Guardianship Accountant

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

2d•$2,953 - $4,366•Hybrid

About The Position

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Guardianship Services Program (GSP), seeks a highly qualified candidate to fill the Guardianship Accountant position. The ideal candidate thrives in an environment that emphasizes teamwork to achieve goals, excellence through high professional standards and personal accountability, curiosity for continuous growth and learning, critical thinking for effective execution, nurturing talent within our program, open and transparent communication, and agility to adapt quickly to challenges. This position performs highly complex (senior-level) technical accounting and administrative support work related to the management of the funds and assets of individuals served by the program known as wards as well as to the program managers. Work involves performing detailed assignments in recording, classifying, and verifying financial records, documents, and reports. Assistance with completion of financial documentation on legal forms filed with the courts. Tracks and manages unit and program assets. Manages electronic and hard copy records disposition, to include filing maintenance and purging. May train other employees. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. The position requires professional communication and interaction with agency and program staff, other state agency staff, members of the public, and other stakeholders. Prioritizes workload and assignments and meets established deadlines. This position is eligible for telework consistent with HHSC telework policy, which is subject to change. Employees may be required to work in the office one or more days a week. The selected candidate has reliable home internet service and protects confidential information of people served under guardianship or employed by the program in the home office setting.

Requirements

Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures affecting the maintenance of accounting records and automated accounting systems.
Knowledge and skill in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Skill in the use of a personal computer and related office equipment.
Skills in organizing and prioritizing tasks, problem solving and decision-making, maintaining an accurate confidential filing system, compile and prepare accurate reports.
Skill in organizing and coordinating projects.
Ability to review work for accuracy, to accurately perform numerical detail work, to make arithmetical computations and to prepare financial and accounting records.
Ability to learn and master the preparation of legal forms and documents under the direction of the guardianship attorneys.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally.
Ability to interpret and apply agency policies and procedures and to handle competing priorities.
Ability to maintain discretion in the handling of confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to work with limited supervision and to prioritize workload and assignments to meet established deadlines.
Ability to perform financial audits.
Ability to collect and interpret information to develop and complete reports.
Ability to travel up to 10% with a possible occasional overnight stay required.
A high school diploma or equivalent.
Experience performing entry level accounting, auditing, budgeting or related financial or accounting work.
Experience using a computer for inquiry and data entry
Experience with Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, and Word.
A valid driver's license is required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and skill working with databases preferred.
Two years of experience with accounting or bookkeeping principles and application.
Two years of experience working with a Health and Human Service Agency.
Two years of experience involving detailed assignments in recording, classifying, examining reports and maintaining files and filing system.
College or technical school education in accounting, business or a related field.
College or technical school education can be substituted for experience.

Responsibilities

Classifies, codes, posts, records, and reconciles accounts and bank statements, and other asset statements for funds owned by people served by the Guardianship Services program using the Guardianship On-Line Database (GOLD) system.
Completes a reconciliation of the bank statements monthly in accordance with policy guidelines and completes a reconciliation of the financial accounts for each person when HHSC is either guardian of the estate or representative payee.
Enters and tracks the person’s asset information in the GOLD system.
Ensures accurate and complete documentation is maintained in the GOLD system regarding their actions and communications relating to the person’s financial affairs or the tasks completed.
Participates in the physical inventory of a person’s home or property.
Assists with obtaining appraisals, bids, and performing other tasks related to maintenance and repair of homesteads and sale of a person’s property.
Assists with correspondence related to creditors or persons who owe money to the person as requested by the Guardianship Specialist (GS) or the guardianship supervisor.
Assists the GS with preparation of legal documents, various applications, reports and taxes.
Reviews the GOLD case record when annual accountings are prepared to verify asset information is entered in the GOLD system.
Completes the required accountings and sends the regional staff for review and filing with the courts.
Prepares financial reports identified by program management and available in the GOLD system.
Presents financial training to guardianship staff at the Guardianship Academy and/or the unit meetings as directed by management.
Attends all training events and meetings scheduled by management unless an absence is authorized by management.
Request, process, and maintain resident trust fund statements and documentation received by the program.
Attaches documentation to the appropriate record at least quarterly.
Assists the GS with obtaining supporting documentation for expenditures and oversight of provider’s management of trust fund accounts.
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.