Accountant 1 - 3

LDH-Office of Secretary; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 61,992,000 - 77,283,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana Department of Health is seeking a professional accountant to join the Vendor Payments team in the Payment Management section in Baton Rouge. The role focuses on reviewing, auditing, and processing vendor invoices, contract payments, and related accounts payable tasks in accordance with LDH policies and state regulations.

The position offers advancement within the Accountant series (1–3), with SER pay scales at Accountant 1–3.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking.
• Six years of full-time experience in any field plus twenty-four semester hours in accounting.
• Bachelor’s degree with twenty-four semester hours in accounting; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, or statistics; OR
• An advanced degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, quantitative methods, or statistics; OR
• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and processes complex accounts payable documents, journal vouchers, refund requests, and payment transactions.
• Reviews, approves, researches, and resolves payment transactions, accounting issues, and system errors, using independent judgment.
• Conducts accounting research and analysis; maintains financial records and reports; prepares specialized reports; and communicates with customers, contractors, vendors, and management.
• Develops, maintains, and validates vendor payment files, supporting documentation, and financial reports to ensure accurate fund disbursement.
• Collaborates with the Office of State Treasury, statewide accounting offices, auditors, internal and external stakeholders, and agency leadership to ensure compliance with federal and state financial requirements.
• Assists with internal controls, procedural improvements, staff training, and cross-functional support to ensure efficient vendor payment operations.
• Identifies financial process weaknesses, recommends corrective actions, and supports the implementation of procedural enhancements.

Skills

Accounting experience

Auditing

Financial operations

Payroll

Banking

Education

Bachelor’s degree with accounting hours

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business

Advanced degree in accounting/finance

CPA license

Job description

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health

Join the Louisiana Department of Health's Vendor Payments team in the Payment Management section. This is a professional accounting position for the largest State department with an annual budget in excess of 14 billion dollars.

This position is responsible for reviewing, auditing, and processing vendor invoices, contract payments, purchase order payments, and other accounts payable transactions for LDH agencies. The position ensures payments are processed timely, accurately, and in compliance with LDH policies, State accounting requirements, contract terms, purchasing rules, and applicable State and Federal requirements. If you have a passion for accounting, financial accuracy, and making a meaningful impact in public service, we encourage you to apply!

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR
• Six years of full-time experience in any field plus twenty-four semester hours in accounting; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with twenty-four semester hours in accounting; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, or statistics; OR
• An advanced degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, quantitative methods, or statistics; OR
• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
• Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

• Prepares and processes complex accounts payable documents, journal vouchers, refund requests, and payment transactions while ensuring accurate accounting classification and compliance with state policies and regulations.
• Reviews, approves, researches, and resolves payment transactions, accounting issues, and system errors, using independent judgment to prepare and process necessary journal entries and corrections.
• Conducts accounting research and analysis; maintains financial records and reports; prepares specialized reports; and communicates with customers, contractors, vendors, and management regarding payment and accounting matters.
• Develops, maintains, and validates vendor payment files, supporting documentation, and financial reports to ensure accurate fund disbursement, audit readiness, and resolution of document discrepancies.
• Collaborates with the Office of State Treasury, statewide accounting offices, auditors, internal and external stakeholders, and agency leadership to ensure compliance with federal and state financial requirements.
• Assists with internal controls, procedural improvements, staff training, and cross-functional support to ensure efficient vendor payment operations and compliance with agency standards.
• Identifies financial process weaknesses, recommends corrective actions, and supports the implementation of procedural enhancements to improve operational effectiveness and accountability.

Position-Specific Details

Location: Office of the Secretary / Fiscal Services / East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as aProbationary appointment or Promotional appointment

Cost Center: 3071050703

Position Number(s): 1997

Career Progression: This position may be filled as an Accountant1, 2, or 3 determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

Compensation: This position is eligible for the following Special Entrance Rates (SER)

Accountant 1 - $21.63 hr / $1,730.40 bi-weekly

Accountant 2 - $23.14 hr / $1,851.20 bi-weekly

Accountant 3 - $26.50 hr / $2,120.00 bi-weekly

Contact Information:

Deanda Thymes

[e-mail]

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Division of Human Resources

PO Box 4818

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

225-342-6477

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.

LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.