Accounts Payable Accountant

State of Oregon • Salem, OR

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Help Department of Land Conservation and Development fulfill its mission to foster sustainable and vibrant communities and protect Oregon’s natural resources for current and future generations Join our Fiscal and Budget Services team and make meaningful contributions to the financial functions which support the department fulfilling its mission. DLCD is a small, but dynamic organization, with multiple programs who work with diverse funding sources. This position coordinates DLCD’s accounts payable process for goods and services contracts and grant funding disbursements to ensure accurate and timely payments. As the department’s travel coordinator and purchase card program coordinator, this position provides technical expertise, guidance and periodic training for DLCD staff and managers to ensure department activities follow state and federal guidelines. This position also participates in process improvement projects to improve efficiency to ensure alignment with accounting policies and procedures. As the Accounts Payable Accountant, you will: Coordinate DLCD’s accounts payable process for goods and services contracts and grant funding disbursements by compiling invoices and payment request forms with required documentation to ensure accurate and timely payment. Serve as agency travel coordinator for DLCD. Develop and deliver training to all DLCD staff on requirements, policies and procedures for state business travel. Review all in-state and out of state travel preauthorization forms and reimbursement claims to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines. Serve as the agency purchase card (SPOTS) coordinator for DLCD. Develop and deliver training to DLCD cardholders on requirements, policies and procedures, and their responsibilities. Provide guidance and technical expertise for DLCD staff and managers to help ensure compliant SPOTS activities and transactions. Interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, and fiscal policies and procedures to ensure legal and compliant operations and transactions. Enter accounting transactions into the State Financial Management Application (SFMA) and ensure financial batch documents are properly archived. Reconcile accounts, propose and initiate correction entries, and recommend changes to improve accuracy and efficiency and eliminate future reconciliation issues. Design accounting queries and prepare financial reports and analyses, such as contract and grant spend down analyses, payroll reconciliations, and detail account reconciliations. Collaborate professionally with agency staff to recommend improvements to the processing, recording, and classification of transactions and account balances. Communicate and explain pertinent accounting data to other division and program staff to further departmental understanding. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. For a copy of the full position description, please email [e-mail].

Requirements

• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in accounting; OR
• Successful completion of the State of Oregon Accounting Career Mobility Program or equivalent accounting certificate program from an accredited college or university; OR
• 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours in Accounting from an accredited institution AND two years of technical, para- professional accounting experience to include: a) classifying, analyzing, and reconciling financial data and records; b) designing, recommending, and installing modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; c) preparing financial statements and reports; d) analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances to ensure the legality of financial transactions; and e) analyzing, interpreting, and making recommendations related to accounting transactions, accounts and account relationships resulting in accounting entries.

Nice To Haves

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency with: Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying financial regulations, guidelines, and policies to their own work, and successfully explaining financial regulations, guidelines, and policies to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience successfully designing and delivering training presentations on complex topics to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize their work to successfully handle multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, internal fiscal controls, and governmental or fund accounting.
• Knowledge of OAM (Oregon Accounting Manual) and GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) requirements.
• Experience with State Financial Management Application (SFMA), Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE), or other complex financial applications.
• Collaborative problem solving and teamwork attitude.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate DLCD’s accounts payable process for goods and services contracts and grant funding disbursements by compiling invoices and payment request forms with required documentation to ensure accurate and timely payment.
• Serve as agency travel coordinator for DLCD.
• Develop and deliver training to all DLCD staff on requirements, policies and procedures for state business travel.
• Review all in-state and out of state travel preauthorization forms and reimbursement claims to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Serve as the agency purchase card (SPOTS) coordinator for DLCD.
• Develop and deliver training to DLCD cardholders on requirements, policies and procedures, and their responsibilities.
• Provide guidance and technical expertise for DLCD staff and managers to help ensure compliant SPOTS activities and transactions.
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, and fiscal policies and procedures to ensure legal and compliant operations and transactions.
• Enter accounting transactions into the State Financial Management Application (SFMA) and ensure financial batch documents are properly archived.
• Reconcile accounts, propose and initiate correction entries, and recommend changes to improve accuracy and efficiency and eliminate future reconciliation issues.
• Design accounting queries and prepare financial reports and analyses, such as contract and grant spend down analyses, payroll reconciliations, and detail account reconciliations.
• Collaborate professionally with agency staff to recommend improvements to the processing, recording, and classification of transactions and account balances.
• Communicate and explain pertinent accounting data to other division and program staff to further departmental understanding.

Benefits

• Opportunity to collaborate with a team of talented professionals who are passionate about the agency’s mission and priorities.
• Flexible work location, with a mix of remote and in-office work with 1 day per week in the office.
• 11 paid holidays per year and additional personal business time off.
• Comprehensive benefit package options.
• The State of Oregon offers a competitive and affordable health and benefits package, including excellent medical, vision and dental coverage, paid holidays off, and personal business leave, as well as paid and accrued vacation and sick leave.
• In addition to standard medical benefits and employee leave, the state also provides additional optional benefits, such as basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses.
• After a qualifying period, new employees are enrolled in the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• State employees also have access to benefits like deferred compensation plans through the Oregon Savings Growth Plan and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

What This Job Offers

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