Position: Senior Staff Accountant Department: Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Accounting Unit Schedule: Monday - Friday Job Class: 0330 Salary: $49,275 - $69,139 annually Closing Date: January 30, 2025 Join Our Team at the Department of the Secretary of State At the Department of the Secretary of State, we are a team dedicated to providing efficient and exceptional service to our community. We prioritize work-life balance and offer great benefits to support our team in achieving professional success while maintaining personal well-being. Join a team that fosters a culture of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement, offering opportunities for growth and making a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens. Are you ready to make a difference? We are looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals who thrive in a dynamic, growth-focused environment. If you are passionate about making a difference, driving success, and being part of a positive team culture, we want you on our team. About the Position: As a Senior Staff Accountant, you will perform professional accounting services, ensuring the proper functioning and accountability of fiscal operations within our department. You will develop, implement, and evaluate accounting systems while applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines. You will be responsible for managing complex accounts, reconciling financial data, and advising agency management on fiscal matters. Additionally, you will collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, policies, and regulations. Your expertise in accounting systems and procedures will be key to enhancing operational success and addressing complex fiscal issues. In this role, you will also take on a leadership function by guiding and supporting junior accounting staff. You will be responsible for fostering an environment of teamwork, collaboration, and professional growth within the accounting team, while ensuring that everyone is aligned with department goals and standards. Through a collaborative approach, you will help others excel and promote an environment of continuous improvement. What We're Looking For: Innovative Thinking: Proven ability to implement new programs, streamline processes, and bring forward-thinking solutions to complex challenges. Team Collaboration: A leader who builds strong, collaborative relationships across teams and creates an environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to shared goals. Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information to both internal teams and external stakeholders. Leadership Excellence: Experience leading teams with a strong track record of driving positive change and developing talent. Positive Workplace Culture: Commitment to creating a workplace environment where respect, transparency, and mutual support are central to the team's success. Adaptability and Resilience: Ability to respond to changing priorities with agility, making decisions that maintain service excellence and operational integrity. Key Competencies We Value: Emotional Intelligence: A strong ability to connect with others, building trust and fostering collaboration across all levels of the organization. Problem Solving and Innovation: Comfort with navigating complex problems and leading teams to create practical, innovative solutions. Conflict Resolution & Feedback: Skilled in guiding teams through challenges and offering constructive, actionable feedback. Time Management: Expertise in balancing multiple projects and responsibilities effectively while maintaining high standards. Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on continuous learning, both for yourself and your team, to drive positive changes across the Bureau. In this role, you will: Develop and implement business and internal accounting controls to ensure fiscal operations are functioning effectively. Design and enhance agency-specific accounting systems to respond to changing requirements and promote sound fiscal management. Interpret and apply accounting principles and adapt procedures to ensure compliance with governing laws, regulations, and policies. Reconcile complex accounts, make adjusting entries, and recommend system or process changes to improve operations. Prepare financial statements and related disclosures to communicate financial information to stakeholders. Analyze fiscal data to identify trends, issues, and provide advice to agency management. Collaborate with program managers and financial staff to identify business needs and ensure compliance with fiscal requirements. Lead and mentor junior accounting staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and professional growth. Preferences will be given to candidates who have: Experience in designing, managing, and enhancing accounting systems. Advanced knowledge of GAAP and GASB guidelines. Experience with computerized accounting systems and standardized desktop technology. Proven ability to lead projects and guide lower-level accounting staff through mentorship and development. Knowledge of governmental and fund accounting. Minimum Qualifications: (Entry level knowledges, skills, and/or abilities may be acquired through, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO the following course work/training and/or experience). Certification as a CPA, CIA, or CGFM -OR- A Masters Degree from an accredited educational institution in Business Administration -OR- A Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Accounting (or any Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution which includes 18 semester hours of Accounting coursework*) and 2 years of professional accounting experience -OR- An Associates Degree from an accredited educational institution in Accounting and 5 years of practical, progressively responsible accounting experience (3 years of which must be at the professional level) -OR- 8 years of practical, progressively responsible accounting experience (4 years of which must be at the professional level). * Accounting coursework must include successful completion of Principles of Accounting I & II, Intermediate Accounting I & II, plus two other accounting-related courses. 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: analyze and reconcile financial data and records for the purpose of business financial planning; design, recommend, and implement modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; prepare financial statements and reports such as balance sheets and other operating statements; analyze and interpret laws, regulations, codes and ordinances to ensure appropriateness of financial transactions and accounting structure; and analyze complex accounts and accounting relationships that result in complex accounting entries. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions, and successful candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form upon hire. Why Join Our Team? No matter where you work across Maine state government, you'll be part of a workforce that embodies our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-providing essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and well-being with a valuable total compensation package, including: Work-Life Fit: Take time for yourself with 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%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find 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 ($387.62 annual value). Retirement Plan: The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). Contact information: Questions about this position should be directed to Matthew Dudley at
[email protected] Instructions: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application. 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. If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE or contact our office at 207-441-4512. Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Secretary of State Office of Human Resources, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04330 or faxed to 207-624-9313. Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included. Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date. 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 anything less than full-time. 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 different 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 that 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.