Senior Accountant

General Summary

The Office of Legislative Services, Finance & Accounting Office is seeking two qualified, detail-oriented Senior Accountants. These individuals will perform a variety of accounting duties, including ensuring compliance with applicable policies and regulations, analyzing complex financial data, assisting with the preparation of financial statements, performing reconciliations, streamlining processes to improve efficiency and accuracy, and understanding accounting principles and standards.

Examples of Work Performed

• Assists financial reporting and budget with reconciling issues monthly.
• Serve as a liaison between the Department of Financial Services, Treasury, and The Florida Legislature.
• Answers inquiries and provides technical assistance to Legislators and employees on accounting matters.
• Compiles information for Public Records Requests.
• Affords daily voucher activities and performs audits and ensures smooth and timely processing of all Finance and Accounting Team transactions, such as purchase orders, invoices, contract payments, travel vouchers, journal transfers, deposits, payroll-related vouchers and adjustments.
• Ensures timely processing of revenue transactions; receives all funds for the legislature and ensures deposit into the State Treasury.
• Maintains records of all transactions.
• Affords assistance with transition from existing systems to new systems, such as Florida PALM.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the State budgeting process, fund accounting and financial reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of FLAIR, Works, Legislative Travel Systems, and Florida PALM.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to utilize Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas and pivot tables.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to prepare financial statements and reports.
• Ability to design and implement accounting systems policies and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and maintain a variety of accounting records.
• Ability to analyze and interpret accounting data.
• Ability to understand and apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to an accounting program.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
• Ability to use tact and exercise good judgment when interacting with Legislators and staff, other agencies, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting and three years of professional accounting or auditing experience; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting or possession of a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) Certificate can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Professional or nonprofessional accounting or auditing experience can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required bachelor's degree; or any combination of this experience and up to 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of college education, including two courses in accounting, can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required bachelor's degree.

Working for the Florida Legislature

• Includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement.
• Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays.
• Health and Dental Insurance: Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available). Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
• Leave Accrual Benefits: Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service: Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.
• Retirement: Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan. New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date. Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium.
• Florida Pre-Tax Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan: This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis. The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability. The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts. A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.
• Paid Holidays: New Year's Day - Martin Luther King Day - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Veteran's Day - Thanksgiving Day - Friday After Thanksgiving - Christmas Day - Personal Holiday
• Total Compensation Statement: The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $40,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.

Employer

Florida Legislature
Address: 111 W Madison St STE 874
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1400
Phone: (850) 488-6803