Assistant Accounting Manager (MA5) - Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families seeks an Assistant Accounting Manager to support the Accounting Manager in fiscal planning, monitoring, and analysis. The role collaborates across DCYF and with stakeholders to ensure sound financial management and policy-aligned decision-making.

Ideal candidates bring deep accounting knowledge, strong analytical skills, and experience in developing regulations or policy and evaluating related impacts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a financial related field and five years of professional experience in two or more areas.
• Or a high school diploma and fifteen accounting credits with nine years of related experience.
• CPA or Master's degree in finance, public administration, accounting, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data, identify problems, and advise on policy-aligned corrections.
• Provide advanced accounting analyses to support policy development.
• Assist in planning and measuring HQ performance and deliverables.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and develop training materials.
• Produce complex reports and ensure proper documentation and controls.

Skills

Financial analysis

Policy analysis

Data analysis

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

CPA or Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

GAAP knowledge

Advanced Excel

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Job Title: Assistant Accounting Manager (MA5)

Location: Olympia, WA - This role is on-site only

Closes: September 8th, 2026

Salary: $78,504 - $105,612 Annually

Join the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and play a key role in supporting the financial foundation behind programs that serve children, youth, and families across the state.

This position is part of the Accounting section within the Financial and Business Services Division (FBSD) and works directly with the Accounting Manager to support critical fiscal and program planning, monitoring, and analysis for the agency. Working collaboratively across DCYF and with a variety of stakeholders and partners, FBSD provides essential financial services and financial management that support responsible stewardship of agency resources.

If you enjoy analyzing complex financial information, improving processes, and using your expertise to support effective public service, this role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within DCYF.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

As the Assistant Accounting Manager, you will report directly to and support the Accounting Manager while providing expertise across a range of fiscally related areas. You will contribute to fiscal and program planning, monitoring, and analysis and serve as an analytical resource in support of policy and process development, business planning, and process improvement. Our ideal candidate will bring professional experience conducting business analysis, developing regulations or policy, and analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.

Some of what you will do:

• Analyze and review data, identify problems, and assist headquarters accounting staff in developing and implementing strategies for corrections as required by policy and law.
• Perform advanced technical and professional analytical duties requiring advanced accounting knowledge to support sound policy development and consultation for department financial and accounting functions.
• Support the Accounting Unit Manager with overall business needs and annual planning, including leading accounting supervisors in establishing goals, objectives, and deliverables used to measure and monitor headquarters accounting office performance.
• Provide expert guidance, advice, and consultation in support of performance management and process improvement, including tools to monitor improvements and report performance and outcomes to the Accounting Unit Manager.
• Analyze complex challenges, align process improvement activities and data with strategic and operational planning and performance, and formulate recommendations to the Accounting Unit Manager.
• Facilitate and collaborate with program partners on process improvement projects and lead complex, multi-dimensional performance improvement activities.
• Produce ad hoc reports and analyses, develop complex reports for key work activities, and write and revise process manuals, technical guides, and other information and training materials.
• Assess business needs for workload and cost-saving impacts and serve as backup to the Accounting Unit Manager in reviewing and analyzing performance metrics.
• Assist the Accounting Unit Manager in tracking and reporting local funds and make recommendations on how to leverage available funds to maximize overall DCYF financial stability.
• Perform and review complex accounting activities, including account reconciliations, accruals, corrections, and financial transaction analysis, and review financial transactions for proper coding, documentation, internal controls, and compliance with accounting standards.
• Prepare, review, and submit required state fiscal reports and coordinate annual fiscal year-end reporting requirements to ensure accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and compliance with statewide accounting policies, OFM requirements, and statutory reporting obligations.
• Create and administer tools, job aids, reference materials, step-by-step guides, and training for headquarters accounting and program staff to support consistent application of accounting policies, procedures, and system processes.

There are two ways to meet the minimum qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in a financial related field or program AND five (5) years of professional experience in two or more of the following areas:
  • Conducting research
  • Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
  • Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
  • Leading business projects
  • Managing business operations
  • Business policy development
  • Supervising

OR

• A school diploma (or GED) AND Fifteen (15) hours of accounting credits

AND

• Nine (9) years of experience in two or more of the following areas:
  • Conducting research
  • Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
  • Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
  • Leading business projects
  • Managing business operations
  • Business policy development
  • Supervising

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• CPA or Master's degree in finance, public administration, accounting, or related field.
• Greater than five years of employment experience in financial, analytical, accounting, or related field.
• Knowledge of state and federal rules, regulations, processes, and procedures required for state and federal governments; familiarity with Office of Financial Management Accounting and Administrative Manual (SAAM), and General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge of state laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to DCYF programs.
• Previous demonstrated ability to perform analysis for financial research and modeling in a complex multi-system environment.
• Previous demonstrated ability to develop and implement financial models for expenditure/revenue analysis purposes.
• Previous demonstrated ability to use effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Previous demonstrated ability to represent the agency to stakeholders.
• Previous experience in successfully communicating with a wide range of program and fiscal staff of all levels.
• Previous experience managing multiple activities, projects, and tasks at once, completing deliverables on-time, and providing updates when needed.
• Previous demonstrated ability to use computer software to develop complex data reports, timelines, formal documents, and presentations.
• Previous demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB)

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please black out (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

2026-03451