Senior Accountant

About the role

The position is assigned to the Fiscal Analysis Unit of the Bureau of Fiscal Reporting and Data Analysis (FRDA). The unit reviews and monitors the financial soundness and stability of not‑for‑profit providers authorized by OPWDD to deliver services, identifies providers with potential fiscal vulnerabilities, and alerts appropriate internal departments for continued monitoring, guidance, and remediation.

Responsibilities

• Implement fiscal review process by conducting research, examining financial statements and audit disclosures, accessing other information sources and interpreting data, with consistency, to assess provider's continued viability.
• Summarize provider's financial position and make supported recommendations.
• Collaborate with the FRDA Consolidated Fiscal Reporting (CFR) Unit and the Bureau's IT to maintain, update, and utilize reported data to better identify providers with financial concerns.
• Collaborate with other unit team members and/or inter‑agency units in the creation of reports.
• Collaborate with unit reviewers to produce a consensus report and ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Contact agencies to request financial statements and/or answer questions of concern.
• Reviews include, but are not limited to, examination of financial statements and audit report disclosures, Consolidated Fiscal Reports, 990s, requested supplemental interim financial statements, web research, OPWDD audit reports, media and Division of Quality Improvement findings.

Qualifications

• Preferred Qualification: Basic understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• OPEN COMPETITIVE:
  • For appointment to Accountant Trainee 1, NS (equivalent to SG‑14): 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.
  • For appointment to Accountant Trainee 2, NS (equivalent to SG‑16): 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.
  • For appointment to Senior Accountant, SG‑18: 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.
• COMPETITIVE: Candidates must be reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List or the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Eligible List for this title.
• TRANSFER: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55‑b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades. To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT‑IT website https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.
• 55 B/C QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Possess the minimum qualifications for this title as established by the Department of Civil Service and listed on the most recent exam announcement.
  • Meet the applicable minimal mental and/or physical requirements for the job (with a reasonable accommodation, if necessary).
  • Have a current Eligibility Letter from the NYS Department of Civil Service, www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/, and be able to provide it to the Human Resources Office upon request.
• Additional Comments: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non‑competitive appointment (no exam required, but minimum qualifications must be met). Employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non‑competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status within one year of permanent appointment, without taking an exam. Appointments may also be made at the Senior Accountant Trainee levels. Candidates hired at the entry‑level title (Accountant Trainee 1) may be advanced to the full‑performance level (Senior Accountant) following satisfactory completion of two years of service.

Pay

Salary range (hiring rate of an Accountant Trainee 1 through the job rate of a Senior Accountant):

• Accountant Trainee 1: $56,183*
• Accountant Trainee 2: $61,694*
• Senior Accountant: $69,964* – $88,970*

Benefits

• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre‑tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan – a voluntary retirement plan offering tax‑deferred investment of a portion of salaries.
• Paid Holidays and Leave:
  • Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
  • Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
  • Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
  • Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over year to year.
  • Up to three (3) days professional leave each year for professional development events.
• Health Care Coverage: Employees and eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs; family dental and vision plans provided at no extra cost.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees may take up