Accountant III, Central Office

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven, highly organized individual with accounting and fiscal experience to fill the role of Accountant III.

Reporting to the Budget Director, the Accountant III will help manage purchasing and accounts payable transactions in COMMBUYS and MOSAIC for the Central Office. The incumbent will work with suppliers to resolve conflicts/discrepancies and will be the primary contact to vendors to resolve billing/balances discrepancies and help ensure proper application of payments and prompt pay discount utilization

For additional information about the Department of Youth Services and its programs, please watch:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gyP0kCJ181nBakh9Cc0pNNEyPw7kAoI6/view

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

·         Process encumbrances and payments to ensure conformance with the Office of the State Comptroller, departmental policies and procedures, and internal controls.

·         Research of statewide and departmental contracts to ensure goods and services are being procured using the proper procurement methods, and also ensuring proper use of contracts in regard to scopes of services/requests for responses.

·         Use COMMBUYS system for contract information to maximize the efficiency of the Finance team and ensure personnel receive the requested goods and/or services in a timely manner.

·         Monitor accounting activity and ensure that spending does not exceed budgets and expenditure ceilings/allocations as well as other duties as assigned.

·         Reconcile invoices, process payments, confer with agency personnel and outside agencies to resolve accounting discrepancies and/or obtain statistical data and documentation for various reports and documents.

·         Reconcile, encumber, and pay monthly Purchase of Service Contracts (POS) for vendor programs.

·         Process staff reimbursement requests for travel, obtain and utilize reports from the Commonwealth Information Warehouse.

·         Handle records management responsibilities for accounts payable-related documents according to the Comptroller's Office procedures.

·         Prepare weekly reports for the Budget Director on the status of all accounts payable and encumbered funds.

·         Responsible for reviewing instructions and complying with the requirements of the Office of the State Comptroller for annual opening and closing activities related to Accounts Payable.

·         Maintain financial records according to established procedure in order to ensure accurate and complete information.

·         The Accountant III will manage the accounts payable side of the MOSAIC.

·         Provide administrative and fiscal assistance to the Senior Leadership supported by the Finance team.

·         Support the Central Office Admin with clerical duties.

Preferred Qualifications:

·         A bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting.

·         Knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and practices, financial statements, and procedures.

·         Demonstrated ability to read and interpret financial reports, accounts, and ledgers; proficiency in calculating, balancing, and compiling figures.

·         Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of accounting data, to draw conclusions, and to make appropriate recommendations.

·         Understanding of state budgetary process, state accounting procedures, and the Commonwealth’s procurement policies and procedures.

·         Experience with the MOSAIC accounting system, COMMBUYS, and other state applications, including the Commonwealth Information Warehouse.

·         Ability to work under pressure and manage projects with a high degree of accuracy.

·         Capacity to maintain accurate records and exercise discretion in handling confidential information.

·         Proficiency in working both independently and as part of a team, ability to establish and maintain professional and harmonious working relationships, strong oral and written communication skills as well as strong organizational skills.

·         Ability to use relevant software (e.g., Microsoft Office products including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook) as well as technologies supporting a hybrid workplace (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams).

Schedule: First (1st) Shift. 8:45AM – 5:00PM with Saturday and Sunday off

About the Department of Youth Services:

As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.  For more information, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-youth-services.

Pre-Hire Process:

Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening, which includes: 

• Drug Screening
• Psychological Screening
• Medical Examination
• Physical Abilities Test (PAT) 

If you would like more information, please log to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process. 

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.  

Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. 

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. 

ADA Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests 

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4. 

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:  Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in accounting or auditing, of which at least (B) one year must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. 

Substitutions: 

I.  An Associate's degree with a major in accounting, business administration, or business management may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.* 

II.  A Bachelor's degree with a major in accounting, business administration, or business management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.* 

III.  A Graduate degree with a major in accounting, business administration, or business management may be substituted for the required experience.* 

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range. 

Comprehensive Benefits 

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. 

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! 

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.   

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.