Accountant I

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accountant I position is in the Office of Administrative Solutions, Division of Financial Services, and supports manual timekeeping and payroll operations following the transition to the COMPAS system. The unit provides centralized payroll and timekeeping support to more than 5,500 employees across CDHS agencies and facilities statewide. This position ensures accurate, timely processing for assigned facilities through manual data entry, timekeeping calculations, payroll adjustments, and reconciliation while following applicable laws and personnel rules. The role performs technical review and approval of payroll and timekeeping work, resolves non-routine payroll and leave issues, provides guidance and training, and supports payroll supervisors and other staff. The position maintains payroll and timekeeping files and may drive a state vehicle to training or management meetings outside Denver. The target start date is December 2026. This position is open to current Colorado residents and uses a hybrid arrangement of two days in the office and three days remote; those arrangements may change.

Requirements

Four years of relevant accounting experience that includes timekeeping administration, payroll processing, or closely related experience; alternatively, a combination of related education and/or relevant experience in these areas equivalent to four years.
Colorado residency at the time of application and throughout employment.
A valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license or, for positions within 30 miles of the Colorado border, a valid, non-restricted U.S. driver’s license. Out-of-state license holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of starting employment.
Successful completion of required background and reference checks.
Experience must be clearly documented on the application, and supplemental questions must be answered.

Responsibilities

Apply generally accepted accounting principles, federal and state laws, and department rules when reviewing and approving manual payroll and timekeeping entries.
Review, verify, and authorize personnel and payroll transactions, including tax withholding forms, benefit enrollments and adjustments, direct deposits, deductions, and pay or hour reconciliations.
Resolve non-routine issues, disputes, and inquiries related to hours worked, leave balances, and overtime calculations.
Provide technical guidance to staff, facility timekeepers, and supervisors on payroll, timekeeping, benefits, FMLA, short-term disability, workers’ compensation, PERA forms, and related personnel rules.
Ensure subordinate staff complete assigned work accurately and within payroll deadlines; monitor workflow, approve work actions, and establish operating standards.
Promote working relationships across CDHS facilities and develop and deliver in-service training for team members.
Support payroll supervisors, including managing staffing in light of deadlines and workloads, reviewing work for an absent supervisor, addressing errors in employee leave accruals, completing balancing functions when needed, and serving as backup to CDHS Payroll Supervisors.
Support CDHS staff processing timekeeping and payroll for assigned agencies.
Maintain biweekly and/or monthly payroll and timekeeping files for assigned facilities.
Operate a state vehicle to attend required training or management meetings outside Denver as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program