STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Accounting Specialist

Recruitment #240408-0009AR-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is currently seeking systematic and organized individuals who are eager to contribute their expertise within the Central Accounts Payable division as an Accounting Specialist. Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, superlative benefits, and a culture that encourages work/life balance.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023
  • Comprehensive health and dental insurance, providing you with peace of mind and access to quality healthcare
  • Robust pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings to secure your financial future
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, personal days, and 13 holidays per calendar year
  • We are an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, which means you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
  • A culture that recognizes the importance of work/life balance and offers alternate work schedules and telecommuting options
  • Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut
  • Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Full-Time, 40 hours per week
  • Monday through Friday
  • Location: 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
  • Hybrid (office/telework) may be available
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
  • You possess considerable knowledge of professional accounting principles and practices including governmental accounting and budgeting.
  • You have strong analytical skills and experience evaluating financial records, methods, and procedures.
  • You are systematically minded and can devise and install accounting procedures and systems.
  • You value fiscal accountability and want to be a reliable steward of State resources.
  • You have a background in accounting and financial services and a strong sense of budgetary controls.
  • You want to do work that matters and want to build a better Connecticut with the Office of the State Comptroller, promoting economic growth, advocating for fiscal control, and championing policies that lower costs.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Process special payments such as tax-exempt bond funds, debt service, state legal settlements, land condemnations, human resource benefits, federal pass-through, and state grants through checks, Automated Clearing House (ACH), wire transfers, and inter-agency transfers; 
  • Enforce the statutory, regulatory, and accounting provisions mandated by state and federal law and by the Comptroller’s policies; 
  • Facilitate the execution of state grant programs for payment to municipalities and/or non-profit organizations; 
  • Procure reports of payments to municipalities and assist municipalities and independent auditors in the reconciliation of such payments;
  • Maintain financial records, including garnishments/offsets through the vendor file database within the state’s Core-CT administrative and financial system; 
  • Assist agencies in processing transactions and troubleshooting problems with such transactions in Core-CT; 
  • Develop manuals and provide training to other state agencies’ business office staff; 
  • Process and distribute forms for certain vendors, grantees, and the Internal Revenue Service;
  • Act as a consultant to the Office of the State Comptroller’s Central Accounts Payable Division (OSC-CAP) management, department supervisors, key employees, and the Core-CT Financial Team regarding all statewide accounts payable functions including IRS 1099 processes, FOIA reporting, vendor maintenance, pay cycle processing as well as any other processes in Core-CT that may affect OSC-CAP staff, such as electronic invoicing, P-Card payment processing and reporting;
  • Support OSC-CAP in the creation and maintenance of accounting and auditing support applications;
  • Respond to reports of automation failures, troubleshooting, and repair of databases and automated processes;
  • Manage projects, including establishing project objectives, timelines, and resources, and assisting units in creating automation solutions for division processes;
  • Interpret accounting processes presented by CAP supervisors and management and translate them into technical processes in applications;
  • Report functions in support of public FOI requests and transparency initiatives within the Comptroller’s Office;
  • Review public reports for HHS programs and PII redaction in accordance with privacy laws;
  • Provide management with suggestions for technology updates to improve division efficiency and security in applications and automated processes;
  • Create complex reports from Oracle-based sources including PL/SQL, STARS and EPM;
  • Train internal staff on the use of automated systems and how those systems achieve the accounting and auditing objectives of the division;
  • Create statewide and public use forms for accounts payable processes;
  • Perform additional duties as required.                              
ABOUT US
The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, administer employee and retiree benefits, develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments, and the public. 

We are located in the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers free garage parking, an on-site cafeteria, and ergonomic workspaces.

