Senior Accountant/Accountant Trainee 1/2 - Albany (NY HELPS)

Senior Accountant/Accountant Trainee

Duties Description

Standard Duties:

Review and analyze program expenses versus available funding for assigned program areas on a monthly basis;

Initiate a more detailed review of program spending to determine the cause of over or under spending issues;

Prepare projections for funding, spending, supportable positions, and year-end financial status of assigned programs;

Post journal entries, prepare reports and account reconciliation.

Additional Duties Include:

Participate in change in organizational transformations, ensuring successful adoption and alignment with strategic objectives;

Engage in technology and innovation by leveraging emerging technologies to optimize processes and enhance customer experiences;

Proactively manage relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally;

Think strategically about current and future organizational needs;

Adapt to shifting priorities;

Participate in the comprehensive process of implementing changes, ensuring smooth transitions, effective communication, and minimal disruption;

Proactively identify, address, and resolve conflicts to foster constructive dialogue and a productive, collaborative work environment;

Analyze issues, make sound judgments, and implement effective solutions to drive positive outcomes;

Proactively identify potential challenges and identify preventative solutions;

Take part in team collaboration and achieve agency objectives;

Effectively convey information, ideas, and expectations to diverse audiences through various channels, ensuring clarity and understanding;

Foster an inclusive and equitable environment that values and leverages the strengths of a diverse workforce;

Ensure exceptional customer service by proactively addressing needs and expectations;

Demonstrate self-awareness and empathy to effectively manage relationships, build trust, and foster productive interactions;

Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional integrity in all actions and decisions;

Maintain and apply an understanding of relevant technologies and digital tools to optimize performance and drive innovation.

Minimum Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, if they meet the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications.

NY HELPS Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications:

Accountant Trainee 1:

A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses.

Accountant Trainee 2:

A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses and one year of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles.

*Substitution - A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation may substitute for one year of experience.

Senior Accountant:

A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses and two years of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles.

*Substitution - A master's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation and one year of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles or a currently valid Certified Public Accountant license and registration issued by New York State.

It is expected that employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status in the future, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Competitive Minimum Qualifications:

To be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office will contact you via phone.

If Civil Service Eligible list(s) exist, they will be canvassed. You may also apply if you are eligible for appointment by one of the following qualifications:

Reassignment Qualifications:

Current New York State Department of Labor employee with at least one year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service as a Senior Accountant/Accountant Trainee 1/2. If you have less than one year of service, you must be reachable on the current eligible list for this location if one exists.

70.1 Transfer Qualifications:

Accountant Trainee 1 One year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service in a title allocated to Grade 12 or higher determined to be similar by Civil Service. *

Accountant Trainee 2 One year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service in a title allocated to Grade 14 or higher determined to be similar by Civil Service. *

Senior Accountant One year of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55 b/c service in a title allocated to Grade 16 or higher determined to be similar by Civil Service. *

*Certain titles require that you also meet the following additional special qualifications:

Bachelor's or higher degree** in Accounting, Auditing, or Taxation.

OR

Bachelor's or higher degree** with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses. Note that courses such as business law, economics, statistics, and most finance courses, although taken as part of an accounting curriculum, cannot be counted toward the 24 semester credit hours.

70.4 Transfer Qualifications:

One year of permanent competitive service as a Grade 12 or higher; have taken and passed the most recent holding of the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) exam, and have at least a bachelor's degree** including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, and/or taxation coursework.

Note: For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at

Subsequent 55 B/C Qualifications:

A subsequent 55b/c appointment may be considered if you have one year of permanent or contingent-permanent service in a title allocated to Grade 12 or higher determined to be similar by Civil Service* and have a current Civil Service 55b/c approval letter.

55 B/C Qualifications:

This position may be designated 55b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Please provide a copy of your 55b/55c letter when applying. 55 b/c candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications:

A bachelor's or higher degree** in accounting, auditing, or taxation;

OR

A bachelor's or higher degree** with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses. Note that courses such as business law, economics, statistics, and most finance courses, although taken as part of an accounting curriculum, cannot be counted toward the 24 semester credit hours.

*Civil Service requires additional special minimum qualifications for certain titles. This title requires either a bachelor's degree** (or higher) in Accounting, Auditing or Taxation, OR a bachelor's degree (or higher) including or supplemented by 24 credits in accounting, auditing or taxation courses.

**Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States or its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency