Accounting Specialist

State of North Carolina•Wake County, NC

About The Position

The Accounting Specialist oversees the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s payroll and benefits processes, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with State and Federal laws, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Office of the State Controller requirements. The position works within the Controller’s Office, which ensures departmental financial resources and funds are received, disbursed, recorded, and accounted for in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, GAAP, and department policies. The office also oversees the North Carolina Financial System (NCFS) transactions affecting the department and is accountable to the Office of the State Controller for data integrity. This position analyzes and helps resolve salary overpayments, maintains records tracking overpayment balances after payroll cycles, processes payroll transactions and associated deductions and benefits, and coordinates with employees and other parties to resolve payroll and benefits issues. It also protects confidential data and supports financial accountability.

Requirements

Meet one of the stated education and experience pathways: a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or another curriculum providing core financial management coursework; an associate degree in accounting and three years of accounting or auditing experience; a high school diploma or GED and four years of experience as an accounting technician, including three years at an advanced technical level; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Education must be from an appropriately accredited institution.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the SAP Payroll module and its functionality, Employee Self Service, and system reporting tools such as queries and online reports.
Experience interpreting and analyzing salary overpayment data in the DAC Accounting System (ACT), and explaining and applying standard accounting practices.
Experience combining multiple data sources, such as online transactions, reports, and queries, to identify the root cause of salary overpayments and determine appropriate resolutions.
Experience maintaining effective working relationships with representatives of related contact agencies, departmental staff, team members, and the public.
Experience working independently and managing competing priorities.

Responsibilities

Analyze, identify, communicate, and resolve salary overpayment issues, including working to collect funds owed to the State.
Maintain ongoing records tracking the balance of salary overpayments processed after each payroll cycle.
Ensure accurate processing of payroll transactions, deductions, benefits, and withholdings.
Coordinate with employees, management, state agencies, and vendors to resolve payroll and benefits issues.
Protect confidential data and support financial accountability within the Controller’s Office.