Accountant 2

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is seeking applicants for an Accountant 2 in our Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services Finance Division at 1000 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA. Position Overview Serve as the financial and contract compliance expert for IVRS and Independent Living programs. Interpret and apply federal regulations, state accounting policies, and contract requirements. Monitor budgets, expenditures, match requirements, and financial compliance for contracts and partnerships. Provide guidance to contract managers, attorneys, vendors, and staff on allowable costs, budgeting, and amendments. Review, coordinate, and support contract development, approvals, and execution processes. Prepare financial and contract status reports and resolve fiscal or compliance issues. Maintain accurate vendor and financial records in IRSS. Support cross‑training and backup financial operations, including audits, travel approvals, and expenditure reviews. What You’ll Do Provide technical leadership and consultation on fiscal matters related to IVRS contracts and serve as a subject‑matter expert on financial and regulatory requirements, offering guidance to contractors, contract managers, staff attorneys, accountants, and other stakeholders. Identify and communicate unusual or complex issues to management that may require additional review or consultation. Interpret and apply applicable Code of Federal Regulations related to IVRS and Independent Living (IL) programs, as well as State Accounting Policies and Procedures and Administrative Rules. Support agency compliance by advising on new contracts, amendments, and unique financial situations. Monitor financial processing and budget compliance for programs delivered through partnerships that expand and support IVRS services and mission. Contracts may include agreements with other state agencies, school districts, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations, and may require providing assistance and technical support to other accountants as needed. Serve as a liaison between contract managers and the financial processing section. Review and validate tracking of match requirements and expenditures using I/3 records, as applicable. Ensure expenditures are within approved budgets and meet standards of reasonableness, allowability, allocability, and necessity for the IVRS program. Prepare and provide reports on the status of contract activity, including resolutions, amendments, and claims. Coordinate issue resolution with contract managers and communicate progress to financial leadership and related staff. Consult with contract managers, vendors, and other stakeholders on financial matters such as allowable costs, expenditure tracking, budget issues, contract development, and amendments. Maintain and distribute a monthly contract status spreadsheet to the financial supervisor and relevant staff. Coordinate with program managers and staff attorneys in the development, drafting, and execution of contracts and guide contracts through the approval and signature process. Oversee and coordinate the review of contract proposals and final contracts to ensure accuracy, completeness, uniformity, and consistency with pre‑contract questionnaires. Review contract budgets and budget narratives to confirm accuracy and compliance with allowable cost requirements. Provide updated budget information for assigned contracts and share finalized budget details with the CORE team and Budget Analyst 3 after contract execution and participate in CORE team meetings and assist with updates to IVRS contract policies and procedures. Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date vendor records in the Iowa Rehabilitation Services System (IRSS) to support timely authorization of payments. Cross‑train with other Accountants and Budget Analysts to provide backup support for financial team processes. Backup duties may include: Reviewing and providing first‑level approval for out‑of‑state travel documents (Spend Authorizations in Workday) Applying IVRS chart of accounts knowledge and performing pre‑audit approvals in Iowa Advantage Reviewing and pre‑auditing daily PRODs for IVRS and Disability Determination Services (DDS) interface case service expenditure files Other duties as assigned. About the Agency Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) operates within Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve independence through employment. IWD is a statewide agency focused on connecting job seekers with opportunities and supporting employers in building strong, skilled workforces. Through IowaWORKS centers and partner offices across the state, IWD delivers demand‑driven workforce services that strengthen Iowa’s economy and communities. Benefits of Working for the State of Iowa Joining IVRS means becoming part of a mission‑driven public service team with a comprehensive benefits package: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Generous Paid Time Off - vacation, sick leave (no accrual cap), and nine paid holidays IPERS Retirement Plan plus optional deferred compensation savings Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care Life Insurance & Long‑Term Disability Coverage Employee Assistance & Discount Programs Professional development and career growth opportunities Hours of Work Monday – Friday 8:00am‑4:30pm Work Flexibility Hybrid telework and alternate schedules available after six months of employment Employment Verification The State of Iowa participates in E‑Verify; a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E‑Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit Background Check No applicant seeking employment can have a current overpayment balance without a payment plan in place. Selected positions will be subject to a criminal background check. Qualifications Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a minimum of twelve semester hours (or its equivalent) in accounting, business administration or finance; course work and eighteen months of responsible experience in accounting, accounts examination or verification, budgeting or closely related fiscal experience with a governmental agency, public accounting firm, or private industry. Substitution of work experience in the public or private sector that entailed accounting, auditing, budgeting, assessment or computation of taxes, or closely related financial functions on a year‑for‑year basis for the required education (thirty semester or equivalent hours equal one year). Substitution of successful completion of a post‑high‑school vocational/technical, business college, or community college curriculum in accounting which included concentrated course work equivalent to twenty semester hours (or more) in accounting for the required education. Any combination of qualifying post‑high‑school level education and experience which totals five and one‑half years. Employees with current continuous experience in the state service that includes the equivalent of six months of full‑time experience as an Accounting Technician 2 shall be considered qualifying. Substituting graduate level course work in accounting, business administration, or finance for each year of the required experience on the basis that satisfactory completion of thirty semester or equivalent hours of graduate level course work is equivalent to one year of experience. Employees with current continuous experience in the state service that includes the equivalent of eighteen months of full‑time experience as an Accounting Technician 1 shall be considered qualifying. Certified Public Accountants may qualify with six months of the required experience. Employees with current continuous experience in the state classified service that includes the equivalent of twelve months of full‑time experience as an Accountant/Auditor 1, six months of full‑time experience as an Accounting Technician 3, or twenty‑four months of full‑time experience as an Accounting Technician 2 shall be considered qualifying. #J-18808-Ljbffr State-of-Iow