Accountant 3 (Accountant 3)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for an Accountant 3 (Accountant 3) in Portland, Oregon.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About DEQ!

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources.  

The Central Services Division (CSD) assists the agency in achieving its mission by providing central management services for the agency in accounting, budgeting, procurement, information systems, human resources, health and safety, property control, intergovernmental coordination, and pollution bond fund assistance. The Division serves two headquarters divisions, three regional divisions located throughout Oregon, the vehicle inspection program, and the laboratory. Services are provided to over 850 DEQ positions, various local and regional governments, and directly to community members. Accounting, Budget, and Procurement fall under the Financial Services section.

Accounting provides agency wide accounting including accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial audit coordination, oversight of contract compliance, grant support, cost recovery invoicing, and financial reporting. Accounting coordinates with Budget to manage cash balances and ensure transactions are posted to the correct funds.

The agency has a complex cost structure to account for multiple funding sources that include General funds, Lottery funds, federal grants, cost recovery reimbursements, and other funds which include fees for permits and applications. Each has a stringent reporting requirement. The cost structure captures the funding source, activity, location, manager, grant, and project. DEQ has approximately 125 funds, 75 activities, 80 active grants, and more than 10,000 projects.

For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map.

What you will do!

As an Accountant 3, you will provide professional-level expertise for the Accounting Team, utilizing independent judgment and discretion and your extensive knowledge and experience interpreting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM). You will support the Accounting team by applying advanced accounting theory to transactions required to ensure materially correct financial statements. You will ensure accounting transactions are made and recorded in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), federal grant financial requirements (2 CFR 200), statewide accounting policies and procedures, and the Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM). You will also ensure that financial close is complete and that timely and subsequent financial reporting occurs.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!
 

This is a full-time, management service non-supervisory position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate AND 3 years of accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work, which included designing and modifying accounting systems that require frequent changes in requirements to meet specific business objectives, consulting with program managers or external organizations, and ensuring the proper functioning and accountability of fiscal operations; 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 3 years of related accounting experience equivalent to Accountant 2 work, which included designing and modifying accounting systems that require frequent changes in requirements to meet specific business objectives, consulting with program managers or external organizations, and ensuring the proper functioning and accountability of fiscal operations; OR
• 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours from an accredited institution in Accounting AND 5 years of related accounting experience to include a) classifying, analyzing, and reconciling complex financial data and records; b) designing, recommending, and installing modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; c) preparing audited financial statements and reports; d) analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances to ensure the legality of financial transactions; and e) analyzing and interpreting complex accounts and account relationships resulting in accounting entries.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience with State systems, especially R*Stars, Workday, Datamart, and PowerBI; familiarity with State financial processes, specifically accounts payable.
• Experience applying audit standards to set-up, monitor, and modify internal procedures and the importance of separation of duties.
• Experience preparing and interpreting financial statements and other financial reports from multiple sources.
• Experience developing and using computer models to analyze and forecast financial data.
• Experience reviewing accounting transactions to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principles; experience analyzing accounting information and systems to prevent, detect, and correct errors.
• Experience researching and resolving difficult or unusual accounting problems to ensure compliance with accounting rules, policies, and procedures.
• Experience interpreting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements for application to transactions and collaborates to develop procedures and policies for new GASB pronouncements
• Extensive knowledge of governmental or fund accounting, including sources of funds, segregation, and display of expenditures and revenues; thorough understanding of complex cost structures at State Agencies.
• Thorough understanding of accounting for capital assets.
• Experience with Microsoft suite including Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences.
• Experience working with auditors to ensure timely submittal of requested information.
• Experience working with interdepartmental staff to support accounts payable questions, issues, and needs.
• Experience researching across multiple sources to determine the requirements for an issue.
• Experience developing, modifying, and implementing accounting systems and policies.
• Experience leading a team through monthly close processes.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters office, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires occasional travel on official State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, and seminars, some of which may include evening work, overnight stays, and /or weekend work. There may be extended work hours to meet monthly and fiscal year-end deadlines.

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. For resources and support related to applying, view our External Candidate job aid and Workday Recruitment for External Job Applicants video.
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. For step-by-step resources on how to apply, review the Jobs, search & apply knowledge article.

Helpful Tips:

• Allow yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the application.
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• Check out our Resources and Job Support Page for other helpful tips. 

Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.

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Veterans Information:

DEQ provides candidate preference points to all eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former). For more information on candidate preference, please visit Veterans Resources. For privacy reasons, please do not attach candidate preference documents when initially applying. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

Equal Pay Analysis:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. All finalists have an equal pay analysis completed to determine their placement on the salary scale. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.