Senior Research Accountant

Key Responsibilities

Reporting, Internal Controls & Audit Readiness
Maintain and develop reports for various users, both within the Division of Finance and outside.
Act as the lead point of contact for external and internal audit/information requests, efficiently researching, gathering, and preparing required reports.
Perform routine and ad-hoc compliance testing across accounts payable, payroll, and tax systems to identify and mitigate operational risks.

Accounting Operations & Transaction Approval
Review and provide final approval for high-level transactions, ensuring complete accuracy by validating the underlying debits, credits, and operational logic.
Oversee and perform complex reconciliations between operational sub-ledgers (Payroll databases, AP systems) and the General Ledger.
Conduct technical research regarding complex payroll processing logic, state/federal tax compliance, and transactional variances.
Take the lead on complex accounting problems and tricky agency inquiries.

Project Management & Systems Support
Assist the Accounting Operations Manager with project management initiatives, systematically prioritizing and executing the division's task list backlog.
Drive special projects, including financial software optimization, database query management, and process automation.
Utilize database experience to query financial data, generate advanced data models/reports, and identify systemic errors or workflow inefficiencies.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive corporate accounting, internal audit, or public accounting experience.
• Technical Accounting Mastery: A deep, fundamental understanding of core accounting principles.
• Systems & Database Skills: Proven hands-on experience working with relational databases, ERP structures, and advanced data manipulation tools (e.g., advanced Excel, SQL, or equivalent database management systems).
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage project timelines, organize a backlog, take direction effectively, and independently drive tasks to completion.
• Maintaining Curiosity: Ability to question assumptions and break down complex problems into their most basic, foundations to find solutions. This includes the innate drive to ask “why”.

About The Role

Location: 4315 S 2700 W Taylorsville, Utah, 84129 United States
Background Check Required: Yes
Drug Test Required: Yes
Schedule Code: B - Competitive Career Service

Benefits

Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

Agency

The Division of Finance is part of the Department of Government Operations. Our mission is to promote the highest standards of trust and integrity in managing taxpayer funds. We manage the State's financial records, pay the State's bills and employees, and oversee the internal controls that keep the government running honestly and efficiently. We aspire to model excellence in efficient, effective, and ethical financial management practices for the benefit of all Utah citizens.

EEO Statement

The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.