Hybrid DOLA Accountant II (Multiple Positions) at State of Colorado, CO
State of Colorado, CO · Denver, United States Of America · Hybrid
- Senior
- Office in Denver
About the Department
Who can Apply
This opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.
About the Colorado Department of Local Affairs
The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado’s approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of “Local Affairs,” which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability.
Vision
The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible, affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities.
Mission
Our mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities.
Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs?
The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs.
In addition, we offer a great location and great benefits, which include:
Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus pre-tax and ROTH 401K, and 457 plans
Paid Life Insurance
Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage
RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees
Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Training opportunities
Variety of Free discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program
The eligibility list created from this job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this location and classification.
Position Duties
The Accounting and Financial Services work unit, under the auspices of the Executive Director’s office, provides comprehensive financial services for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and its divisions. The Department executes a diversified funding consisting of general, cash, reappropriated and federal funds. Accounting services consist of providing quality, informed decision-making in the form of technical assistance and guidance, recommendations of a fiscal nature based upon financial expertise, and development of a unified system of accounts and its ongoing maintenance.
The first vacancies are: Division of Housing (DOH) Program Accountant and Executive Director’s Office (EDO) Support Accountant. These positions perform a full range of financial and accounting functions to support Cash, General, Reappropriated, and Federal funds for assigned Division and programs. This includes (but is not limited to) budgetary setup and ongoing monitoring of financial activities/accounts, contract and encumbrance review and setup, payment approval, maintaining accounting structures, participating in fiscal year closing activities, processing program and grant closeouts, etc. The positions act as Division liaisons and are the point of contact between assigned Division(s) and the financial services functions. Positions advise on accounting matters, interprets State Fiscal rules, implements and monitors State and Federal administrative policies, creates and maintains numerous subsystems, and authorizes final approval to financial transactions for the Department under authority delegated to the position by the Department Controller.
The primary duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
Payment Processing
Authorize expenditures of state and federal funds for goods, services, grant awards, and distributions in accordance with budgetary controls.
Review documentation and verifies accuracy of account codes used to post expenditures to the Colorado Resource Engine (CORE or State Financial System). Applies final approval to Vendor Invoice document (IN), General Accounting Expenditure document (GAX) and interfaced General Accounting Expenditure document (GAX1) transactions.
Pre-audit vouchers processed for compliance with fiscal rules, administrative procedures, grant contracts, and federal regulations.
Execute a detailed audit of selected approved payments (expenditure documents).
Review and compare document details to a checklist to determine that expenditures were made in accordance with fiscal and administrative rules and internal control procedures.
Review purchase orders, purchase authorizations, and related support and apply approval on CORE encumbrance documents for assigned Division and programs.
Division Liaison and Program Support
Act as the point of contact from the assigned Division into the Accounting Financial Services Unit, and gather/funnel questions to the appropriate individual in order to get an answer back to the Division.
Processes contracts and payments for the Division.
Program Reconciliation, Reporting and Accounting
Maintain and reconcile financial records for assigned Division and programs to ensure accuracy and completeness of account balances, and implement changes to resolve differences discovered.
Ensure completeness and accuracy of program accounting so that reporting from the system can be relied on for decision-making and as a source for various other reporting submissions that may be needed (file federal reporting, legislative reporting, etc.).
Monitor grant expenditures, reconcile contract encumbrance records to CORE encumbrance reports, and compare grant reports. Research and adjust differences.
Prepare journal entries or other adjusting entries needed to fix the out-of-balance situation discovered. Use this information to create reports and submit/file various management, legislative, audit, and/or federal reports as needed by the program.
Program Account Maintenance and System Setup
Maintain a programmatic chart of account (COA) elements for Division and programs assigned. This includes verifying the accuracy of tables used for grant management in CORE, and maintaining the unique COA elements needed for each program.
Monitor and oversee CORE cost accounting funding tables and mechanism to ensure proper setup and that actions occurring are operating as expected and, if not, fix the system setup and/or make associated accounting adjustments.
Create phase elements or other reporting needs to manage encumbrances and contracts.
Create grant budget documents to establish budgets which control encumbrances and expenditures during the grant period.
Setup add-on State and Federal spending authority received by creating CORE budget transactions.
Ensure that grant or programs budgets tie appropriately to associated State or Federal spending authority setup in appropriation units.
General Ledger Reconciliation and Accounting
Responsible for maintaining and reconciling financial records for assigned Funds, Division and programs to ensure accuracy and completeness of account balances and representations made on the financial statements.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Class Code & Classification Description
H8A2XX Accountant II
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience Only:
Six (6) years of professional accounting experience. Professional accounting experience involves the design, structure, and maintenance/update of the accounting system used by a unit and requires the application of accounting theories, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and standards (Governmental Accounting Standards Board).
OR
Education and Experience: A combination of related education (with 27 semester hours completed in accounting or auditing) and/or experience as listed above equal to six (6) years. A current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will count for six (6) years of experience.
Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for.
Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.
Required Competencies
Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind
Strong accounting knowledge
Ability to work in a team environment and provide technical assistance
Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong attention to detail
Effective analytical and problem-solving skills
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the Department and meet deadlines
Proficiency with Google apps and the MS Office suite, specifically MS Excel
Ability to work independently
Excellent mathematical skills
Preferred Qualifications
State of Colorado experience working in CORE (Colorado Operations Resource Engine) as a permanent employee
Professional accounting experience within the State of Colorado government
Experience working with grant payments and administration
General knowledge of contracting principles
Knowledge and experience with government accounting and/or federal grant accounting
Knowledge and experience with electronic accounting databases, including intermediate abilities with MS Excel
Experience utilizing infoAdvantage Financial Reporting
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and federal laws
Conditions of Employment
You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position.
Pre-employment criminal and financial background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement will result in your application being rejected.
Applicants may submit a resume, cover letter/letter of interest detailing how their experience and background address the stated minimum and preferred qualifications/competencies of the job and attach to the online application. Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be accepted. Please address every requirement for the position with your experience in your application.
The application may include the following documents that MUST be uploaded at the time of application:
A resume (this is not a substitute for the online application demonstrating work history)
Cover letter / letter of interest
Transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)
DD214 (member-4 form) from applicants that may be eligible for veteran’s preference
Comparative Analysis
Current and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions, and reinstatements) are required to participate in the comparative analysis process through this job posting.
Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for the position. Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, training and experience review, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants. Be sure your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum qualifications. Address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position duties, required competencies and preferred qualifications in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Other Qualifications
The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.
DOLA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Melissa Bellew, DOLA ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
Email Address: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.
Biweekly Pay: As of July 1, 2023, all DOLA new hires, including transfers of current state employees and reinstatements of former state employees, will be placed on the biweekly pay schedule. This means you will be paid every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods over the course of a year. Biweekly pay is also lag pay, meaning you will be paid two weeks after the end of each pay period. Please click here for more information about the move to biweekly payroll.
Technical Assistance: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) please contact NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
Appeal Rights: An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director. As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.
Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [email protected] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action. For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.
For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Melissa Bellew via email at [email protected].
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