Senior Staff Accountant

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

4d•$52,659 - $73,886•Onsite

About The Position

The Directorate of Facilities Engineering (DFE) within the Department of Defense, Veterans' and Emergency Management is seeking a highly skilled, analytical, and detail-oriented Senior Staff Accountant to support the financial integrity, accountability, and operational effectiveness of its fiscal operations. The role performs advanced professional accounting work involving complex governmental accounting, financial reporting, account reconciliation, internal controls, and financial systems management. It helps ensure state and federal financial resources are accurately recorded and administered according to GAAP, GASB standards, and applicable state and federal requirements. Working with a high degree of independence, the Senior Staff Accountant collaborates with financial management, procurement personnel, program managers, and state and federal fiscal partners to identify and resolve financial issues, strengthen internal controls, and improve accounting processes. The position analyzes financial information, identifies underlying problems, develops practical solutions, and contributes to financial decision-making. It also provides technical accounting guidance and may perform supervisory responsibilities if assigned.

Requirements

Intermediate to advanced education, training, and/or experience in accounting, business administration, financial planning, budgeting, or another related field demonstrating competency in analyzing complex data and records, interpreting policies, rules, and laws, designing operational frameworks, identifying process and procedure deficiencies, and developing practical solutions.
Strong understanding of GAAP, GASB, governmental accounting, and fund accounting principles.
Ability to analyze complex financial transactions and accounting relationships.
Knowledge of financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Ability to independently investigate financial discrepancies, identify underlying causes, and develop practical, defensible accounting solutions.
Ability to evaluate financial data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Proficiency with computerized accounting systems and financial reporting applications.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including financial analysis, reconciliations, formulas, and data organization.
Ability to learn and effectively navigate complex governmental financial systems.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial issues and recommendations to accounting and non-accounting personnel.
Ability to work effectively with multiple departments and financial stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex assignments with limited supervision.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment to accuracy, sound judgment, confidentiality, and ability to meet deadlines.
Willingness to take ownership of assigned responsibilities and follow identified issues through resolution.

Nice To Haves

Experience in governmental or public-sector accounting.
Experience with state and federal fund accounting, including restricted funding sources.
Experience with federal grants, cooperative agreements, and reimbursement processes.
Experience with complex account reconciliation and financial discrepancy resolution.
Experience with the State of Maine Advantage financial management system.
Experience with budgetary accounting, appropriations, allotments, and encumbrance management.
Experience developing and implementing internal accounting controls.
Experience with financial reporting and advanced Microsoft Excel analysis.
Experience in process improvement, accounting system evaluation, and financial workflow development.
Experience providing technical guidance to accounting staff.

Responsibilities

Perform complex reconciliations of financial accounts, expenditures, revenues, encumbrances, and related accounting records; investigate discrepancies and initiate corrective actions.
Analyze complex and nonstandard accounting transactions, determine appropriate accounting treatment, and prepare or review adjusting journal entries and financial corrections with supporting documentation.
Ensure transactions are properly classified, supported, recorded, and reconciled; identify recurring errors and recommend sustainable solutions.
Apply GAAP, GASB standards, governmental fund accounting principles, and applicable state and federal financial requirements.
Monitor compliance with accounting policies, fiscal controls, funding restrictions, and reporting requirements; identify compliance concerns and recommend corrective measures.
Use the State of Maine Advantage financial management system to research transactions, analyze financial activity, identify errors, and support accurate reporting.
Evaluate accounting workflows, procedures, and controls; recommend improvements to processes, reconciliation procedures, reporting tools, and internal controls.
Assist in designing and implementing standardized financial tracking and reporting mechanisms, and coordinate with fiscal and technical personnel to resolve system issues.
Analyze appropriations, allotments, expenditures, encumbrances, and available resources; prepare and interpret financial reports for budget monitoring, planning, and management decisions.
Assist with cash forecasts, expenditure projections, revenue estimates, funding analyses, and financial information for budget orders, financial orders, and other funding actions.
Support accounting and reporting for state- and federally funded operations, including reconciling state expenditures, federal funding authorizations, reimbursement activity, and related records.
Collaborate with personnel responsible for federal reimbursement requests, including Standard Form 270 (SF-270), to support accurate and timely reimbursement processes.
Develop, evaluate, and maintain accounting controls; ensure transactions are authorized, documented, and supported; maintain records for reviews and audits; and implement corrective actions for deficiencies.
Provide technical accounting guidance, training, and assistance to accounting personnel as appropriate; work with accounts payable, procurement, engineering, and operational staff to resolve accounting issues.
Communicate complex financial matters clearly, manage assigned work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound professional judgment.
Perform supervisory responsibilities if assigned.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3 or more weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
State-paid employee-only health insurance premiums at 85%–100%, depending on salary; a 5% employee-only premium credit is available for participation in the specified program.
State-paid 100% of employee-only dental insurance premiums.
State contribution of 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Employee assistance program through the Living Resources Program.
Forty-two consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may also be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Additional wellness benefits may be available; benefits may vary by collective bargaining agreement and are prorated for less than full-time work.