Accountant

State of Connecticut - Department of Social Services; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off (13 holidays)

Professional development opportunities

Work-life balance emphasis

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services seeks an experienced Accountant to support federal grant accounting and fiscal management for a rural health transformation program. The role emphasizes financial reporting, compliance, and budget oversight, ensuring expenditures align with approved budgets and program goals.

Ideal candidates have 6 years in accounting/auditing with federal grant experience, strong Excel skills, and a background in government budgeting and internal

Qualifications

• Six years of accounting or auditing experience.
• Two years at the paraprofessional level.
• Substitutions allowed include a degree in accounting, or related accounting training as described in the job posting.
• Experience with federal grant accounting, grant budgets and financial reviews is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Record complex journal entries and maintain ledgers.
• Prepare balance sheets and financial statements across multiple accounts.
• Monitor grant expenditures for compliance with contracts and funding requirements.
• Assist in budget development, projections, and quarterly reporting.
• Support grant closeout activities and audits as needed.

Skills

Federal grant accounting

Budget management

Financial compliance

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Introduction

Are you experienced in federal grant accounting and interested in bringing your talents to state service? The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS), is seeking an enthusiastic, detail-oriented Accountant to support the fiscal management of a major federal grant focused on advancing rural health transformation in Connecticut. This position plays a critical role in ensuring grant funds are managed responsibly, expenditures align with approved budgets and program goals, and financial reporting and compliance requirements are met.

Position Highlights

LOCATION: Hartford, CT

SHIFT: First shift | full time | 40 hours per week

SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday, with a Hybrid schedule (office/telework) available consistent with State of CT Telework Policy.

NOTE: This position is durational and will terminate at the end of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant spending period (October 30, 2030, but depending on available RHTP funds and business needs, may be extended by up to 11 months, no later than September 30, 2031), unless funding for these positions ends sooner.

Benefits & Balance at the State of Connecticut

• Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
• Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A work culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service.

In addition, the State puts an emphasis on: 1. Providing limitless opportunities; 2. Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives; 3. Performing meaningful work and; 4. Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!

Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live!

Your Role

The ideal candidate is motivated by public service, enjoys working with complex financial data, and takes pride in maintaining strong fiscal controls and accurate reporting. This role offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with internal fiscal and program staff, as well as partner agencies, while contributing to high-impact initiatives that improve access to care and health outcomes for communities across the state. Candidates with experience in federal grant accounting, budget management, and financial compliance are strongly encouraged to apply.

More details can be found in the class specification and the 'Examples of Duties' section below.

About Our Agency

The Department of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 service centers, central administration, and online and phone access options. With service partners, DSS:

• provides federal/state food and economic aid, health care coverage, independent living and home care, social work, child support, home-heating aid, protective services for older adults, and more vital service areas.
• supports the health of nearly 850,000 residents through HUSKY Health (Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program), including medical, dental, behavioral health, prescription medications, long-term services and supports.
• helps nearly 370,000 residents afford food and supports Connecticut’s economy with federally-funded Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
• has 1,700 dedicated staff led by Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves.

Start With Us. Stay With Us. Grow With Us.

At the end of a durational assignment, the candidate may choose to apply to other opportunities within state service. Below is a possible career path for Accountants within the State of CT.

Career progression pathway within the State of Connecticut: starting with Accounting Careers Trainee or Assistant Accountant, advancing to Accountant, then Associate Accountant, and ending at Supervising Accountant.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in professional accounting.

Examples of Duties

• Records complex and compound journal entries;
• Prepares balance sheets and financial statements involving multiple accounts;
• Analyzes and interprets accounting records and reports;
• Assists higher level staff in planning, design and implementation of accounting procedures or systems;
• Reviews expenditures and prepares or reviews financial statements;
• Assists in budget management by compiling and reviewing agency manager program budget proposals, preparing estimates and calculations of projected expenditures and quarterly allotments, and preparing monthly reports;
• Monitors fiscal aspects of grant programs by preparing or reviewing financial reports, reviewing expenditures for compliance with grant contracts, providing technical assistance to grantees in maintaining accounting records;
• Recommends accounting related improvements to business practices such as accounting controls and financial reviews;
• Utilizes electronic data processing (EDP) systems for financial records, reports and analysis;
• Assists in EDP experts in planning and implementation of financial aspects of EDP systems;
• May supervise bookkeeping (e.g., maintenance, balancing and reconciling of accounts), accounts payable and/or receivable functions or other accounting related paraprofessional or clerical functions;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

Knowledge of professional accounting principles and practices; governmental accounting and budgeting; basic auditing principles and practices;

Skills interpersonal skills; oral communication and written skills;

Ability to prepare, analyze and evaluate financial statements and other accounting records and reports; analyze and evaluate accounting methods and procedures; utilize EDP systems for financial management; read and interpret written materials.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Six (6) years of experience in accounting or auditing.

Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the paraprofessional level. Work at the paraprofessional level requires exercise of some independent judgment in applying basic accounting principles and may be compared to the level of a full charge bookkeeper.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of an Assistant Accountant.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

Successful completion of an Accounting Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience and Special Experience.

College training in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

A Master's degree in accounting may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Certification as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor may be substituted for one (1) year of the General and Special Experience.

Two (2) years of experience as an Assistant Accountant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in federal grant accounting within a state government or public-sector environment, including responsibility for fiscal oversight and compliance.

Experience developing, monitoring, and reconciling grant budgets, spending plans, and budget allocations, ensuring alignment with approved funding and program requirements.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas, functions, pivot tables, and data analysis tools used for budget tracking and financial reporting.

Experience reviewing, tracking, monitoring, and reconciling grant-funded expenditures for compliance with state and federal regulations, allowable cost principles, internal controls, and cost categories such as payroll, fringe benefits, and indirect costs.

Experience supporting grant-related audits and financial reviews, including maintaining fiscal documentation, responding to audit inquiries, and assisting with grant closeout activities.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.