Accountant 3 (Accountant 3)

State of Oregon • Street, MD

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page. Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for an Accountant 3 (Accountant 3) in Portland, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. About DEQ! The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. The Central Services Division (CSD) assists the agency in achieving its mission by providing central management services for the agency in accounting, budgeting, procurement, information systems, human resources, health and safety, property control, intergovernmental coordination, and pollution bond fund assistance. The Division serves two headquarters divisions, three regional divisions located throughout Oregon, the vehicle inspection program, and the laboratory. Services are provided to over 850 DEQ positions, various local and regional governments, and directly to community members. Accounting, Budget, and Procurement fall under the Financial Services section. Accounting provides agency wide accounting including accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial audit coordination, oversight of contract compliance, grant support, cost recovery invoicing, and financial reporting. Accounting coordinates with Budget to manage cash balances and ensure transactions are posted to the correct funds. The agency has a complex cost structure to account for multiple funding sources that include General funds, Lottery funds, federal grants, cost recovery reimbursements, and other funds which include fees for permits and applications. Each has a stringent reporting requirement. The cost structure captures the funding source, activity, location, manager, grant, and project. DEQ has approximately 125 funds, 75 activities, 80 active grants, and more than 10,000 projects. For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map. What you will do! As an Accountant 3, you will provide professional-level expertise for the Accounting Team, utilizing independent judgment and discretion and your extensive knowledge and experience interpreting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM). You will support the Accounting team by applying advanced accounting theory to transactions required to ensure materially correct financial statements. You will ensure accounting transactions are made and recorded in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), federal grant financial requirements (2 CFR 200), statewide accounting policies and procedures, and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM). You will also ensure that financial close is complete and that timely and subsequent financial reporting occurs. What’s in it for you! The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today! This is a full-time, management service non-supervisory position. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

Requirements

• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate AND 3 years of accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work, which included designing and modifying accounting systems that require frequent changes in requirements to meet specific business objectives, consulting with program managers or external organizations, and ensuring the proper functioning and accountability of fiscal operations; OR
• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or in any discipline that includes or is supplemented by 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours from an accredited institution in Accounting AND 3 years of related accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work, which included designing and modifying accounting systems that require frequent changes in requirements to meet specific business objectives, consulting with program managers or external organizations, and ensuring the proper functioning and accountability of fiscal operations; OR
• 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours from an accredited institution in Accounting AND 5 years of related accounting experience to include a) classifying, analyzing, and reconciling complex financial data and records; b) designing, recommending, and installing modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; c) preparing audited financial statements and reports; d) analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances to ensure the legality of financial transactions; and e) analyzing and interpreting complex accounts and account relationships resulting in accounting entries.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience with State systems, especially RStars, Workday, Datamart, and PowerBI; familiarity with State financial processes, specifically accounts payable.
• Experience applying audit standards to set-up, monitor, and modify internal procedures and the importance of separation of duties.
• Experience preparing and interpreting financial statements and other financial reports from multiple sources.
• Experience developing and using computer models to analyze and forecast financial data.
• Experience reviewing accounting transactions to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principles; experience analyzing accounting information and systems to prevent, detect, and correct errors.
• Experience researching and resolving difficult or unusual accounting problems to ensure compliance with accounting rules, policies, and procedures.
• Experience interpreting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements for application to transactions and collaborates to develop procedures and policies for new GASB pronouncements
• Extensive knowledge of governmental or fund accounting, including sources of funds, segregation, and display of expenditures and revenues; thorough understanding of complex cost structures at State Agencies.
• Thorough understanding of accounting for capital assets.
• Experience with Microsoft suite including Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences.
• Experience working with auditors to ensure timely submittal of requested information.
• Experience working with interdepartmental staff to support accounts payable questions, issues, and needs.
• Experience researching across multiple sources to determine the requirements for an issue.
• Experience developing, modifying, and implementing accounting systems and policies.
• Experience leading a team through monthly close processes.

Responsibilities

• As an Accountant 3, you will provide professional-level expertise for the Accounting Team, utilizing independent judgment and discretion and your extensive knowledge and experience interpreting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM).
• You will support the Accounting team by applying advanced accounting theory to transactions required to ensure materially correct financial statements.
• You will ensure accounting transactions are made and recorded in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), federal grant financial requirements (2 CFR 200), statewide accounting policies and procedures, and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM).
• You will also ensure that financial close is complete and that timely and subsequent financial reporting occurs.

Benefits

• DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits.
• We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year.
• In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level