Accountant IV - AR

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

3d•$5,200 - $5,500•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. This position reports directly to the AR Customer Service Hotline manager. Perform complex research and customer service work for HHSC Accounts Receivables Hotline and Research Team, acts as the subject matter expert (SME) on research-related matters for the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid and provider claims. Work involves examining case documentation, researching and reconciling case files from error reports, processing, assigning and auditing client requests for accuracy, helping to monitor any Federal Treasury Offset Program (TOP) information, as well as training new hires. Assists the Team Lead as needed. Works under general supervision, with a degree of latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. You will need experience in customer service, accounting, bookkeeping, or cash-handling using an automated accounting system and using Microsoft Office Suite.

Requirements

Knowledge of agency organizational structure for fiscal programs; governmental accounting; budget control methods, policies, and procedures; and laws and regulations pertaining to financial operations.
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures affecting the maintenance of accounting records and automated accounting systems.
Skill in use of a networked computer and software including Microsoft Excel, Teams, Word, Access, PeopleSoft, CAPPS HR, USAS and/or other financial software.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision
Ability to communicate professionally and effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, providers, agency staff and others.
Ability to plan and manage accounting and project workflows.
Ability to prioritize assignments and meet work deadlines.
Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Ability to update and maintain department policies and procedures, work instructions, or work guides and coordinate accounting operations and to provide guidance to others.
Ability to interpret and apply accounting theory; to interpret laws and regulations; to work accurately with numerical detail; to analyze, consolidate, and interpret accounting data; and to communicate effectively.
Experience identifying and developing process improvements.
Experience using automated accounting or customer data base systems.
Experience with MS office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
Five years of progressively responsible experience in customer service, accounting, finance, auditing, or budgeting.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in both English and Spanish preferred.
Accounting experience in State Government or Non-Profit organization is preferred.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, or related field is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for on another on a year-to-year basis.

Responsibilities

Verifies work of (and acts as backup to) TOP Specialist on executing TOP file uploads/downloads and ensure processing (through delegation and review) of TOP error files. (10%)
Processes Fair Hearing Appeal requests and represents Accounts Receivable as an agency witness when required. Help process one-time debit requests from SNAP and TANF overpaid clients, work and respond to ARTS Project inquiries and process bankruptcy paperwork as needed. (10%)
Creates, processes, and assigns daily work order requests by customer service and research staff, audits outgoing requests as required by manager for accuracy. (10%)
Take inbound collection calls and respond to inquiries from clients who are overpaid on SNAP and TANF benefits and provide account information to clients utilizing various databases. Review client correspondence, research and provide Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) with overpaid client case history documentation as requested and make corrections to case records as necessary. (15%)
Maintain, revise, and publish agency policies and procedures for Customer Service areas of AR. Identify, develop, and implement improvement within this area of AR. Provide input as a Subject Matter Expert in meetings when appropriate. (5%)
Responsible for training all team members and new hires to reach their goals of Accounts Receivable and the agency. (15%)
Manages the Accounts Receivable ARTS Project mailbox for changes and corrections to overpayment claims submitted by IG and Fair Hearings staff. (5%)
The subject matter expert also performs the same duties as all Hotline and Research staff. (10%)
Work on special projects assigned by management including ad hoc requests. Support AR management as needed and assigned. (5%)
State reviews should be done as they are received to meet designated deadlines. A minimum of one a day should be completed to prevent backlogs, Ombudsman complaints, and TOP offsets. (15%)