Accountant 1 - 3

Nunez Community College; Metairie (LA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority (JPHSA) seeks a Financial Accountant to apply GAAP and prepare accurate financial reports. The role ensures procurement and contracting compliance and maintains strong internal controls within the Accounting Services area in Metairie, LA.

You will analyze grants, prepare balance sheets, and assist with annual audits and SEFA. A CPA or appropriate accounting credentials are highly valued, with opportunities for growth within Finance Operations.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking.
• 6 years full-time experience in any field plus 24 semester hours in accounting.
• Bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours in accounting.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, or statistics.
• Advanced degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, quantitative methods, or statistics.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Controller in planning, preparing, and tracking procurement budgets by funding source and division/department.
• Monitors spending trends of contracted providers to ensure budget adherence.
• Prepares Contract Budget Analysis for Directors monthly (biweekly in Q4).
• Reconciles general ledger accounts for grants and other funding; ensures allowable cost coding.
• Prepares balance sheet reconciliations and maintains reconciliation templates.
• Interprets monthly revenue and expense reports for Division Directors.
• Supports annual audit and SEFA preparation.
• Oversees agency bank reconciliations and resolves discrepancies.

Education

Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours in accounting

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, or statistics

Advanced degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, quantitative methods, or statistics

CPA license

6 years of full-time experience in any field plus 24 semester hours in accounting

Three years of accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking experience

Experience substitution: 30 semester hours = 1 year (max 120 semester hours = 4 years)

Job description

Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority (JPHSA) is a Local Governing Entity (LGE) created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1989. JPHSA is responsible for the management and operation of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services in Jefferson Parish. JPHSA provides fully integrated primary and behavioral healthcare services through its JeffCare program.

The Accountant is an integral member of the Accounting Services area and serves as the Financial Accountant for JPHSA. The incumbent is responsible for applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and procedures to analyze financial information, prepare accurate and timely financial reports/ statements, and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures. They maintain current knowledge of procurement and contracting compliance as it relates to statutory and regulatory requirements.

• 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.

As an Accountant, you will,

• Assists the Controller in planning, preparing, and tracking JPHSA procurement budgets by funding source and division/department. Reviews all purchase authorizations to ensure purchases are within budget and within statutory and regulatory requirements. Adds the purchase to the budget tracker and attaches to the purchase authorization
• Assists Accountant Supervisor 2 in monitoring spending trends of contracted providers to ensure budget is within approved line item amount
• Compiles Contract Budget Analysis to be sent to Division Directors by Accountant Supervisor 2 monthly (biweekly during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year), highlighting contracts at risk of overspending or underspending, requiring additional attention
• Reconciles the general ledger accounts from the accounting system for federal, state and local grants and other local appropriated funding. Verifies coding of grant expenditures is compliant with allowable cost regulations for each specific grant. Ensures all general ledger transaction coding elements are correctly assigned to expenses
• Prepares all agency balance sheet reconciliations, investigates discrepancies, ensures accuracy, and maintains reconciliation templates, all while adhering to accounting standards
• Analyzes and interprets standard monthly revenue and expense reports for all JPHSA Division Directors. Presents their reports to the Accountant Supervisor 2
• Compiles, reviews and provides documentation as assigned by Finance Operations leadership for the annual JPHSA financial audit. Prepares the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) as a part of the annual financial audit
• Provides support and oversight of all agency bank reconciliations ensuring the accuracy of financial records by comparing bank statements with internal records, assisting with identifying and resolving discrepancies, and maintaining accurate financial documentation

Position Specific Details

Appointment Type: Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment

Career Progression: This position does participate in a Career Progression Group and can be hired as a 1, 2, or 3.

Work Schedule: Traditional 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Note regarding the advertised pay range: The maximum amounts listed are the maximum salary amounts a person can make over their career and not the maximum amount we are allowed to pay a new hire.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Enjoli Lewis

Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority

3616 S. I-10 Service Road West, Metairie, LA 70001

[e-mail]

504-838-5426

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.