Associate Accountant

The State of Connecticut, Department of Labor (DOL) is committed to protecting and promoting the interests of Connecticut workers. In order to accomplish this in an ever-changing environment, we assist workers and employers to become competitive in the global economy. We take a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of workers and employers, and the other agencies that serve them. We ensure the supply of high-quality integrated services that serve the needs of our customers.

DOL's Business Management Unit has a promotional opportunity for an Associate Accountant position. This position is vital to the succession plan for Business Management.  Over the past year, the department’s cost allocation and federal reporting functionality transitioned from a legacy mainframe accounting system to the state’s integrated human resources, payroll, and financial system (CoreCT).  This position is a critical component that will allow the department to design, implement and maintain a streamlined cost allocation and federal reporting capability based on CoreCT. Because CoreCt does not have the same built-in functionality that supports cost allocation and federal reporting requirements, significant processing and data handling workarounds are required in order to fulfill the department’s cost allocation and federal reporting requirements. 

This opportunity is available to permanent DOL employees, who meet all of the Minimum Qualifications outlined below. 

This is generally a first shift, 40 hour per week position. Incumbent must be flexible based on agency needs.

Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DOL.HR@ct.gov.  

This position is competitive.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Labor, who has permanent state status*, and meets 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).

Please be advised this is a promotional opportunity for employees in the Department of Labor.  The selected employee will be promoted by reclassification in his or her position.  This is NOT A VACANCY and, therefore, merit system and reemployment rules do not apply.

Selected candidate must have valid driver's license. May be required to travel.

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

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.

Specific duties (including those listed above) are as follows:  

Establishes procedures for the issuance of grants.

Reviews, maintains, and updates Core-CT HRMS position account coding to ensure charges are appropriate.  Enters complex transactions to correctly apply appropriate funding.

Prepares position estimate cost analysis.

Prepares budget requests and reports to administrators.

Prepares monthly budget reports and year end reports.

Prepares budget documents for new grants.

Acts as a liaison with other operating units and agencies.

Supports and trains other unit employees in policies and procedures as it relates to grants and budget management.

Reviews and performs budgetary approval for Core-CT requisitions and purchase orders, travel requests, and work orders for funding availability and accuracy of the account coding for assigned cost centers. 

Assists in the completion of the Biennial State Budget, the Labor Department Employment Security Division and General Fund B-1, the Financial Position of the State report, financial spreadsheets for Bond Commission requests and any other requests from OPM and other state agencies.

Monitors and analyzes grant expenditures for fiscal compliance with the grant requirements.  Perform budgetary review and approval of proposed non-routine grant funded expenditures.

Coordinates grant staffing assignments and allowability of time charges with agency program managers and cost center managers.

Prepares the staffing plans for all cost centers in the Department of Labor as well as maintain staffing plans for assigned cost centers.   Provides information to cost center managers as requested as it relates to their budgets and/or staffing.  Confers with cost center managers in regarding funding deficiencies, when required.

Monitors and analyzes grant expenditures for fiscal compliance with the grant requirements.  Performs budgetary review and approval of proposed non-routine grant funded expenditures.

Prepares, reviews, edits, and submits complex quarterly expenditure reports and grant closeout reports.

Serves on the UI Modernization Consortium Expenditure Board as the financial lead.

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.