Senior Financial Accountant, Accountant 3

State of Oregon • Salem, OR

5d • $6,834 - $10,076 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Oregon Department of Human Services is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant for its Office of Financial Services. The role applies advanced accounting theory and expertise to support complex agency operations and maintain the integrity of financial systems. As the unit’s primary technical expert, the accountant guides professional and paraprofessional accounting staff, resolves complex system issues, and helps shape agency-wide accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls. The position also oversees cash management, grant accounting, and subsystem operations to ensure compliance with GAAP, state requirements, and ODHS business rules.

The accountant maintains accounting controls, resolves unusual accounting issues, updates financial management systems, and leads projects to design and improve complex systems, including systems that interact with statewide systems. The position ensures accurate annual financial reporting, interprets and presents financial information, and develops specialized reports and fiscal analyses. It partners with accounting and program leaders on decision-making and policy development; evaluates proposals; trains staff; responds to audit inquiries; and leads process and system improvement projects.

This is a permanent, full-time Management Service position. The posting describes it as both non-supervisory and supervisory. Work is performed in a typical office environment with normal office hours; most work can be done in a hybrid or remote open-landscape office environment, although office attendance may be required for business needs. Some travel expenses for remote or hybrid employees are not provided or reimbursed under the cited travel policy.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following minimum qualification pathways: (1) hold a CPA or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate and have three years of accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work, including designing and modifying accounting systems, consulting with program managers or external organizations, and assuring proper fiscal operations; (2) hold a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, or another discipline supplemented by 32 quarter (21 semester) accounting credit hours, and have three years of related accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work with the specified systems, consultation, and fiscal-accountability duties; or (3) have 32 quarter (21 semester) accounting credit hours and five years of related accounting experience involving complex financial data, accounting methods and systems, audited financial statements, financial laws and regulations, and complex account relationships.
• 15 quarter (10 semester) graduate-level accounting credit hours may substitute for one year of accounting experience; graduate courses used to meet the education requirement cannot also satisfy the experience requirement.
• Demonstrate strong technical accounting expertise and ability to apply advanced accounting standards to complex financial operations.
• Have proven experience in payroll tax preparation and interpretation of tax-related financial data.
• Be skilled in using data query tools for analysis, reporting, and visualizing financial insights.
• Have exceptional problem-solving ability, particularly in resolving complex accounting and system issues.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively across programs and support sound decision-making through financial insight.
• Submit a cover letter explaining how the candidate meets each essential attribute and minimum qualification; failure to submit it results in disqualification.
• If selected as a finalist, complete criminal history and background checks; authorization to work in the United States must be verified through the required I-9 and E-Verify process. The agency does not offer visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Preference may be given to candidates holding a CPA.
• Preference may be given to candidates with payroll tax preparation and research experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong accounting controls and ensure accurate, timely financial reports.
• Resolve complex and unusual accounting issues, including system corrections and adaptations.
• Update financial management systems to meet specialized agency needs and comply with accounting standards.
• Manage projects to design, develop, and improve complex accounting systems, including systems that interact with statewide systems.
• Guide accounting staff on complex assignments, review work for accuracy and compliance, and provide direction and training.
• Ensure complete and accurate annual financial reporting for a large, multifaceted agency, including financial statements, disclosures, and narrative documentation.
• Interpret and present financial information to internal and external audiences.
• Design and analyze specialized financial reports generated from centralized systems and provide fiscal interpretations.
• Partner with accounting and program leaders to support decision-making and policy development.
• Evaluate risks, benefits, and costs of proposals and recommend appropriate actions.
• Provide training on advanced accounting topics and reporting requirements.
• Prepare responses to audit inquiries and explain accounting policies, procedures, and systems to auditors and external reviewers.
• Lead projects that improve system efficiency and strengthen internal processes.
• Evaluate proposals, develop alternatives, and recommend actions that align with agency needs.
• Balance competing priorities to develop action plans and deliver final reports and presentations.
• Support special projects assigned by the unit manager and represent the unit in meetings and process improvement initiatives.
• Oversee cash management, grant accounting, and subsystem operations while ensuring compliance with applicable requirements.

Benefits

• ODHS Employee Resource Group communities that promote shared learning.
• Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Annual salary increases until the top of the listed salary range is reached.
• Amazing benefits package (specific benefits are not detailed).
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers who meet position qualifications receive candidate preference.

What This Job Offers

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