Accountant IV

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Brenham, TX

3d•$4,263 - $6,779•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. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. The Accountant IV reports directly to the Regional Accounting Manager at the Regional Accounting Office and performs financial support services. The Accountant IV routinely performs highly complex (journey-level) accounts payable tasks and serves as a functional specialist for the Regional Accounting Office. Work involves bank reconciliation, audits of petty cash and trust fund accounts, reconcile cash and deposits, review purchase orders and requisition chartfield approvals, as well as backup to voucher approvals and staff workloads. The Accountant IV works under general supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Uses knowledge of Health and Human Services (HHS) Procurement policy to make decisions on proper procurement methods and coding. Serves as a contact with State Office Accounting, Budget, Purchasing, Asset Management, vendors, individuals, providers and other state agencies. Assists external and internal customers with understanding Accounts Receivable and reconciliation rules and regulations. Work involves researching, resolving discrepancies, and analyzing Accounts Receivable transactions. Documents the needs of our customers and may assist with additional tasks to meet those needs.

Requirements

Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures affecting maintenance of accounting records.
Skill in the use of automated accounting systems, such as CAPPs, HHSAS, USAS or MIMS.
Ability to review and audit the work of others to interpret and apply accounting theory, business processes and Comptroller policies and to analyze, consolidate and interpret accounting data.
Ability to efficiently process accounting information to ensure data integrity for positive audits and accurate reports.
Ability to effectively communicate, oral and written, with internal and external customers. Ability to maintain effective relationships with financial and administrative personnel at all the facilities and departments, as well as other state agencies and vendors.
Ability to use Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Access.
Experience in accounting and financial operations.
Experience with a computerized accounting or bookkeeping system.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
Must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility

Nice To Haves

Experience in auditing and/or reconciliation is preferred.
Experience with local, state, or federal financial operations of a public entity is preferred.
Some coursework in accounting, finance, or a related field is generally preferred.
May be required to possess certification as a Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM).

Responsibilities

Performs various accounting audits as required by policy and procedure. Such audits include weekly auditing of the daily cash audit of cashiers receipts to daily bank deposits to verify amounts and correct bank accounts (Non-regional office will provide copies); monthly count and balance of petty cash of the canteen, workshops, post office, and cashier, annual petty cash certification of cash in bank and cash on hand; quarterly audits of unused checks for the Trust Fund, Benefit Fund, and Revolving Fund, unclaimed employee payroll warrants and unused cashier receipts. Coordinates and implements internal audit and procedures as needed for the pharmacy, canteen, workshop and warehouse inventories. (20%)
Prepare monthly reconciliations for Trust and Benefit Fund, Petty Cash Fund, pharmacy drug inventory, and food and warehouse stock for all the facilities that report up to the Regional Accounting Office as well as the Regional Accounting Office. This includes posting to the general ledger and reconciling sub-ledgers to general ledgers. (20%)
Performs quarterly review of open Purchase Order encumbrances. Close or adjust purchase orders as needed to process future payments or to release unused funds back to the budget, as well as tracking the requests to confirm completion by PCS purchasers. Assists accounting staff with any issues/questions and provides guidance. Assists with gathering information from PCS purchasers, warehouse, vendors, and end users/requestors to carry out business. (15%)
Completes the annual Medicare Cost Report; quarterly physician 2 week time studies; end of year reports for Medicare Bad Debt logs, Utilization report, Ancillary costs, Medicare Part A logs, laundry usage and costs, bed day capacity, and cost of patient meals; and insures the completed reports are submitted by the required deadline to prevent late fees being applied to the facility (For the State Hospital facility that reports to the Regional Accounting Office). (10%)
Reviews source data received from various departments for accuracy and prepares data to create financial reports for approval by Accountant V or Manager. These reports include cash receipts, cash disbursements, open encumbrances, Medicare recoupments, bank reconciliation, inventory audits, and Trust and Petty cash audits. Maintains electronic and paper files, databases and spreadsheets to be easily accessible by all business office and accounting staff to promptly respond to inquiries as needed for management requests and financial reporting. (5%)
Performs Requisition Chartfield review and approvals. This includes classifying, coding and verifying the correct Account, program, fund, class and project grant are used on the requisition. Ability to use accounting tools, such as the Comptroller Public Accounts website to verify correct coding. Verification of source documents to ensure the validity of the request for the goods and services. (20%)
Performs backup tasks, such as, purchase voucher approvals and staff workload assignments in the absence of the Accountant V – lead or as needed during peak processing times. (5%)
Participates on special projects as required or requested and performs other duties as assigned. These tasks may require coordination with staff within the agency, other state and federal agencies, or outside entities. Completes projects successfully within the parameters established and performs other duties as assigned and as required to maintain effective and efficient departmental, division, agency and enterprise operations within established timeframes. (5%)