• Job Description

  Req#: REQ-162566

  Initial Posting Date:

  08/02/2024

  Application Deadline:

  08/18/2024

  Agency:

  Department of Environmental Quality

  Salary Range:

  $4,138 - $6,318

  Position Type:

  Employee

  Position Title:

  Cost Accountant (Accountant 1)

  Job Description:

  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

  Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Cost Accountant (Accountant 1) in Portland, Oregon.

  Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Central Services Division (CSD) assists the Agency in achieving its mission by providing central management services for the agency in accounting, budgeting, information systems, human resources, health and safety, training, policy and organizational development, purchasing, and facilities management. The division serves headquarters and 3 regional divisions, the Vehicle Inspection Program, and the Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division. Services are provided for over 700 positions, various local and regional governments, and directly to citizens.

  The Financial Services Section provides agency-wide accounting, audit coordination, contract and agreement compliance, cost recovery project accounting, payroll support, financial reporting services, biennial budget support through preparation of reports and monitoring, emergency board requests, and fiscal analysis of legislation and other proposals.

  DEQ has a complex cost structure in order to account for multiple funding sources, which include: General Fund, Federal grants, Lottery funds, a variety of fees, cost recovery reimbursements for cleanup sites, and civil penalties. Each has stringent reporting requirements. DEQ’s cost center structure captures the funding source, activity, location (by region and office), manager, grant, and project. DEQ has approximately 125 funds, 75 activities, 80 active Federal grants, and an excess of over 10,000 projects.

  Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

  What you will do!

  You will serve as the cost and project accountant. You will be involved in month-end close operations, cost recovery project reconciliation and invoicing, disbursement operations related to encumbrances, research and resolving of costing issues, and financial reporting and analysis. You will assist agency programs with business operations and external reporting requirements, work with IT departments to determine finance business systems needs, and participate in financial project implementation. Using your advanced Excel skills, you will identify where information is needed to successfully post a transaction.

  What’s in it for you!

  The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

  This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

  This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

  What are we looking for ?

  Minimum Qualifications:

  • Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate; OR
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; OR
  • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline that includes or is supplemented by 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours in accounting from an accredited institution; OR
  • 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours in Accounting from an accredited institution AND 2 years of technical, para-professional accounting experience, which included a) classifying, analyzing, and reconciling complex financial data and records; b) designing, recommending, and installing modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; c) preparing financial statements and reports; d) analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances to ensure the legality of financial transactions; and e) analyzing, interpreting, and making recommendations related to accounting transactions, accounts, and account relationships resulting in accounting entries

  Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

  • Experience working with complex grants and multiple fund types.
  • Experience with governmental accounting.
  • Advanced proficiency and experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access (or similar database); experience with R*Stars.
  • Experience with accounting software programs, and an ability to quickly learn new databases, software, and procedures.
  • Understanding of Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, time management and organization skills, and customer service skills.
  • Ability to research across resources and ask questions.

  Working Conditions:

  DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

  This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters Portland office, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

  There is frequent work under tight deadlines, including daily and monthly deadlines, as well as fiscal year-end deadlines. Extended hours will be needed during fiscal year-end reporting. There will be occasional travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, public hearings, and trainings, some of which may include evening work and/or overnight stays. This job will involve occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.

  How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

  • External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
  • Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this knowledge article for assistance.

  Helpful Tips:

  • Allow yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the application.
  • Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity.
  • This posting closes at 11:59 PM on the close date listed.
  • Please save a copy of the job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job posting closes.
  • Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
  • Workday performs best in Google Chrome.
  • Click here for Resources and a Job Support Page .

  Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

  Veterans Information:

  DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

  Pay Equity:

  As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

  Work Authorization:

  DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

  Questions/Need Help?

  If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

• About the company

  Oregon (/ˈɒrɡən/ ORR--gən) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States.

Notice