Program Accountant

Accountant 2

FT/Perm

Office of Accounting/Budget

Salem, Oregon

REQ -160221

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) has a new and exciting career opportunity as a Program Accountant () in the Office of Operations. This is a full-time, permanent, represented position.

Why Join Us

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) envisions a future in which all Oregonians benefit from the transformational power of high-quality postsecondary education and training. Come work with a team that values equity, affordable access to education, and lifelong learning within beautiful Salem, Oregon

Agency Values - Transparency, Equity, Integrity, Trust, Collaboration, Accountability, Lifelong Learning.

Check out our vision -

Equitable Recruiting

The HECC strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our qualifications listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of these positions, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a non-traditional background.

What You Will Be Doing
You will be a high-level accountant responsible for preparing the agency’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards reporting and ensuring the accounting systems and structure are appropriately aligned to the agency’s complex budgetary structure. The complex budgetary structure is based on three fund types (federal funds, general funds and other funds), multiple federal revenue sources, and overlapping agency, state and federal financial reporting needs.

You will provide agency-wide revenue reconciliations and perform lead accounting reviews and analyses of financial reporting to ensure that agency financial transactions are consistent with state and federal laws, rules and policies. You will conduct audit reviews of the agency’s grant programs to evaluate compliance with internal control requirements, legally established processes and federal requirements, and report audit findings to upper management.  You will work with multiple funding sources and appropriations in an automated accounting system.
 

Duties Include

• Reconciling agency’s revenues. Analyzing program costs against revenues and cash flow requirements. Monitoring operating budgets by analyzing various financial records and reports to determine if revenues are sufficient to support administrative expenses and claims paid and incurred. Works closely with agency’s fiscal analysts to anticipate future resource requirements and takes action to ensure sufficient funds exist to operate the programs.

• Ensuring proper functioning and accountability of agency’s fiscal operations by reviewing and recommending to management internal accounting controls to ensure data integrity.

• Analyzing, designing, and maintaining accounting structures from Legislatively Adopted Budget documents and accompanying legislative action. Providing analysis, input and documentation for proper interface with R*STARS, and making changes to the system to ensure that requests for financial information about programs is accurate and available.

• Consult with agency program managers to ensure that agency business needs are met and that SFMA transactions and decisions are consistent with reporting requirements.

• Prepare and enter journal entries to general ledger as needed and allowed.

• Receive and process accounts payable fiscal documents according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, the Oregon Accounting Manual and agency policies and procedures.

For a complete list of duties and working conditions, please contact the recruiter for the position description.

Working Conditions

• Daily team interactions.

• Open office environment.

• Extensive computer use. 

• Simultaneous work on multiple tasks with frequent interruptions.

• Requires remaining stationary for extended periods.

• Requires physical activity normally associated with filing and sitting for extended periods, occasional bending, stooping, and walking to meetings within the building.

This position will be headquartered at HECC’s Salem Office. Currently, Operations has a 1-day minimum in office for most positions, which is subject to change to meet position and operational needs. There may be additional in-office expectations during the training period; the details of the work schedule will be finalized with your supervisor. The successful candidate may be eligible for in-state hybrid work, which consists of performing duties onsite in a standard office environment and working remotely.  

Desired Attributes/Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software.

• Project management skills

• Experience with a large accounting software package, R*STARS preferred, and experience with a query tool for large databases.

• Proficiency with the Statewide Financial Management System (SFMS)

• Experience monitoring budgets and reviewing financial information for programs.

• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to communicate complex information to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work independently with little supervision.

• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively in verbal and written form.

• Thorough knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), OAM (Oregon Accounting Manual) and GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statements).

If you have these qualities, let us know It’s how we will choose whom to move forward

Minimum Qualifications (Required Skills)

Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate AND two years of accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 1 work to include setting-up ledgers, account codes and controls, and modifying accounting systems; OR

A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or in any discipline that includes or is supplemented by 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours from an accredited institution in Accounting AND two years of accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 1 work to include setting-up ledgers, account codes and controls, and modifying accounting systems; OR

32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours from an accredited institution in Accounting AND four years of related 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.

The Benefits

• Competitive medical, vision and dental benefits package for the employee and qualified family members.

• Opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation savings program.

• A fabulous retirement program.  to visit our full benefits website.

• Work-life balance

• 11 paid holidays per year.

• 3 additional paid "Personal Business Days" per year.

• 8 hours of sick leave accumulated every month.

• Progressive vacation leave accrual, starting at 8 hours per month, with increases every 5 years.