Accountant III-Standards

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:
DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.
Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.

The Accountant III performs moderately complex (journey-level) accounting and financial analysis work within the Accounts Payable division. The role is primarily responsible for preparing, auditing, entering, and posting a wide range of encumbered and unencumbered vouchers while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to daily processing schedules. The position provides technical guidance to program and budget staff, researches and resolves voucher or funding discrepancies, and supports workflow efficiency through task tracking, documentation management, and training contributions. The Accountant III utilizes financial systems such as CAPPS, Invoice Tracking, Excel, and Word to perform daily duties. Work is performed under general supervision with limited latitude for initiative and independent judgment and is eligible for hybrid telework.

Requirements

• Knowledge of bookkeeping/accounting principles and rules related to accounts payable.
• Knowledge of financial administration, governmental accounting, budget control methods, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to fiscal operations.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge of state accounting and budgetary procedures, including legal restrictions governing state accounts payable guidelines.
• Skill in advanced software such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Invoice Tracking, CAPPS, USAS, PeopleSoft, and other governmental financial applications.
• Skill in monitoring and analyzing payments.
• Skill in processing financial transactions.
• Skill in preparing financial reports and performing financial analysis.
• Skill in coding expenditures using chart field and chart of account information.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and work effectively with others.
• Ability to draw on skills and knowledge to anticipate potential issues and recommend solutions.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Ability to lead the work of others, including training, approving documents entered by others, overseeing work, and preparing and presenting training presentations.
• Experience in accounting and financial operations, payables experience is generally preferred.
• Experience with a computerized accounting or bookkeeping system.
• Graduation from a standard senior high school or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Voucher Preparation and Processing: Prepares, audits, enters, and posts a variety of encumbered and unencumbered vouchers in accordance with established accounting standards and agency procedures. Coordinates daily payment voucher posting activities to ensure processing schedules and deadlines are consistently met. Verifies that all vouchers include complete and accurate supporting documentation and the required authorizations prior to processing. Collaborates with program staff to secure appropriate funding and resolve any fund coding or budget related discrepancies. Utilizes software applications such as CAPPS, Invoice Tracking, Excel, and Word to perform daily duties.
• Subject Matter Expertise and Technical Assistance: Provides subject matter expertise in vouchers and payments. Identifies voucher, documentation, or funding discrepancies and collaborates with program and budget staff to resolve issues. Conducts research to ensure accuracy, prevent duplicate payments, and maintain compliance with agency and state accounting requirements.
• Assignment Tracking and Records Management: Maintains accurate tracking of assigned tasks to ensure the timely processing of vouchers, payments, and related activities. Communicates status updates and processing issues to program and budget staff. Ensures all vouchers and financial documents are properly documented, archived, and retained in accordance with agency policies and records management requirements. Reviews weekly performance tracking and status reports.
• Training and Workflow Support: Supports managers in performance development, staff training, and workflow coordination. May assist in onboarding new team members and contribute to the creation and maintenance of training materials, job aids, and process documentation. Identifies opportunities to improve procedures and enhance operational efficiency.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs additional responsibilities as required, including providing backup support to other accountants, assisting with special projects, updating procedures, and supporting division needs. Participates in agency disaster response, recovery efforts, and continuity of operations (COOP) activities, which may require alternative work schedules or temporary reassignment.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED