Department of Administrative and Financial Services

General Government Service Center

Staff Accountant

(Limited Period Position - Anticipated end date 6/8/24)

Position #004000362

Job Class Code:  0329    Pay Grade: 20: $20.08 - $26.96/Hour

Open For Recruitment:   April 18, 2024

Closes:  May 2, 2024

The General Government Service Center (GGSC) is one of five financial service centers within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services established to provide centralized accounting and budgeting services to agencies across state government.  GGSC services roughly 29 agencies across the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (including Information Technology, Real Estate, Purchases, Lottery, Alcohol and Marijuana), the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Education, various Cultural Agencies—a mix of government entities that adds variety to standard accounting practices.

Job Duties:

The State of Maine has received federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which requires additional staff to ensure proper accounting of the funds.  GGSC is seeking a Staff Accountant who has accounting knowledge to become immediate contributors to our department. Successful candidates will meet the minimum qualifications referenced below. Additionally, successful candidates will have demonstrated knowledge of accounting, fixed assets, cash management, revenue/expenditure monitoring and other routine accounting services. Successful candidates will be skilled in the use of standard desktop technology and demonstrate the ability to follow directions and to work as part of a team or individually with limited supervision. Ideal candidates will have previous government accounting experience, be reliable, possess interpersonal communication skills, have a can-do attitude with a willingness to learn, expand and grow and can demonstrate an appreciation for providing exemplary customer service. 

Sample of Typical Duties:

• Monitor cash balances and daily allotments to make sure payments can process.
• Drawdown and track Federal Funds for payment of invoices
• Set up new grants on accounting system
• Authorize payment of agency-approved expenditures within the state accounting software.  
• Insure accuracy of account coding against the respective Chart of Accounts.
• Prepare and process correcting journals as well as monthly Dicap journals.
• Administer accounting services within established policies.
• Process accounts receivable.
• Review travel expenditure claims for conformance with policy.
• Prepare reconciliations.
• Research accounting transactions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 years of practical work experience providing complex technical support to professional accounting staff. * -OR-
• A Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Accounting -OR-
• Any other Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution that includes at least 18 semester hours in accounting coursework** -OR-
• An Associates Degree from an accredited educational institution in Accounting and 3 years of practical work experience providing complex technical support to professional accounting staff.

*Experience must demonstrate comprehension and application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines and must demonstrate the ability to (1) classify and  analyze financial data and records for the purpose of business financial planning; (2) design, recommend, and implement modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; (3) prepare financial statements and reports such as balance sheets and other operating statements; and (4) analyze accounts and accounting relationships that result in complex accounting entries.

**Accounting coursework must include successful completion of Principles of Accounting I & II, Intermediate Accounting I & II, plus two other accounting-related courses 

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

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 Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. 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 ($10,523.28-$12,380.40 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. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.41% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). 

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for part-time employment.

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.