Accountant (Durational)

Our mission at the Connecticut Department of Public Health is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) located in Hartford is currently recruiting for a grant funded Accountant within the Operational & Support Services Branch - Fiscal Services Section.  The accountant position will support the administering of all fiscal aspects of the COVID-19 crisis response grant awards.  This is a 40 hour per week position. The work schedule is typically Monday through Friday.  

This is a grant funded durational position, with an anticipated end date of November 2022, with the possibility of extension.

In this role you will:  

• Responsible for all fiscal aspects and oversight of the budget development and compilation of budget proposals for the COVID-19 crisis response grants; 
• Review, track and monitor financial expenditures for compliance with state and federal regulations;
• Prepare financial expenditure reports and statements consistent with both state and federal reporting requirements; 
• Review audit reports and respond to findings and corrective actions where necessary;
• Provide technical assistance to program manager in maintaining accounting records;
• Provide program manager with financial status updates on the activities and progress of both the ELC Enhancement Detection grant, ELC CARES awards, and other related awards;
• Meet with Program Managers to discuss and address issues and concerns regarding grant activities including corrective actions, where necessary;
• Determine compliance of various complex financial documents with applicable CDC regulations;
• Examine accounting methods and procedures to ensure compliance with accepted accounting principles, laws and regulations and state or federal requirements;
• Work with DPH Providers and Program staff to research and/or resolve outstanding deficiencies, if possible and generate formal notification of financial review findings of deficiency;
• Examine and reconcile federally required financial expenditure reports with federal budget, terms, conditions, and financial reporting requirements and determines federal compliance with financial expenditures;
• Coordinate with Contracts and Grants Section on matter related to sub-recipient site visit, advise of grant for applicable audits;
• Review and approve requests for budget revisions;
• Liaise with program managers and fiscal Department in performing the above duties to ensure access to accurate information and to keep relevant parties informed of work status;
• Determine the necessity to draw federal funds by applying federal grant regulation; and
• Prepare all supporting documentation related to provider expenses to support federal drawdown requests.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.  Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications - as listed on the job opening - will be considered for this role, as determined by qualifications stated on the submitted application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.    

Please ensure that your application is complete and you have included your resume in the “Resume Tab” of your application as you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.  Individuals considered for interview will be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, attendance, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc.  You do not have to attach these documents to your application.   

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.  

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Doreen Clemson at Doreen.Clemson@ct.gov or (860) 785-9855.

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in professional accounting.

Records complex and compound journal entries; prepares balance sheets and financial statements involving multiple accounts; analyzes and interprets accounting records and reports; assists higher level staff in planning, design and implementation of accounting procedures or systems; reviews expenditures and prepares or reviews financial statements; assists in budget management by compiling and reviewing agency manager program budget proposals, preparing estimates and calculations of projected expenditures and quarterly allotments, and preparing monthly reports; monitors fiscal aspects of grant programs by preparing or reviewing financial reports, reviewing expenditures for compliance with grant contracts, providing technical assistance to grantees in maintaining accounting records; recommends accounting related improvements to business practices such as accounting controls and financial reviews; utilizes EDP systems for financial records, reports and analysis; assists in EDP experts in planning and implementation of financial aspects of EDP systems; in addition to professional accounting tasks, may supervise bookkeeping (e.g. maintenance, balancing and reconciling of accounts), accounts payable and/or receivable functions or other accounting related paraprofessional or clerical functions; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of professional accounting principles and practices including knowledge of governmental accounting and budgeting; knowledge of basic auditing principles and practices; interpersonal skills; oral communication skills; ability to prepare, analyze and evaluate financial statements and other accounting records and reports; ability to analyze and evaluate accounting methods and procedures; ability to utilize EDP systems for financial management; ability to read and interpret written materials.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the paraprofessional level. Work at the paraprofessional level requires exercise of some independent judgment in applying basic accounting principles and may be compared to the level of a full charge bookkeeper.  For state employees this is the level of Assistant Accountant.

1. College training in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
   
2. A Master's degree in accounting may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
   
3. Certification in any of the following may be substituted for one (1) year of the General and Special Experience: Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor.
   
4. Two (2) years of experience as an Assistant Accountant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:

• Budget development, financial management, reporting on State, Federal or other grant programs, cash management practices for drawdown and receipt of funds of disbursed funds;
• Basic fiscal business office functions such as purchasing, accounts receivable and accounts payable including applicable internal control processes;
• Management, oversight and monitoring of sub-recipients grant financial activities for grant funds;
• Governmental accounting and auditing principles and practices; and 
• PeopleSoft Core-CT or any other financial system, MS Excel, tracking and monitoring of budgeted expenditures.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.