Assistant Director of Accounting

About the role

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking applicants for the Assistant Director of Accounting. This is a key departmental fiscal position responsible to ensure that all technical accounting aspects support the business of the department.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the timely processing and submission of DMH's applications for federal grants
• Approve purchases and payments made by the DMH through the Commonwealth's internet solicitation system Commbuys
• Develop and oversee policies and procedures which support the goals and objectives of DMH in consistent with federal laws, oversight agency policies, regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Disseminate all financial policies and procedures to area staff and determine the implementation/operational issues that new policies and procedures could have on the areas
• Resolve financial conflicts, issues, questions and concerns, and provide technical assistance/training to field staff as needed
• Implement new initiatives from the Office of the Comptroller, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, Executive Office of Health and Human Services or other oversight agencies as it relates to the responsibility of the Department of Mental Health's Accounting Office
• Develop and implement a budget and expenditure report/tracking system for all divisions within Central Office
• Create allocation reports, through the querying of the Commonwealth Information Warehouse (CIW), to help program staff prioritize goals and objectives based on DMH available funding resources
• Coordinate with the DMH area offices Directors of Fiscal Operation (DFOs) to produce a list of GAAP and non-GAAP fixed assets and ensuring Group Living Environments (GLEs) financial activity is reconciled at least annually
• Monitor DMH's Interdepartmental Service Agreements (ISA's)
• Monitor the Central Office budget (spending plan) for integration into an overall budget bureau Departmental document
• Monitor trust funds including cash flow, cash outlays and ensure sound expenditure detail

Required Qualifications

• Proven ability to supervise, including the planning and assigning of work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished; leading and developing high-performing teams
• Understanding of federal and state financial regulations, and a thorough understanding of the federal grant application process
• Ability to problem solve, work independently, and have excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Excel and Outlook; technically savvy
• Knowledge of Organizational Development, design, and budgeting
• Ability to constructively delegate

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and practices applied to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and related accounting methods promulgated by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Familiarity with the principles and practices of organizational development/design, financial oversight, including financial analysis budgeting, forecasting, information recording and processing as it relates to human service programs
• Mastery of budgeting for a large diverse organization; knowledge of state government a plus
• Prior experience working with MOSAIC, and the Commonwealth Information Warehouse (CIW)
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency