ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ACCOUNTANT I

State of Arizona • Phoenix, AZ

34d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ACCOUNTANT I Job Location: Accounting Section Phoenix Location Posting Details: Salary: $53,900 - $57,200 Grade: 19 Closing Date: 11/30/2025 Job Summary: Under the direction of the Accounting Supervisor, this position is responsible for maintaining a fiscal services system for state appropriations and federal grants of the agency's fiscal management section including examining a variety of financial documents for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or other specific accounting requirements. Applies the principles, theories, and concepts of accounting to a specific system. This position: Reconciles reports and financial data, and identifies apparent inconsistencies or errors; Carries out assigned steps in accounting analyses, such as researching amount variances between systems; Reviews fiscal documents and verifies for accuracy, timeliness, and proper preparation; Gathers and compiles data and writes reports summarizing financial transactions and status of accounts for a given period; Makes entries and revisions to agency accounts, ledgers, and financial records; Monitors funds from the federal government to ensure proper matching of state and federal expenditures; Examines and verifies such fiscal transactions as billing invoices, payments, payroll or other financial documents; and Reviews, monitors and controls amount expended from budget(s) to assure that expenditures do not exceed funds available. Rare in-state travel is required for this position. The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Requirements

• Knowledge in fiscal principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques of fund accounting, internal control structures, and fiscal management
• Knowledge in methods and techniques of automated accounting systems and data processing as it relates to accounting practices
• Knowledge in analyzing and preparing financial reports
• Knowledge in time management and priority setting techniques
• A Bachelor's degree in an Accounting or a related field (preferred) or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.
• Skills in analysis, interpretation and reconciling of financial data
• Skills in work techniques required to maintain accounting records through automated accounting systems
• Skills in communication, both orally and in writing
• Skills in training and reviewing the work of others
• Skills in work organization and completion
• Skills in applying accounting principles and practices
• Skills in excellent customer service
• Skills in intermediate skills in using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Teams, and Word
• Ability to work independently and understand complex financial information in a large agency
• Ability to read and understand federal regulations, Arizona Revised Statutes, applicable agency manuals, and policies and procedures
• Ability to effectively manage time
• Ability to pay great attention to detail
• Ability to assess customer needs and deliver desirable outcomes

Responsibilities

• Process accounting transactions involving federal grants and state appropriated funds in AZ360 (Arizona Financial Information System) and other interfacing financial systems
• Utilize accounting reports, contracts, operating procedures, and guides to verify accounting information is appropriately coded
• Develop, implement, modify, and document record keeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology
• Maintain personal and group inboxes, monitoring logs, and other shared data, ensuring transaction and communication requests are being addressed, processed, and resolved timely
• Provide expeditious and friendly customer service to Local Education Agencies (LEAs), suppliers, internal/external customers, and agency leadership in alignment to performance measures
• Provide changes/updates in guidance to all affected parties
• Analyze, prepare, and reconcile daily, monthly, and yearly financial and encumbrance reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards
• Report variances to Accounting Supervisor and/or Accounting Administrator
• Monitor and verify federal and state funding for allowable expenses and available funds
• Survey operations to ascertain accounting needs and to recommend, develop, and maintain solutions to business and financial issues

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees