Accounting Manager

State of North Carolina

18h

About The Position

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians. The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity. The North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security (DES), Finance & Budget Unit, is seeking a highly skilled Accounting Manager I to lead key financial operations in support of DES’s mission: delivering efficient, effective, and high‑quality administration of the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system. The Accounting Manager will lead and supervise professional accountants and technical staff who perform complex accounting and fiscal functions. This role will oversee the Administrative Accounting Unit and the Unemployment Insurance Accounting Unit. This role requires a solutions‑oriented professional who thrives in a fast‑paced and evolving environment, is committed to continuous improvement, and is skilled at building and developing high‑performing teams. The Accounting Manager will ensure that accounting systems and practices effectively meet the planning, budgeting, reporting, and compliance needs of DES, the Department of Commerce, the State of North Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Labor. The manager prepares and presents monthly, quarterly, and annual Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) compliant financial statements and analyzes financial data to provide insights that support executive decision-making. They oversee the general ledger to ensure accurate and timely transaction recording and reconciliation, as well as manage the month-end. Lead the agency’s submission of required schedules for the North Carolina Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (NC ACFR), including governmental fund statements, notes, and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) inputs. This role develops and maintains effective internal controls to safeguard data integrity and prevent fraud, while ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations. The Accounting Manager coordinates with external auditors and prepares all required documentation, and mentors and trains accounting staff to support growth and performance. Additionally, the manager improves accounting processes, implements best practices, and drafts and updates accounting policies and procedures. They will partner with Budget, Procurement, Grants, and Program teams to support fiscal planning, compliance, and performance reporting. The position leverages automation tools and system integrations to enhance workflow efficiency, supports emerging fiscal and budgetary needs, and assists with oversight of the North Carolina UI Resource Justification Model (RJM). The Division of Employment Security is responsible for the administration of the unemployment insurance program in the state of North Carolina. This program is a federal-state partnership, funded by federal and state unemployment taxes, which employers pay on the wages of their employees. Benefits are paid to eligible workers who lose their job through no fault of their own and are able, available, and actively seeking work. The Finance & Budget (F&B) unit is responsible for all of the financial accounting, budgeting, and cash management activities of the Division of Employment Security (DES). This includes maintaining six separate funds within the State of North Carolina budget and cash management systems and the Unemployment Trust Fund within the United States Treasury in Washington, DC.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or a degree in business administration, finance or public administration or a related discipline from an appropriately accredited institution with 18 semester hours of accounting coursework; and five years of professional accounting experience in the preparation and review of interpretive or analytical accounting/financial statements and reports; of which at least one is supervisory; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of complex Federal Grant, Special Funds, and Trust Fund Accounting operations and reporting.
• Advanced knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations, and internal controls.
• Experience with the North Carolina Financial System (NCFS).

Nice To Haves

• Proven leadership experience in accounting operations.
• Experience contributing to or preparing sections of a state Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (preferably the North Carolina ACFR).

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise professional accountants and technical staff who perform complex accounting and fiscal functions.
• Oversee the Administrative Accounting Unit and the Unemployment Insurance Accounting Unit.
• Ensure that accounting systems and practices effectively meet the planning, budgeting, reporting, and compliance needs of DES, the Department of Commerce, the State of North Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) compliant financial statements and analyzes financial data to provide insights that support executive decision-making.
• Oversee the general ledger to ensure accurate and timely transaction recording and reconciliation, as well as manage the month-end.
• Lead the agency’s submission of required schedules for the North Carolina Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (NC ACFR), including governmental fund statements, notes, and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) inputs.
• Develop and maintains effective internal controls to safeguard data integrity and prevent fraud, while ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations.
• Coordinate with external auditors and prepares all required documentation, and mentors and trains accounting staff to support growth and performance.
• Improve accounting processes, implements best practices, and drafts and updates accounting policies and procedures.
• Partner with Budget, Procurement, Grants, and Program teams to support fiscal planning, compliance, and performance reporting.
• Leverage automation tools and system integrations to enhance workflow efficiency, supports emerging fiscal and budgetary needs, and assists with oversight of the North Carolina UI Resource Justification Model (RJM).

Benefits

• 12 Annual Paid Holidays and monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans
• WeSave Employee Discounts
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

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