STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Accountant

Recruitment #211201-0026AR-001

Introduction



Are you ready to make a difference in our State? Interested in joining the outstanding team at the Connecticut Department of Public Health? We encourage you to apply today!

We are seeking a qualified individual for an Accountant role, to support our efforts in our Fiscal Services Unit. This role will support the administration of the COVID-19, through the CDC Crisis Response Partnership Public Health Workforce Cooperative Agreement from Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) totaling approximately $21 million. A portion of these funds are passed through to service providers (sub-recipients) that provide critical public health and safety services through contracts in the State. This position will be located centrally at our offices at 410 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. This is a full-time, first shift, forty (40) hour per week position with a typical work schedule of Monday through Friday.

*Please Note: This position is funded through June 30, 2023

The position will be responsible for administering all fiscal aspects of the CDC Crisis Response Partnership Public Health Workforce Cooperative Agreement and other assigned responsibilities.

THESE RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:
  • Providing technical assistance to program manager in maintaining accounting records.
  • Providing program manager with financial status updates on the activities and progress of the assigned grants.
  • Meeting with Program Managers to discuss and address issues and concerns regarding grant activities including corrective actions, where necessary.
  • Determining compliance of various complex financial documents with applicable CDC regulations.
  • Working with DPH Providers and Program to research and or resolve outstanding deficiencies and generate formal notification of financial review findings of deficiency.
  • Verifying accuracy of rebate fund accounting entries and availability of funds.
  • Determining the necessity to draw federal funds by applying federal grant regulation.
  • Preparing all supporting documentation related to provider expenses to support federal drawdown requests.
The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) 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
  • Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

We participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan, as well as paid time off! We encourage a healthy work/life balance.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

*You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. If selected for further consideration, State employees will be required to provide the last two (2) service ratings. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

As a reminder:

  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • 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.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13F (3a) and 13G (3a).

For more information, we encourage you to contact the recruiter for this position, Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, (860) 924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in accounting or auditing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with Federal, State and Private grants.
  • Experience with accounting and auditing principles and practices. 
  • Experience developing budget plans and monitoring expenditures for state, federal, private grant programs, or projects.
  • Experience with cash management practices for drawdown and receipt of funds. 
  • Experience with Fiscal business office functions - such as purchasing, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
  • Experience using software such as Word Processing, Microsoft Excel, and other spreadsheet applications.
  • Experience using PeopleSoft, Core-CT, or any financial systems

Conclusion

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.