Associate Accountant

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) seeks a qualified individual for the position of Associate Accountant, within the Fiscal Services Division - Centralized Contract Unit. POSITION 105178. LOCATION: Hartford, CT.  This is a full-time forty (40)  hours per week position.  The work schedule is TBD.

This position is responsible for handling all of the financial aspects for the contracts for the Department of Housing, the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Office of Early Childhood.  This position is responsible for the annual and ongoing review of contract budgets (POS, PSAs, MOU/A's) for all State and Federally funded programs; processes and reviews all financial reports associated with these contracts; develops a spending plan with each State agency; generates all financial information necessary for the Supplier Contract Management module in CORE; coordinates with the Grants and Contract Specialist on all contracts being generated for the State agency and assist the other CCU team, as needed. • Responsible for annual and ongoing review of contracts budgets (Human Service/POS, PSAs, MOU/As).  Coordinates the fiscal reviews of the contract documents with each state agency/entity.  Performs examination of required fiscal reports and budget revisions related to contracts.  Coordinates with Budget Unit of applicable state agencies/entities for review of funding award to determine accuracy of amounts for contracts.  Develops spending plan to support agency contracts. Analyzes and compares data to develop fiscal reports in response to requests from the Office of the Fiscal Analysis, OPM, Governor’s Office and each state agency.  Assists with input of contracts into CORE/PEOPLESOFT system.  Provides technical assistance to contractors regarding accounting procedures, financial reporting documents and forms.  Conducts training for contractors and state staff on necessary budget documents and financial reporting.  Assists with site visits to contractors, as required.  Liaison to assigned State agencies for the Centralized Contract Unit. Tracks and analyzes payments to determine breakout of individual contract payments and reconciliations, as necessary.  Prepares and assembles payment confirmations for Public Accounting firms as requested.  Analyzes fiscal data to determine any potential withholding of payments related to unexpended funds identified through review of fiscal contractor reports.  Acts as liaison between each contracting state agency/entity and the contractors related to fiscal/administrative aspects of the contract; written and verbal communication with contractors and other state agency staff.  Works in collaboration with Grants and Contract Specialist assigned to specific state agency for the Centralized Contract Unit. Organize and maintain files.

Please ensure your application is complete.  You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.

Questions about this recruitment should be directed to DMHAS HR, Robert.Paolitto@ct.gov or (860) 418-6876.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has permanent state status* and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period.  For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

In a state agency this class is accountable for performing the most complex accounting tasks within a variety of accounting programs and systems. This class may also be accountable for lead or consultative responsibility.

Establishes and implements accounting sub-systems such as procedures for paying and collecting activities, procedures for issuance of grants, loans or subsidies, establishment of rates or schedules of fees, establishment of account charts for classification of transactions; maintains fiscal controls by authorizing non-routine expenditures based on management priorities and policies, examining data and making recommendations regarding timing and amounts of expenditures; manages various phases of budget preparation and control such as preparing estimates of costs of existing or new programs, offices or divisions, preparing budget requests, appropriation schedules, monthly budget reports and year end budget reports; administers fiscal aspects of grant programs by reviewing funding applications for approval, researching and preparing estimates of costs of proposed grant programs, interpreting grant contracts for approval of grant expenditures, analyzing grantees financial records and reports for compliance with grant expenditure requirements; monitors fiscal aspects of contract administration by reviewing and interpreting contracts for approval on non-routine expenditures, preparing or approving schedules of fees in regard to specific contracts; determines priorities; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; may coordinate unit workflow; may assign and review work; may establish and maintain unit procedures; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of professional accounting principles and practices including governmental accounting and budgeting; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to analyze and evaluate financial records, methods and procedures; ability to devise and install accounting procedures and systems; some supervisory ability.

Seven (7) years of experience in accounting or auditing.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the level of Accountant, Auditor or Accounts Examiner with responsibility for the exercise of independent analysis and judgement in the application of professional accounting principles and practices.

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.

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.