Full Time Unclaimed Property Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This is a reposting from August 2025. If you are interested in the position, please resubmit your application.
With general direction provided by the Chief Operations Officer (COO), the Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, plans, organizes, directs, and enhances all operations and initiatives for the Unclaimed Property Division (UPD) on behalf of the State Controller. The incumbent leads one of the State of California's most important and well-known consumer programs and s/he must understand and implement modern customer service tools and practices; evaluate and innovate UPD procedures and practices; lead strategic initiatives; and steadfastly pursue new methodologies and efficiencies that will significantly advance the UPD's mission to responsibly reunify owners with their lost property.
Essential Functions:
(Candidates must perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations.)

• Provide leadership and oversight of the State Controller's unclaimed property program by developing, amending, enforcing, and updating all unclaimed property policies;
• Plan, organize, train, promote, and support a culture of exceptional customer service in every transaction with property holders, owners, and members of the public;
• Ensure responsible handling and accounting of unclaimed properties received from reporting businesses;
• Share expertise with the COO and executive office regarding the maintenance of the UPD program, effective customer service initiatives, enhanced external communications and outreach, and, where applicable, the program's impact on state revenues;
• Oversee the compilation data and provide reports regarding current unclaimed property statistics and projections in order to increase workflow efficiencies and identify more property owners;
• Formulate and implement long and short-range goals and develop strategies to enhance program productivity;
• Monitor and enforce the requirements of laws and regulations governing unclaimed property;
• Set goals and objectives consistent with the overall mission of the SCO;
• Monitor and develop legislation to increase property reunifications through effective and modern consumer outreach methodologies;
• Closely monitor UPD's adherence with state law, regulations, and internal practices related to the unclaimed property program, collaborating with public officials, the chief counsel's office, and others to ensure laws are followed and potential changes are rapidly identified;
• Oversee workflows to ensure timely and accurate processing of receipts and claims, while aggressively pursuing efficiencies through established process streamlining methodologies (e.g., Lean principles);
• Represent the SCO at various public hearings to address program needs and issues related to the UPD;
• Collaborate with external stakeholders, including financial institutions and private auditing firms to plan, organize, and direct special events promoting the unclaimed property program; and
• Represent the SCO before other states' unclaimed property programs and the property holder industries (banks, credit unions, insurance companies, securities companies, etc.), collaborating on innovative ideas to improve administration of the unclaimed property program and increase property reunifications.

If you have any questions on this recruitment, or need additional information about the position itself, you can reach out to: SCO.UCP@byersgroupca.com .
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Minimum Requirements This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

• C. E. A.

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-491146
Position #(s):
051-550-7500-003
Working Title:
Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, CEA Level B
Classification:
C. E. A. $14,032.00 - $16,748.00 B Salary Competitive and Commensurate with experience. New to state salary statement referenced does not apply to CEA appointment.
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time
Facility:
Unclaimed Property Division
Department Information
The State Controller's Office is a destination employer for government professionals, with a scope of responsibilities and public impact unmatched by other agencies. The Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, oversees one of the highest profile and most complex consumer programs administered by the State of California, with responsibility for more than $7 billion in escheated properties and a robust program dedicated to reuniting property owners with their lost items.
As California's chief fiscal officer, the Controller's Office ensures accountability and transparency of California's financial practices while promoting fairness and opportunity for all. Here, you'll work in a collaborative and supportive environment with diverse opportunities for professional growth and development. A career with the SCO offers meaningful work that directly impacts the state's future.
Take the next step in your career with an organization that values innovation, integrity, and the well-being of its employees. Apply today and build a California where everyone thrives!
Visit our website to learn more about the State Controller's Office.
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Special Requirements A resume is required.
A cover letter is required.
A Statement of Qualifications is required.
Applicants who fail to submit the SOQ as instructed may be eliminated from the examination/hiring process.
Please limit your SOQ to a maximum of 3 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial, and 1 inch margins. The SOQ should be numbered in the same order as the Statement of Qualifications questions below. Your SOQ must provide responses and specific examples for each item listed below to be considered for the position:
1. Provide a brief summary of your knowledge and/or experience as it relates to California State Government, its budgeting process, and the impact to civil service employment.
2. Describe your experience, and the number of years engaged in, organizing and managing a mandated program, and the nature of its complexity (i.e. sensitivity to Legislative scrutiny, or public perception). The response must be high-level, but specific enough to provide the general nature of the services provided and your involvement in the oversight.
3. Please describe your involvement or experience with the implementation of change-management. What challenges did you experience, and how were they addressed?
4. Please describe an instance when you were required to solicit support of executive leadership to pursue a program solution or discuss jurisdictional/control authority over a problem. Include in your response the item/issue, a high-level overview, and the outcome.
5. Provide an example of your experience providing leadership over an enterprise-wide implementation, and your specific involvement with setting directions and/or establishing parameters by which the implementation was to occur. Please included whether your efforts were successful or not.
Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
State Controller's Office
Human Resources
Attn: Kelli Simpkin (UPD Chief Exam)
300 Capitol Mall 3rd Floor, Ste 300
Sacramento , CA 95814
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
State Controller's Office
Human Resources
Kelli Simpkin (UPD Chief Exam)
300 Capitol Mall 3rd Floor, Ste 300
Sacramento , CA 95814
Applications must be received in Human Resources by 5 pm on the final filing date
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Special Requirements section for instructions.
• Other - Cover letter is required with this recruitment.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Examination Qualification Requirements All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.
Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.
General Qualifications
State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.
Knowledge and Abilities
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy - influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):
CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.
Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature, the Executive Branch, and the Constitutional Offices;
• Demonstrable knowledge of state policies, rules, and standards relative to accounting requirements;
• Experience in recommending, developing and implementing policies relative to program issues;
• Managerial experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully apply organizational leadership, communicate clearly, facilitate decision-making, promote teamwork, and define and achieve success across multi-disciplinary stakeholder interests;
• Knowledgeable of budgeting processes;
• ...