State Comptroller Division Director

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, to administer employee and retiree benefits, to develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and to prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments and the public. 

We are recruiting for a full-time Division Director for the Budget and Financial Analysis Division (BFA), who is responsible for managing the work of four operating units.  These include the GAAP Unit, Budgetary Funds Unit, Cost Reporting Unit and Business Services Unit.  In this role, the division director supervises two Assistant Directors, a Fiscal/Administrative Manager 1 (FAM1) and oversees the staff and work of the Cost Reporting Unit.

The Budget and Financial Analysis Division (BFA) performs statewide accounting and financial reporting functions. The division analyzes, posts, and reports state expenses and revenues by fund, department, and account category inclusive of federal and other funding sources.  The division also reports on the state's assets and liabilities.

At the State Comptroller’s direction, the division prepares a monthly analysis of the state’s budget condition that contains the financial statements for the latest month and projects the budget position to year’s end. 

The Division: 

• Performs all statewide cost accounting functions. It computes and reports direct and indirect costs associated with major state programs in order to obtain reimbursement of those costs from federal and other sources. The division is responsible for preparing and negotiating the Statewide Cost Allocation Plan with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on an annual basis, including fringe benefit recovery rates. In addition, it manages the requirements of the federal Cash Management Improvement Act. 
• Publishes two of the Comptroller’s annual financial reports – a Generally Accepted Accounting Principle (GAAP) budgetary based report that details and analyzes state expenditures, receipts, and capital budget activities for the fiscal year on a GAAP budgetary basis; and a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report prepared in accordance with GAAP financial reporting standards that analyzes the state’s overall fiscal position and provides audited financial statements for state and state supported fiscal activities.  
• Also coordinates closely with the OSC Information Technology Division by providing testing and support for upgrades and major configuration changes to the state’s Core-CT financial system. 

The Business Services Unit of the division provides policy and program direction for administrative functions of the Office of the State Comptroller, including developing and implementing the agency budget and statewide miscellaneous and fringe benefit accounts. 

The Business Services Unit also administers the agency accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, asset management, budgeting, financial reporting and analysis and contract administration functions. It reconciles and posts the bi-weekly state employee payroll to the appropriate miscellaneous accounts to allow payments of fringe benefits, and accounts for the proper application and reporting of state monies to various state and federal agencies on multiple statewide accounts and programs. It oversees the agency’s day-to-day operation and administers the records retention program. This area pays refunds of disability and death benefits to state firemen and policemen; death benefits to state employees; it coordinates fringe benefit recoveries and maintains the security retainer program associated with state construction projects.

This position is a first-shift, 40 hour per week position located at the newly renovated State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers an on-site cafeteria, free garage parking, and ergonomic workspaces. The OSC offers an excellent salary and benefits package. Watch the video below to see the ImpaCT YOU can make as a State of Connecticut employee:

All state employees shall follow Executive Order 13G (as amended by Executive Order 14C).

State employees currently holding the above title or those who have previously attained permanent status in the class may apply for a lateral transfer.  Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Office of the State Comptroller are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check, along with reference checks.  Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation. 

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  Please ensure your application is complete prior to submitting.
• NOTE:  In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, 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.
• 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.
• 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements and preferred qualifications of the position.

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Bonnie Schlechtweg at bonnie.schlechtweg@ct.gov, with a reference to the recruitment number in the subject line.

In the Office of the State Comptroller this class is accountable for directing the programs and activities of a division with major statewide impact.

This class is used in one of the following capacities:  

1. Accounts Payable Division
2. Budget and Financial Analysis Division
3. Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division
4. Payroll Services Division
5. Retirement Services Division  

Directs staff and operations of division; develops, implements and evaluates division policies, goals and objectives; coordinates, plans and manages division activities; formulates program goals and objectives; develops or assists in development of related policy; implements new procedures and procedural revisions; interprets and administers pertinent laws; evaluates staff; prepares or assists in preparation of division budget; maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who may impact on program activities; may direct auditing, validation and payment of all claims against the state; may direct planning, coordinating and implementing of administration and policy for statewide accounting and financial program activities; may direct maintenance and analysis of expenditure and revenue data for all state funds and analysis and preparation of fiscal impact statements pertaining to changes in employee benefit provisions; may direct timely processing of all state payrolls and related documents; may direct personnel and business management functions; may direct data processing and operations area; may direct retirement and employee benefits functions; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures pertaining to overall agency and specific division; considerable knowledge of operations of state departments and institutions; considerable knowledge of governmental and commercial accounting principles and practices; knowledge of collective bargaining process; knowledge of data processing systems and operations; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills.

Retirement Services and Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Divisions: Considerable knowledge of employee pension plans or other employee benefit programs.

Ten (10) years of experience in accounting, auditing, business administration with a major emphasis in an accounting area, the administration of employee pension plans or other benefit programs, or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity.

Notes:

1. Managerial capacity is defined as formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, initiating program policies, developing and monitoring the budget.
2. For state employees managerial capacity is defined at or above the level of Accounting Manager or State Comptroller Assistant Division Director.

1. College training in accounting or business administration 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 or business administration 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) additional year of the General Experience: Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
4. A law degree from an accredited school of law may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Strong background in accounting, with extensive experience in governmental accounting and understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). 
•  Extensive knowledge and experience interpreting and/or implementing Governmental Accounting Standards board (GASB) pronouncements.  
• Qualification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) not required but may be considered a plus. Experience in overseeing the preparation of financial statements and annual reports. 
•  Managerial experience in formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, and initiating program policies. 
• Considerable ability to understand and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations. 
•  Experience with Federal reporting requirements and knowledge of cost accounting principles including OMB Uniform Guidance under 2 CFR § 200.  
• Examples include familiarity with Federal cost allocation plans or indirect cost proposals, Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), Medicare cost reporting or similar Federal reporting. Proficiency in utilizing Enterprise Resource (ERP) systems (such as Core-CT or similar system) and various financial modules. 
•  Extensive experience in monitoring the state budget to develop monthly projections of revenues and expenditures, and surplus or deficit estimates for the General and Transportation Funds. 
•  Considerable interpersonal skills, including both oral and written communication skills.

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES AND THOSE RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE INDICATED ABOVE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

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, veterans, and persons with disabilities. 

If you are requesting special accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact Bonnie Schlechtweg at 860.702.3323 or Bonnie.Schlechtweg@ct.gov.