experience and is technically proficient in performing attestation engagements; communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing; efficiently manages their time and proactively communicates with team members; exercises sound judgment in discerning important versus unimportant details; enjoys and is skilled in educating others about accounting and compliance standards and practices; is flexible and creative in solving emerging issues; can see both the big picture and the detail support. This person will be driven to be a resource for team members and our licensees and works with excellence.
Definition
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.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The CTAPP Accountant classification is distinguished from the higher-level CTAPP Senior Accountant in that the CTAPP Accountant is focused on conducting compliance reviews and targeted investigative audits and coordinating with external accountants, whereas the CTAPP Senior Accountant assumes greater responsibility for conducting more complex investigative audits that require specialized knowledge, abilities, skills, and experience in accordance with the procedures and policies of the CTAPP Program and the State Bar, and exercises more independent judgment in the performance of their duties. Additionally, the CTAPP Senior Accountant may review the work of the CTAPP Accountant.
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs sensitive, and targeted compliance review procedures and enhanced investigative audits of attorney client trust accounting records.
- Analyzes investigative reports and other records and prepares reports of findings.
- Ensures accuracy of information and effectively communicates findings both verbally and in writing.
- Makes recommendations for identified violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Reviews the work of external accountants in their role as agents of the State Bar, ensuring agreed-upon procedures are followed and in accordance with State Bar policies.
- Confers with senior management staff to discuss, evaluate, and make policy and procedures recommendations regarding compliance reviews and investigative audits.
- Uses professional judgment and State Bar developed guidelines to recommend appropriate outcomes of compliance reviews, including mandatory corrective action plans and referrals to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel for discipline.
- Works efficiently to oversees the complete compliance review process and works closely with individual professional, technical, and support staff.
Knowledge of:
- Principles of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP).
- Principles of U.S. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
- Principles and practices of electronic data processing necessary to audit financial records.
- Principles of computer information systems, including database, report generation, word processing, and spreadsheet analysis in auditing software management, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
- Principles of problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
- Principles of data analysis and research tools.
- Principles of effective written and verbal presentations.
- Principles of public relations/customer service.
- Principles of organizational behavior and conflict resolution.
- Principles of project planning and implementation.
- Within the introductory period, obtain a working knowledge of the State Bar office and functions.
- Within the introductory period, obtain a working knowledge of the law governing the proper use of trust accounts, trust account recordkeeping requirements and the duties of licensees holding entrusted funds.
- 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.
- Work collaboratively with team members to problem solve issues and findings identified during compliance reviews and investigative audits.
- Utilize audit management software to organize, plan, assign, and execute procedures.
- Monitor and recommend refinement of standard compliance review procedures.
- 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.
- Receive and relay detailed information through verbal and written communication.
- Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, computer, and in writing.
- Perform under stress and adopt practical courses of action.
- Effectively interact with others.
- Effectively address conflict.
- Create professional work products, including detailed analysis, utilizing computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Manage multiple, simultaneous assignments to plan and prioritize day-to-day work independently and to meet deadlines.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality in program administration and interactions with contractors, consultants, experts, and others.
- Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
- Interpret and analyze complex written documents.
- Act with integrity in all State Bar-related business.
- Quickly adapt to changing environments and critical needs; adopt and effectively implement courses of action.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or accounting is required; a master’s degree is preferable.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience conducting financial or compliance audits.
- Possession of an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License issued by the California Board of Accountancy (CBA) under the California Department of Consumer Affairs or equivalent. CPA certification must be maintained throughout employment.
- Additional designation as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and/or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is preferred.
Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar’s selection process for this classification.
About the State Bar
The State Bar of California’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.
Our Values
Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset
DEI Statement
We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.
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