The Central Accounts Payable division manages the centralized accounts payable function for the state, maintains a database of more than 126,000 records on state vendor profiles, examines state encumbrances and expenditures for compliance, conducts pre-audits of procurement requests for $1 million or more, processes special payments, and enforces the statutory, regulatory, and accounting provisions mandated by state and federal law and Freedom of Information requests

Selection Plan

For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page

APPLYING FOR THE POSITION
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Judicial or Legislative) to the other.
  • In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application."
  • Ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. To comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut no longer requests resumes during the initial application process. Once your application is submitted into the JobAps system, you cannot make revisions.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. For institutions located outside of the U.S., you must provide documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service specializing in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the specified deadline. Late applications will not be considered. Candidates may request a rare and documented exception for events that incapacitate them during the entire duration of the job posting period by providing a legally recognized justification to accommodate such an exception. Requests may be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING
  • Applicants will receive correspondence via email, and are also encouraged to monitor their Personal Status Board daily for status updates, notices, and tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Some postings may require additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with these questions after the posting’s closing date. Check your email and Personal Status Board for notifications, including your spam or junk folders. 
  • You may be required to submit additional documentation supporting your qualifications at any point during the recruitment process. The documentation may include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, or licensure, at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • 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, subject to the provisions of Section 31-51i and conducted in accordance with Section 29-17a of the Connecticut General Statutes. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, but your application may be considered for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates offered a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US
  • Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot confirm receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • If you have any questions about this recruitment, please contact Morgan Roane at osc.hr@ct.gov or 860-702-3340.  
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Offices of State Comptroller, State Treasurer and Policy and Management this class is accountable for highly complex accounting functions impacting a variety of state agencies.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

OFFICE OF POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 

  • Performs highly technical and complex accounting functions having a direct impact on other governmental entities including municipalities; 
  • Reviews financial reports for compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), requirements of State Single Audit Act and other statutory and federal requirements; 
  • Prepares reports on deficiencies disclosed in audit review and amends or puts into place financial systems and practices in accordance with GAAP; 
  • Reviews State Single Audit reports of independent Certified Public Accountants to ensure government and non-profit entities comply with laws, regulations, grant and contract provisions of State Single Audit Act and GAAS; 
  • Drafts regulations; 
  • Works with officials of various municipalities to improve financial management and fiscal conditions; 
  • Reviews implementation of financial management or accounting systems and procedures; 
  • Trains agency staff in new system and auditing procedures; 
  • May coordinate annual production of Fiscal Indicators book, a compilation of key financial economic and demographic information for each of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 

  • Performs highly technical and complex accounting functions having direct impact on multiple state agencies; 
  • Interprets constitutional and statutory provisions affecting state financial expenditures and revenues for the proper application and safekeeping of state monies and securities; 
  • Maintains and reviews accounts and records for budgetary control of state expenditures and revenues; 
  • Assists in compilation of financial data necessary for preparing detailed complex financial statements on state fiscal affairs; 
  • Develops, designs, reviews and supervises implementation of financial management or accounting systems and procedures; 
  • Trains agency staff in new system procedures; provides consultation to state agencies on matters pertaining to installation, revision or improvement of financial management or accounting procedures; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER

  • Ensures compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements and implements changes and enhancements to accounts and records; 
  • Performs arbitrage rebate accounting for all state bond issues by monitoring and accounting for expenditures of bond proceeds by state agencies; 
  • Performs calculations of imputed earnings, payments due and adjustments that are complex due to statutory or funding changes; 
  • Oversees transfers to and reconciliation of state accounts and a variety of investments; 
  • Manages investment of bond proceeds; 
  • Prepares debt service budget; 
  • Develops, designs and reviews procedures for collection and deposit of state revenues, disbursement of state expenditures, review of banking service invoices and effective use of banking services; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of 
    • professional accounting and auditing principles and practices; 
    • governmental accounting and budgeting;
  • Considerable 
    • interpersonal skills
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to 
    • evaluate and analyze accounting forms, methods and procedures and cost data; 
    • devise and install accounting procedures and systems including cost systems; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in accounting or auditing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been performing the most complex accounting functions or acting in a consultative capacity at the level of an Associate Accountant.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in accounting 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.
  • A Master's degree in accounting may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
  • 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite Software to carry out the general administration of work, specifically Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft VBA to analyze data, develop queries, and enhance applications.
  • Experience interpreting and applying professional accounting principles and practices. 
  • Experience with process improvement and creating new procedures. 
  • Experience communicating to a diverse population and building consensus, including verbal and written communication and presentation skills. 
  • Experience analyzing accounting systems and applying accounting principles to the development of procedures. 
  • Experience training and explaining usage of technical software applications to staff.
  • Experience with Adobe Acrobat to develop and administer fillable forms.

Conclusion

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 require accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Morgan Roane at osc.hr@ct.gov or 860-702-3340.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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