Accounting Director I / CAFRA Director
Health & Human Services • Wake County, North Carolina • Full Time
Posted on Tue, Jun 16, 2026
Agency
Dept of Health and Human ServicesDivision
SEC OFFICE - CONTROLLERJob Classification Title
Accounting Director I (NS)Position Number
60037548Grade
NC24About Us
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.
Description of Work
The purpose of this position is to function as the Section Chief for Cost Analysis/Federal Financial Reporting/Administrative Services for the Office of the Controller for the DHHS and to represent the Controller in the absence of the Controller on all related financial matters for the Cost Analysis/Federal Financial Reporting/Administrative Section as issued by the Department.DHHS, which is one of the largest, more complex agencies in the State of North Carolina with a budget of over $28 billion and over 17,000 employees, calculates federal funding needs, processes federal draws, and allocates costs for more than 200 different Federal grants.
The Section Chief reports to the DHHS Controller and is responsible for establishing departmental accounting and financial reporting policies and procedures in supervising cost allocation and federal reporting which support the financial operations of the Department. The Section Chief has primary responsibility for the management, coordination, and supervision of the financial staff within respective branches of the section.
The position is responsible for providing direct supervision and management to one Accounting Manager and two Financial Managers. This position has broad management responsibilities to develop, interpret, and implement policy for the CAFRA Section and its impact on other areas within the Department.
This position requires extensive knowledge of cost allocation principles as defined in federal regulation OMB Circular 2 CFR and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for administering/accounting for grants. The Controller relies heavily on this Section Chief to conduct special projects on matters with high visibility to ensure they are taken care of in an efficient and effective manner.
This position deals with a variety of State agencies (such as the Office of the State Controller, the Office of State Budget and Management, the State Auditor's Office, etc.) to ensure that the Department is creating accurate and reliable financial data that will be used by many areas, such as the General Assembly, Fiscal Research Division, State and Division Budget Offices, and DHHS management staff.
It is this position's responsibility to interpret, define, and communicate the financial requirements for cost allocation, rate setting, and federal grants. The position provides direction and oversight to ensure that financial controls are in place for accurate, timely, and complete reporting.
Also, the Section Chief communicates with Federal agencies and is the liaison with the Federal Cost Allocation Services. The position also maintains relationships with non-profit organizations and provider associations.
The Section Chief's responsibilities cross all divisions and offices within DHHS which include the following DHHS Divisions and Facilities:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences
Salary Grade Range: $87,740.00 - $171,095.00
Recruitment Range: $125,000.00 - $155,000.00
Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and implement work operations by developing short‑ and long‑range goals, arranging and assigning work to use resources efficiently, coordinating administrative and technical services, implementing operational changes, and establishing operating standards and procedures in compliance with state and federal rules and agency/university fiscal practices.
Demonstrated ability to technically oversee all supervised fiscal services, recommend changes to standards of practice, focus on appropriate issues, consult with others to assess decisions and their impact, and think independently in managing fiscal program operations.
Demonstrated ability to oversee recruitment, selection, development, coaching, counseling, disciplining, and evaluation of employees; retain a diverse workforce; observe and assess work; provide feedback and technical supervision; support employee career development; and apply considerable knowledge of human resources policies and procedures.
Demonstrated ability to plan and support competency‑based staff development and ensure that employees are properly trained, while establishing and committing to strategic actions that align short‑range goals with the vision of the agency or university.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate and allocate resources, plan procurement, oversee budgets and contracts to ensure fiscal stability, and apply thorough knowledge of fiscal theory, techniques, practices, state and federal regulations, and agency/university procedures governing the fiscal program.
Management Preferences
Candidates with demonstrated supervisory experience and direct experience in governmental accounting at a management level.
Candidate with management or exposure to a wide variety of departments and/or services.
Candidate with experience in writing, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures.
Candidate that is customer-service focused and forward thinking.
The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date
This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds
This Role Is Eligible To Be Hybrid And Requires Onsite Reporting Located Within Raleigh, NC
About the Office of the Secretary
The Office of the Secretary serves as the executive leadership arm of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), guiding the Department’s mission to improve the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians. Through strategic oversight and collaborative leadership, the Secretary’s Office supports the effective coordination of over a dozen core divisions, ensuring that agency-wide priorities are aligned, resources are used responsibly, and services are delivered with equity and impact.
About DHHS Office of the Controller
The Office of the Controller sets and interprets all accounting and financial reporting policies and procedures for the Department as authorized by the rules and regulations of the Office of the State Controller and state statutes and executes all accounting transactions for DHHS.
Compensation and Benefits
The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit website for State Benefits.
Supplemental Contact Information
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/.
DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.
In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.
Application Process
Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.
Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.
For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.
Degree/College Credit Verification
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.
Veterans’ and National Guard Preference
Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.
ADA Accommodations
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
Minimum Education and Experience
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or a degree in business administration, finance or public administration or a related discipline from an appropriately accredited institution with 18 semester hours of accounting coursework; and seven years of professional accounting experience in the preparation of interpretive or analytical accounting, financial statements and reports; of which at least three are supervisory/managerial; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require certification as a Public AccountantEEO Statement
The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.
Recruiter:
Dreisa Yvonne JohnsonEmail:
talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov