Senior Accountant/Trainee 1-2 (NY HELPS)

Duties Description

The Bureau of Accounting Operations (BAO) directs and coordinates all accounting operations of the agency. This includes the collection of all revenues, processing of vouchers, payment to vendors,, journal entries, appropriation refunds, and deposits to the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC).

The senior accountant will be working in the BAO accounting unit and will be responsible for overseeing and completing the processing accounting transactions. These tasks include assisting with processing and approval of revenue transactions in the revenue tracking system. Review and verify the accuracy of deposit transmittals to Treasury. Complete transaction for returned checks. Ensure all payments received are processed in a timely manner. Review and approve general ledger journal entries which include approximately 700 general ledger journal entries processing fund transfers of over $500 million dollars in the Statewide Financial System. In addition, the senior accountant will be responsible for overseeing the billing and collections in conjunction with the Statewide Human Services Call Center and interagency SCR database clearance requests. Ensuring accounts receivable are collected in a timely manner is important to Agency's cash position.

The senior accountant will also be responsible for overseeing accounting transactions and financial reporting for the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB). This includes the administration of the Equipment Loan Fund program loans and monthly loan statements, accounting and tracking for revenue received through the Business Enterprise Program, accounting for revenue through vendor contract commissions, preparing monthly fund financials, and supervision of the treasury offset process.

Under the general direction of an Associate Accountant, the duties of the position may include, but are not limited to:

• Review and approve revenue transactions and general ledger journal entries;
• Act as liaison between program areas and accounting operations providing guidance and processing appropriate transactions;
• Assist with bank account deposits and reconciliations;
• Oversee maintenance of accounting records in accordance with applicable guidelines;
• Gain knowledge of the Statewide Financial System, AnalyzeNY, OGS Business Services Center, State Finance Law, OSC’s Guide to Financial Operations, and OSC Travel and Expense policies. Apply governing policies as applicable to required activities and tasks being performed;
• Participate in gathering requirements and creating or adjusting processes for implementing new or required laws or initiatives;
• Work on special projects
  
  

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Minimum Qualifications

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 transfer.

Open to the Public: 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, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position, which are:

For Accountant Trainee 1 (equated To SG-14)

Either 1. A bachelor's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation; OR

• A bachelor's or higher degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses.
  
  

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.

For Accountant Trainee 2 (equated to SG-16), you must also have:

Either 1. One year of professional 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; OR

• A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation may substitute for one year of experience
  
  

For The Senior Accountant (SG-18) You Must Also Have

Either 1. Two years of professional 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; OR

• A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation AND one year of professional 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; OR
• A currently valid Certified Public Accountant license and registration issued by New York State.
  
  

Experience NOT considered qualifying are activities restricted to teaching, bookkeeping, maintaining/auditing payroll records or accounts receivable/accounts payable, or preparing tax returns.

Additional Comments

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. After one year of permanent appointment, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of 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.

The salary listed applies to candidates starting as a Accountant Trainee 1, equated to a SG-14. The salary for candidates appointed to a Senior Accountant SG-18 starts at $66,951. For current New York State employees, salary is based on the candidate’s salary at the time of hire.

Please specify in your cover letter or resume how you meet the minimum qualifications (as described above) when responding to this posting. For example, you should provide specific date ranges for qualifying experience, qualifying education or certifications, or the age range of individuals served. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines and can be discussed at time of interview.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.
  
  

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.