ACCOUNTING SUPPORT SPECIALIST

-ANTICIPATED VACANCY-

Opening Date:

October 01, 2024

Closing Date:

October 15, 2024

Location:

Augusta

Position #:

00400-0377

Position Type:

Full Time (Limited Period)

Class Code:

0944

Grade/Salary:

Grade 20 - $43,014.40 - $60,070.40 Per Year

The Department of Administrative & Financial Services is an innovative organization that coordinates a number of central services for agencies within Maine State Government. The Natural Resources Service Center provides financial and budgetary management services as well as human resource and employee relations services to the four natural resource agencies in the State.

JOB DUTIES: Make a difference in your career. As an Accounting Support Specialist, you will be working with the Natural Resources Service Center as part of the revenues and payables team.  You will review and process revenue and payables documents, test internal controls and verify the accuracy of various financial documents. You will assist in monitoring the status of accounts, budgets and contract in order to support senior accounting staff.  In this fast-paced environment, you’ll be asked to complete a variety of tasks each day to ensure timely payments and to properly record revenues. You will become proficient in the State’s accounting platforms and be part of a critical team supporting all the natural resource agencies in Maine. A good candidate will possess good critical thinking skills, can adapt to a fast-paced environment and be able to communicate effectively with their supervisor and team members. The candidate should also possess an advanced understanding of accounting practices and controls.

In this role, you will:

• Test internal controls and help to establish and maintain the NRSC's policies and procedures.
• Review and process accounts payable and receivable, travel expenses and other payments to ensure compliance with state policies and procedures and satisfy financial obligations.
• Create and utilize existing reports to identify coding discrepancies and prepare correcting journal transactions. 
• Analyze and verify the accuracy of various financial documents submitted by and to the Departments and consult with NRSC staff to identify business needs, compliance issues, and reporting requirements.
• Provide leadership and technical guidance to subordinate paraprofessional staff.

Successful candidates will be knowledgeable of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and skilled in the use of standard desktop technology, particularly spreadsheets.  While the position work location is in Augusta, there is opportunity for occasional remote work within a structured work plan.

For questions specific to the position, please contact the Hiring Manager, Brandon Flint, at: brandon.flint@maine.gov

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

·        3 years of practical work experience providing complex technical accounting support in a professional accounting environment OR

·        An Associate Degree in Accounting from an accredited educational institution. 

Accounting coursework must include successful completion of 12 semester hours of basic, intermediate, and advanced accounting principles courses. Experience must demonstrate a comprehension of accounting principles and standards established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "APPLY" button below along with uploading a Cover Letter, and current Resume. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your Resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

It is important that you submit copies of transcripts to document courses completed and the successful attainment of a degree. If claiming accounting education, copy of transcript(s) with accounting courses highlighted will need to be provided.

If you can't apply online and you require a paper application, please download and print one here: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process. Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with a Cover Letter and Resume, before the closing date, to: Natural Resources Service Center, c/o Kristin McCamish, 32 Blossom Lane, Marquardt Building, Augusta, ME 04333-0155. Please be sure that the title, and position number, of the job you are applying for is included.

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No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96-$13,172.88 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.  
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($358.08 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.29% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.  
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you.  Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?
Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting.  If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.