Assistant Accountant

Introduction

• View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut.
• Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• Location: 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
• Hybrid (office/telework) may be available

• You are detail-oriented and naturally spot inconsistencies, taking initiative to dig deeper and ensure information is accurate and reliable.
• You are comfortable making decisions within established guidelines, using your judgment to evaluate information and determine appropriate next steps.
• You are organized and able to manage multiple priorities, maintaining accuracy and consistency while working through a steady volume of work.
• You communicate clearly and enjoy helping others understand processes and requirements, especially when navigating structured systems or rules.

• Review, audit, and approve vendor profile applications in Core-CT, including requests for new vendors, modifications to existing records, and enrollment in EFT/ACH payment programs;
• Analyze vendor documentation to determine appropriate IRS reporting classifications and assign codes to ensure accurate annual reporting and compliance with federal requirements;
• Evaluate and approve EFT/ACH enrollment requests, applying internal controls and monitoring for potential fraud or irregularities;
• Serve as a liaison to agency staff by providing guidance and technical assistance on vendor setup and maintenance in Core-CT, ensuring compliance with state accounting procedures, policies, and internal control standards;
• Provide training and interpret policies and procedures to support agencies in accurately establishing and maintaining vendor records;
• Conduct outreach to vendors to promote participation in EFT/ACH payment programs and improve efficiency of the state’s payment process; 
• Perform related duties as required.

Selection Plan

• 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. 

• 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 Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! 
• Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Office of the State Comptroller are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks, subject to the provisions of Section 31-51i and conducted in accordance with Section 29-17a of the Connecticut General Statutes. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation.
• 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, but your application may be considered 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.

• 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 any questions about this recruitment, please contact the agency’s human resources team at osc.hr@ct.gov.
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for performing a combination of a full range of basic professional and highly complex clerical work in accounting or financial examination work.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Maintains an interrelated group of accounts including classifying and recording transactions, taking trial balances and reconciling accounts; 
• Prepares simple financial statements; 
• Assists in preparation of complex financial statements; 
• Examines financial documents to ensure accuracy and conformance with requirements by reviewing related records, provisions and/or regulations; 
• Maintains accounts receivable including preparing and processing billings, maintaining related accounts, managing accounts receivable, making and recording adjustments, cancellations or remissions and computing interest due and penalties; 
• Calculates rates involving complex arithmetical formulas; 
• Responsible for accounts payable including maintaining disbursement records, distributing charges to proper accounts, encumbering appropriation accounts for purchase orders, authorizing routine expenditures, auditing invoices or payments for accuracy and compliance with state regulations; 
• Gathers and consolidates payroll and expenditure data to facilitate budget preparation; 
• Ensures expenditures plus encumbrances are within appropriation limits; 
• Ensures routine payments are in compliance with contract provisions; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of 
• bookkeeping and financial record keeping principles and practices; 
• basic governmental accounting principles and practices including general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and budget control; 
• Skills
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;  
• Considerable 
• arithmetical ability; 
• auditing ability; 
• Ability to 
• understand and apply statutes and regulations; 
• utilize electronic data processing (EDP) systems for financial information.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of experience in complex clerical accounting or financial examining work. Complex clerical accounting or examining work is interpreted as independent responsibility for generally routine bookkeeping, financial record keeping or financial record examining at the level of a Financial Clerk.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
• One (1) year as a Pre-Professional Trainee in an accounting class may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience reviewing and evaluating applications or financial documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, including determining approval or rejection.
• Experience interpreting and applying administrative policies, regulations, or procedural guidelines to assist internal or external stakeholders in completing applications, forms, or financial transactions.
• Experience applying internal controls, including segregation of duties and fraud prevention measures, when reviewing or processing financial or administrative transactions.
• Experience managing a high-volume workload with competing priorities, including independently organizing, prioritizing, and completing assignments within established deadlines. 
• Experience with governmental or public sector accounting or auditing practices, including accounts payable processes, procurement or contracting standards, and tax reporting requirements. 
• Experience communicating complex or technical information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing. 

Conclusion

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT