Deputy Controller - Controller II - Hybrid

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Deputy Controller assists the Department Controller in leading and directing the Department of Personnel & Administration’s financial services function. The position ensures that departmental financial activities comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), state statutes, and State Fiscal Rules, and is expected to perform the major duties of the Department Controller when the Controller is absent. The role oversees day-to-day accounting operations across DPA divisions, supports accurate and timely accounting, reporting, budgeting, and fiscal-year closing, and provides technical accounting guidance to division staff and management. The position also supports the Controller and executive management with strategic financial planning, system and process improvements, and the presentation of financial information to departmental, state, legislative, and federal audiences. It supervises assigned staff accountants by setting priorities, reviewing work, providing feedback, and participating in hiring and performance management. This posting is open only to Colorado residents and may fill more than one vacancy. The position is hybrid.

Requirements

At least eight years of relevant experience in accounting or auditing, including at least two years of supervisory experience; or a qualifying combination of education and experience totaling at least eight years, including at least two years of supervisory experience.
For the education-and-experience option, accounting or auditing coursework must include 24 completed semester hours.
Current, valid CPA licensure from the Colorado Board of Accountancy counts for six years of the experience requirement.
Must be a resident of Colorado when submitting the application.
Work experience and qualifications must be documented in the work experience/job duties sections of the official State of Colorado online application; resumes and cover letters are not accepted in lieu of the application for minimum-qualification screening.
Must complete a pre-employment criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

Previous state service related to the work assigned to the position.
Governmental accounting and/or reporting experience.
Experience with CORE or another large financial system, including reporting.
Strong MS Excel knowledge.
Excellent written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day accounting operations for assigned DPA divisions, ensuring transactions are accurate, timely, supported by documentation, and compliant with internal fiscal policies and applicable rules.
Manage accounting workflows, segregation of duties, fiscal deadlines, monthly, quarterly, and year-end closes, accounting controls, and resolution of discrepancies.
Analyze and reconcile financial data and account balances, including assets, liabilities, fund balance, revenues, expenditures, accounts receivable, deferred revenue, and accounts payable.
Review accounting documents, including payment vouchers, journals, purchase orders, requisitions, and service contracts, for accuracy and appropriateness.
Create, audit, approve, and review accounting transactions in CORE; prepare journal entries and journal vouchers; and reconcile accounts to CORE.
Maintain general fixed-asset accounting records and record appropriate transactions for assigned divisions.
Prepare interagency transactions and confirm interagency payables; record necessary fiscal year-end entries, including pay-date-shift entries.
Work with the Controller on quarterly and annual diagnostic reports, resolving issues, and closing and opening fiscal-year books and completing reports and exhibits for the State Controller’s Office.
Complete year-end and year-open tasks, including roll-forwards and estimated revenue and expense accruals, within deadlines.
Review division financial reports and meet with division and budget staff to discuss financial results.
Prepare, monitor, and analyze monthly financial reports and expenditure projections; compare actual expenditures with budget projections and recommend adjustments or options to managers.
Oversee accurate division and program financial reporting, including reports used for statewide reporting, and provide quarterly explanations of account variances and abnormal balances to the Department Controller.
Maintain financial subsystems and recommend new systems or changes to existing systems, procedures, and processes.
Review fiscal year-end financial exhibits and supporting schedules; compile information for the State Controller’s Office statewide indirect cost plan; and prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Create and maintain departmental reports in CORE InfoAdvantage, manage financial-system reporting, and explain reporting processes and train department financial users.
Plan for fiscal-year closing and opening, participate in developing fiscal-closing training, and present training to division personnel as needed.
Work with unit managers and the budget unit on decision items, supplemental requests, and budget amendments; assist with division rate setting and monitor budgets, profit and loss, cash balances, and fund balances.
Provide technical accounting assistance, interpret State Fiscal Rules, implement state and federal administrative policies, and help design coding structures and processes and reports for assigned programs.
Assist the Controller and executive management with strategic planning and integration of the department’s strategic plan with financial operations, budgets, and contractual obligations.
Help present and defend financial data, internal accounting policies, procedures, and controls to department management, the State Controller, state auditors, legislative committees, and the federal government.
Supervise assigned staff accountants by providing direction, assigning and reviewing work, setting priorities, approving work hours and leave, giving regular performance feedback, and developing and implementing performance plans and evaluations.
Help recruit and hire staff as needed; evaluate and recommend changes to staffing patterns, processes, and procedures; and provide guidance to other accounting staff on accounting issues.
Create an inclusive, positive, and professional work environment.