Accounting Careers Trainee

Introduction

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• First shift
• Location: Newington, CT
• This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy.  The Policy can be found here.  Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.

• The recruited Accounting Careers Trainee position(s) will receive training in various accounting functions, which will vary depending on assigned area and may include:
• Utilizing various modules of the Core-CT Financial system for entry, reporting and analyses of financial records.
• Review of invoices, documents, agreements, contracts, legislation, guidance, and similar materials that involve financial transactions, procedures, and the handling of public funds.
• Examination of documents, audits, expenses, and similar records, to monitor, adjust and close projects, federal agreements, and grants.
• Creating purchase orders and receivers in the Core-CT accounting system to facilitate the funding of vendor agreements and corresponding invoice payments, and/or to facilitate Department procurement of goods or services.
• Analyzing encumbrance and expenditure activity and coordinating with various bureau staff to prepare estimates of projected expenditures for assigned budget area(s).
• Establishing customer receivable accounts, initiating billing invoices, monitoring account balances, and taking necessary follow up action for collection of outstanding balances. 
• Preparing daily bank deposit and associated journal entries.
• Reviewing purchase orders, requisitions, requests for P-Card purchases, and/or agreements/construction contracts for appropriate coding and funding availability.
• Reviewing expenditure transactions and preparing complex journal entries to correct Department financial records as required.
• Preparing various weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual budget/expenditure or receivable/revenue reports as required by compiling data related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Code Contracts, create receipts, request audits and maintain accounting records of expenditures.
• Perform other related duties as required. 

The salary for an employee who completes any of the above minimum requirements after initial appointment to the Accounting Careers Trainee job class will be adjusted commensurate with the schedule above and effective the pay period following the date the degree has been conferred or the pay period following the date the appropriate number of credits as indicated above have been earned.

For current state employees compensation will be in accordance with guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class Manual.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources?  Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY: 

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting. 
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency. 
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. 
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State.  Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov. 
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. 

• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
• This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

AFTER YOU APPLY: 

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).   
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! 
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.  
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.  
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP: 

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Hayley Newhouse at hayley.newhouse@ct.gov. 

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional accounting or auditing position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Receives training in introductory accounting or auditing work for development of skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement into a professional agency accounting or auditing position;
• Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during the course of the training period;
• Examines financial records of governmental or private businesses and accounting methods and procedures to ensure compliance with statutes, regulations, guidelines or accepted accounting principles;
• May receive training in such areas as maintaining financial records and accounts, establishing financial statements and schedules, and preparing budget estimates;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • accounting and auditing principles and practices; 
  • business mathematics and statistics;
  • business uses of information technology;
  • effective report writing;
• Ability to
  • read and understand written materials;
  • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting.
• Experience with Microsoft Office with a primary focus in Excel. including functions such as tables, formatting, formulas, data manipulation, and pivot tables.
• Experience analyzing financial statements and data, such as through course work, work experience or internships.
• Experience communicating with a diverse group of individuals both verbally and in writing
• Experience with prioritizing work assignments.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT