Staff Accountant 2

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan IPERS

Flexible Spending Accounts

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Programs

Employee Discounts

Job summary

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) is hiring a Staff Accountant to manage accounts payable, safeguard financial assets, and support GAAP-compliant accounting functions. You will process vendor invoices, reconcile accounts, and assist with various accounting duties across the State of Iowa’s framework.

Ideal candidates bring strong GAAP knowledge, analytical skills, and clear communication. Join a team focused on affordable housing, community development, and financial stability for Iowans.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of GAAP and accounting principles.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Demonstrates core values: Accountability, Innovation, Mission-driven.

Responsibilities

• Process vendor invoices and ensure timely payments.
• Maintain accounting system and reconcile accounts.
• Provide backup for accounts receivable, cash management, and investments.

Skills

GAAP accounting principles

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting (or related field)

Tools

Iowa Advantage system

Job description

Job Description

Join the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) as our Staff Accountant and be part of a team dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Iowans through affordable housing, community development, and financial stability.

About Us

The Iowa Finance Authority is dedicated to enhancing the economic well-­being of Iowans. We provide a wide range of programs to support affordable housing, community development, and water quality initiatives. From helping first-­time homebuyers to supporting disaster recovery efforts, IFA plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for residents across the state.

About This Opportunity

IFA is seeking a Staff Accountant to manage our accounts payable, safeguard our financial assets, and perform various accounting functions in line with GAAP. Responsibilities include processing vendor invoices, reconciling accounts, and supporting the State of Iowa’s accounting system.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable: Follows processes to ensure all vendor invoices and requests for payment are timely and accurately disbursed.
• Accounting System: Primary department resource for the Iowa Advantage system (State of Iowa’s accounting system). Processes claims, revenues, and expenditures within system.
• Accounting Team Support: Serve as a backup for accounts receivable, cash management, and investment functions.

Skills

Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of GAAP and accounting principles, excellent analytical and communication skills, and exemplify our Core Values:

Accountability in Action - We take pride in our work and results.

Innovate Together - We thrive on solving challenges through dynamic collaboration with our teams and partners.

Mission Driven - We place Iowans at the heart of everything we do.

New to the area or looking to relocate to Iowa? Visit www.ThisIsIowa.com to see how Iowa offers something for everyone- competitively low cost of living, bustling cities and neighborhoods, access to entertainment , opportunities for career growth and unrivaled access to outdoor adventures .

Benefits

As an employee of the Iowa Finance Authority, you are a State of Iowa employee, and you are eligible to enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis, sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance options.
• Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.
• Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
• Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
• Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.

The Staff Accountant position is a non-merit, contract-covered position that is classified by the State of Iowa as Accountant 2. This position is exempt per FLSA regulations.

Applicant must pass a comprehensive background check before an offer for employment will be extended.

The Iowa Finance Authority is an EEO/AA Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov .

This is a non-merit position.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a minimum of twelve semester hours (or its equivalent) in accounting, business administration or finance; course work and eighteen months of responsible experience in accounting, accounts examination or verification, budgeting or closely related fiscal experience with a governmental agency, public accounting firm, or private industry;
OR
substitution of work experience in the public or private sector which entailed accounting, auditing, budgeting, assessment or computation of taxes, or closely related financial functions (e.g., treasurer, comptroller, accountant, auditor, budget analyst, etc.) on a year-for-year basis for the required education (thirty semester or equivalent hours equal one year);
OR
substitution of successful completion of a post-high school vocational/technical, business college, or area community college curriculum in accounting which included concentrated course work equivalent to twenty semester hours (or more) in accounting for the required education;
OR
any combination of qualifying post high school level education and experience which totals five and one-half years;
OR
employees with current continuous experience in the state service that includes the equivalent of six months of full-time experience as an Accounting Technician 2 shall be considered as qualifying;
OR
substituting graduate level course work in accounting, business administration, or finance for each year of the required experience on the basis that satisfactory completion of 30 semester or equivalent hours of graduate level course work is equivalent to one year of experience;
OR
employees with current continuous experience in the state service that includes the equivalent of eighteen months of full-time experience as an Accounting Technician 1 shall be considered as qualifying;
OR
Certified Public Accountants may qualify with six months of the required experience;
OR
employees with current continuous experience in the state classified service that includes the equivalent of twelve months of full-time experience as an Accountant/Auditor 1, six months of full-time experience as an Accounting Technician 3, or twenty-four months of full-time experience as an Accounting Technician 2 shall be considered as qualifying.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.