Accountant

The expected hiring range for this position is:

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

This position is not eligible for referral bonus program, or sponsorship assistance. 

About the Role: 
Fermilab’s Finance & Procurement Division seeks an Accountant. The Accountant under general supervision, will create and interpret moderately complex financial statements, and reports in a specific accounting area. They will compile financial information, processes transactions, and executes control procedures. This individual will exercise independent decision-making in assigned general area of responsibility.

What your day-to-day as an Accountant at Fermilab will look like: 

• Assist in preparing standard financial statements and reports for management, the Department of Energy, and other internal or external stakeholders.
• Prepare routine ad-hoc reports and analyses under direction to support management information needs.
• Run standard system queries and assists with data pulls to provide requested information.
• Record and post accounting transactions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Identify basic problems or discrepancies and escalates issues to supervisor with supporting details.
• Perform routine reconciliations of assigned accounts or sub-ledgers and flags variances for review.
• Support monthly and year-end close activities by preparing standard entries and reports.
• Prepare and transmits routine or time-sensitive data as directed by supervisor.
• Follow established policies and procedures and provides input on improvements when requested.
• Assist with testing activities during financial system updates or upgrades by following test scripts.
• Report system issues or user concerns to supervisor and assists with tracking resolutions.
• Communicate with employees and vendors to clarify accounting transactions and resolve straightforward issues.
• Maintain organized accounting records and updates assigned portions of procedure manuals.

Other Job Duties
•    Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor. 
•    Abides by and is responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.

Essential Attributes for Success:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Business
• Or a minimum of 2+ years of accounting experience is required. 
• Master’s degree or Accounting related Professional Certification such as CPA or CMA is preferred.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Governmental Accounting experience preferred.
• Skilled in using financial systems and Excel to run queries, perform reconciliations, and prepare reports accurately.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability to identify discrepancies and support data-driven decisions.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills to ensure accuracy and meet reporting deadlines.

Work Arrangement:
Please note that the described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final. 

• Onsite: This is an onsite role, and the candidate must be able to work from our Batavia office.

Benefits/Perks:
Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Paid time off

• Life insurance

• Short and Long-term disability insurance

• Retirement benefits 

• Onsite day care

Why Fermilab: 
Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

Pre-Employment Screening:

Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening  

Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive and drug-free environment. An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening.

HSPD-12

In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

Foreign Government Sponsored Activities

Fermilab employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. Such individuals will be asked to disclose any participation for review by Fermilab's Office of General Counsel.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview. 

Equal Opportunity Statement   

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.