Senior Staff Accountant

Job Details Department of Defense, Veterans' and Emergency Management Job Class Code: 0330B Grade: 23 (Professional/Technical Services) Salary: $52,659.36 - $73,885.76/Annually *Salary includes 2.25% Stipend Location: Augusta, ME Opening Date: November 6, 2026 Closing Date: November 23, 2026 Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. DESCRIPTION The Directorate of Facilities Engineering (DFE) is seeking a highly skilled, analytical, and detail-oriented Senior Staff Accountant to support the financial integrity, accountability, and operational effectiveness of its fiscal operations. This position performs advanced professional accounting work involving complex governmental accounting, financial reporting, account reconciliation, internal controls, and financial systems management. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring that state and federal financial resources are accurately recorded, appropriately managed, and administered in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, and applicable state and federal regulations. Working with a high degree of independence, the Senior Staff Accountant will collaborate with financial management, procurement personnel, program managers, and state and federal fiscal partners to identify financial issues, resolve discrepancies, strengthen internal controls, and improve accounting processes. This position requires an individual who can move beyond routine transaction processing to independently analyze financial information, identify underlying problems, develop practical solutions, and contribute to sound financial decision-making. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Financial Accounting and Reconciliation Perform complex reconciliations of financial accounts, expenditures, revenues, encumbrances, and related accounting records. Investigate discrepancies, determine their underlying causes, and initiate appropriate corrective actions. Analyze nonstandard and complex accounting transactions to determine appropriate accounting treatment. Prepare and review adjusting journal entries and other financial corrections while maintaining complete supporting documentation and audit trails. Ensure accounting transactions are properly classified, supported, recorded, and reconciled. Identify recurring accounting errors and recommend sustainable solutions to prevent future occurrences. 2. Governmental Accounting and Fiscal Compliance Apply GAAP, GASB standards, governmental fund accounting principles, and applicable state and federal financial requirements. Monitor compliance with established accounting policies, fiscal controls, funding restrictions, and reporting requirements. Review accounting activities to ensure expenditures and revenues are recorded within the appropriate funding sources, accounts, and fiscal periods. Evaluate complex accounting matters involving multiple funding sources and fiscal restrictions. Identify potential compliance concerns and recommend corrective measures before they become significant financial or audit findings. 3. Financial Systems and Process Improvement Utilize the State of Maine's Advantage financial management system to research transactions, analyze financial activity, identify errors, and support accurate financial reporting. Evaluate existing accounting workflows, procedures, and controls to identify operational weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Develop and recommend improvements to accounting processes, reconciliation procedures, reporting tools, and internal controls. Assist in designing and implementing standardized financial tracking and reporting mechanisms. Support improvements in financial data accuracy, consistency, documentation, and accessibility. Coordinate with appropriate fiscal and technical personnel to resolve financial system issues. 4. Budgetary Accounting and Financial Analysis Analyze appropriations, allotments, expenditures, encumbrances, and available financial resources. Prepare and interpret financial reports to support budget monitoring, financial planning, and management decisions. Assist with cash forecasts, expenditure projections, revenue estimates, and funding analyses. Identify emerging financial trends, funding constraints, and potential budgetary issues. Support the development and reconciliation of financial information necessary for budget orders, financial orders, and other funding actions. Communicate financial findings clearly and provide recommendations to management. 5. State and Federal Financial Coordination Support the accounting and financial reporting requirements associated with DFE's state and federally funded operations. Assist with reconciling state expenditures, federal funding authorizations, reimbursement activity, and related financial records. Collaborate with personnel responsible for federal reimbursement requests, including Standard Form 270 (SF-270), to support accurate and timely reimbursement processes. Research and resolve financial discrepancies involving state accounting records and supporting federal financial documentation. Coordinate with internal and external fiscal partners to ensure financial transactions are supported, accurately recorded, and consistent with applicable funding requirements. 6. Internal Controls and Audit Readiness Develop, evaluate, and maintain effective accounting controls that safeguard public funds and promote financial accountability. Ensure financial transactions are properly authorized, documented, and supported. Identify accounting practices that may create compliance risks, reporting inaccuracies, or audit findings. Maintain organized financial records and supporting documentation to facilitate financial reviews and audits. Recommend and implement corrective actions to address identified deficiencies. Promote consistent adherence to established accounting procedures and financial accountability standards. 7. Collaboration, Leadership, and Professional Accountability Provide technical accounting guidance and support to professional and paraprofessional accounting personnel. Work collaboratively with accounts payable, procurement, engineering, and other operational staff to resolve accounting issues. Communicate complex financial matters in a clear, professional, and understandable manner. Independently manage assigned responsibilities, establish priorities, and meet required deadlines. Exercise sound professional judgment when evaluating financial transactions and recommending corrective actions. Provide guidance, training, and technical assistance to staff as appropriate. Support a professional, respectful, collaborative, and accountable work environment. Perform supervisory responsibilities if assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Advanced Accounting Knowledge Strong understanding of GAAP, GASB, governmental accounting, and fund accounting principles. Ability to analyze complex financial transactions and accounting relationships. Knowledge of financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and financial reporting. Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills Ability to independently investigate financial discrepancies and identify their underlying causes. Strong critical-thinking skills and the ability to develop practical, defensible accounting solutions. Ability to evaluate financial data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance. Financial Systems and Technology Proficiency Proficiency with computerized accounting systems and financial reporting applications. Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including financial analysis, reconciliations, formulas, and data organization. Ability to learn and effectively navigate complex governmental financial systems. Communication and Collaboration Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to explain financial issues and recommendations to both accounting and non-accounting personnel. Ability to work effectively with multiple departments and financial stakeholders. Independence and Accountability Demonstrated ability to manage complex assignments with limited supervision. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and meet deadlines. Willingness to take ownership of assigned responsibilities and follow identified issues through resolution. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE Governmental or public-sector accounting. State and federal fund accounting, including restricted funding sources. Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and reimbursement processes. Complex account reconciliation and financial discrepancy resolution. State of Maine Advantage financial management system. Budgetary accounting, appropriations, allotments, and encumbrance management. Development and implementation of internal accounting controls. Financial reporting and advanced Microsoft Excel analysis. Process improvement, accounting system evaluation, and financial workflow development. Providing technical guidance to accounting staff. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Intermediate to advanced education, training, and/or experience in accounting, business administration, financial planning, budgeting, or another related field demonstrating competency in analyzing complex data and records, interpreting policies, rules, and laws, designing operational frameworks, identifying process and procedure deficiencies, and developing practical solutions. IDEAL CANDIDATE DFE is seeking a professional who values accuracy, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is proactive in identifying financial issues, comfortable researching complex accounting matters, and capable of independently developing and implementing appropriate solutions. This individual recognizes that effective governmental accounting extends beyond recording transactions. It requires understanding the relationship between funding authority, expenditures, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and operational needs. 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 Balance - 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 ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 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 ($365.28 annual value). Retirement Plan - The State of Maine contributes 14.06% 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. 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. Equal Opportunity Employer 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, colour, 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management