Senior Staff Accountant

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Would you like to join a dynamic group supporting critical state departments? The Security and Employment Service Center (SESC) is looking for people committed to providing financial services and human resources support to the Departments of: Public Safety; Labor; Professional and Financial Regulation; and Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management.

Financial Service Centers provide professional financial expertise to manage the financial activities of multiple departments and bureaus, with accounts that vary in size and complexity. Services for customer agencies include accounting and financial processing, cash management, budget development and monitoring, financial analysis, grant management, legislative support, and administrative functions.

As a Senior Staff Accountant at the Department of Administrative and Financial Services in the Security and Employment Service Center (SESC), you will work closely with agency managers and program administrators to determine financial status and reporting requirements, identifying ways of using accounting data for management purposes. The position is based in Augusta, Maine with some telework availability. 

If you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced setting, enjoys solving real-world organizational challenges, and wants work that helps keep Maine’s critical public services strong, we’d love to meet you.

Primary responsibilities include:  

• Reconciles complex accounts to ensure accuracy, formulates corrections, makes adjusting entries, and recommends system and process changes to help eliminate future problems and improve processes.
• Prepares and reviews program financial reports, ensuring accurate communication of critical financial information is distributed to internal and external customers.
• Monitors budget balances, identifies discrepancies, and formulates corrective actions to ensure accurate financial oversight, enabling program and accounting management to make informed decisions and optimize resource allocation.
• Reviews, analyzes, and researches financial data to resolve issues to ensure reasonableness and accuracy.
• Consults with financial and program staff to identify business needs, compliance issues and reporting requirements and to ensure compliance with state and federal fiscal policies.
• Working knowledge of state and federal accounting principles, including funding source management, accurate reporting and presentation of expenditures and revenues.

Preference will be given to candidates who have intermediate to advanced education, training and/or demonstrated experience in accounting.

The backgrounds of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Experience and/or education which demonstrates a working knowledge of GAAP/ GASB;
• Analytical skills to review financial data and reach logical conclusions and to interpret and explain the implications for agency programs and operations;
• Experience performing complex reconciliations;
• Ability to identify problems and make/recommend needed corrections;
• Ability to prepare cash forecasts, revenue estimates, and expenditure projections;
• Good communication skills within the SESC team and with agency personnel;
• Possess good critical thinking skills, be flexible, and adaptable to a fast-paced environment.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Jon Umland at [email protected]

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for employees included in the Maine Service Employee Association (MSEA) bargaining contract.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.