This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS or 55b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.
This title includes a traineeship opportunity and applicants will be appointed to the appropriate level** based on their experience and education.
**Accountant level requirements:
•Accountant Trainee 1 (equated to SG-14): A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses.
•Accountant Trainee 2 (equated to SG-16): A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses and one year of professional experience.
•Senior Accountant, SG-18: A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses and two years of professional experience
OR
a currently valid Certified Public Accountant license and registration issued by New York State.
Required professional experience: Experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles.
Substitution: A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation may substitute for one year of experience.
Note that courses such as business law, economics, statistics, and most finance courses, although taken as part of an accounting curriculum, cannot be counted toward the 24 semester credit hours.
Dependent upon qualifications, if appointed as a trainee, successful completion of a one-year or two-year traineeship leads to appointment as a Senior Accountant, SG-18.
Applicants may also be appointed to this position if currently reachable on the appropriate eligible list for this title OR are a current New York State employee with one year or more of qualifying permanent service in a position eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 or 70.4 of the Civil Service Law.
Duties Description Under the oversight of the Associate Accountant, the incumbent will support and assist in STORM Act financial oversight and support the Disaster Recovery Public Assistance Unit within Recovery Finance. Duties include but are not limited to:
•Develop and maintain knowledge of all applicable State and Federal laws, rules and regulations relating to recovery programs and grant administration. Act as a resource and share knowledge and expertise with subordinate staff, internal/external agency stakeholders and applicants.
•Maintain manual or automated ledgers including books of account or general ledgers, the classification and recording of transactions, the maintenance of controls and the preparation of required accounting statements and reports.
•Verify, classify, and code financial transactions for input following GAAP and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
•Assist higher-level accountants in the activities of an assigned accounting operation.
•Perform and oversee record-keeping and required fiscal reporting for State and federally funded agency programs by interpreting guidelines, instructions, and monitoring schedules and reports.
•Independently perform the more difficult accounting work that is characterized by the size of the organization as determined by the number of diverse functional or program areas, client groups serviced, or by accounting system utilized including the preparation of supporting accounting statements and reports.
•Monitor revenue collection to determine if revenue goals are being met.
•Provide advice and assistance to impacted State and local jurisdictions, and private sector concerning accounting matters. Advice is based on GAAP principles, theories, concepts, and practices, and relevant body of laws, rules, and regulations.
•Answer questions and resolve problems from program staff regarding financial or accounting requirements.
•Organize, maintain, and update electronic information and documentation for projects, contracts, disaster declarations, letters, program and financial information and reports.
•Monitor and track multiple grants, projects, financial information, and reconciliations. Compile financial information, prepare reports, and analyze expenditure data and payments of federal and state funds for use by Federal and State agencies for budgeting and audit purposes.
•Responsible for processing payments, maintaining ledgers, recording transactions, and preparing accounting statements and reports.
•Compile data and drafts for program and financial disaster specific section letters and report on the status of programs, projects and funds, responses to FEMA, state agencies and applicants as directed.
•Compile all data and records pertinent to third-party audits.
•Perform fiscal viability reviews of all applicants and notify applicants of results.
•Perform ongoing reviews of all loan recipients for performance and financial standing.
•Draft project narratives, identify expenses, and review for eligibility and accuracy for reimbursement, and reconciliations of the same.
•Attend meetings with FEMA, state agencies and applicants as needed to develop new strategies and priorities to enhance program effectiveness.
•Coordinate reviews of sub-applications to ensure all program eligibility requirements are met for sub-application submission and potential funding.
•Facilitate the delivery and production of presentations, briefings, and webinars to all eligible mitigation sub-applicants throughout the state.
•Coordinate with finance and legal throughout the life of each project.
•Perform other duties and special projects as required.
Additional Comments *There is no examination required for appointment to a NY HELPS position. Candidates hired before May 2024 will be appointed on a temporary basis. In May 2024, satisfactory employees will receive permanent, non-competitive appointments and will begin a probationary period.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected that NY HELPS employees will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to take an exam. Employees will then be afforded with all the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
NOTE: Support of operations during times of emergency and disaster from State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), state field offices and/or local deployments may be required, which would result in a change and/or increase in working hours, locations and/or duties.
NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency's Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Human Resources/EW
Telephone 518-473-7053
Fax 518-485-8432
Email Address HRresumes@dhses.ny.gov
Address
Street NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, HRM

1220 Washington Ave., Bldg. 7A
City Albany
State NY
Zip Code 12226
Notes on Applying Please submit a resume and cover letter detailing how you meet the minimum qualifications. Indicate the Position Title & Vacancy ID 156781 in the subject line of your application email to HRresumes@dhses.ny.gov