Budget and Accounting Specialist (BA4)

This position will remain open until filled.
The first reveiw of applications is scheduled for the week of *October 23, 2023.
*In order to be considered, please submit your application on or before *October 22, 2023*.
The agency reserves the right to make a hire any time after the initial screening date.
*AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy* The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years.
Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment.
We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work.
To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
The Financial Services Program provides centralized budget, accounting, payroll, and benefits to support the agency and program operations.
Financial Services works to ensure budget and accounting operations are completed in compliance with state and federal guidelines as well as agency policies and procedures.
The *Budget and Accounting Specialist *provides expert-level guidance for budget analysis, development, and monitoring of capital or operating budgets.
This position uses independent judgement and familiarity with the overall agency operations to accomplish a wide variety of activities to include budget preparation, monitoring, reporting, and communicating and resolving budget and fund balance issues.
In compliance with state and federal laws, rules and procedures, this position also assists in the development and submittal of the agency budget to Office of Financial Management (OFM) preparation, monitoring of budget allotments including end-of-year and fund balance projections, and the development, tracking, and submittal of fiscal notes, and indirect cost rate plan.
*Position and Salary Information:* WSDA is recruiting a full-time permanent Budget and Accounting Specialist position within the Director's Office.
This position has been approved for a telework schedule and may report to the WSDA regional office located in Olympia, Washington.
This position is non-represented.
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
The typical starting salary range for this position is: $ 67,380.
00 - $ 88,416.
00 annually.
*Employee Benefits:* * A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
* WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits.
State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click herefor more information.
* 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
* All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
* Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.
* Bilingual positions receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.
Employees who voluntarily provide proof of up-to-date COVID-19 booster vaccination, which must include any recommended by the U.
S.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at the time proof is provided to the employer, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, will receive a one-time lump sum payment of $1,000.
*Duties* *What to Expect* Some of the various responsibilities within this role include: * Responds to the agency, OFM, legislative and other requests for fiscal and budget related inquiries.
* Provides expert-level assistance and advice for agency-wide budget.
* Prepares, in partnership with programs, decision packages, and other documents necessary to submit the biennial and supplemental agency budget request.
This includes performing research and compiling data with programs to build the justification for budget requests.
Ensures information is entered accurately into the Agency Budget System (ABS).
* Writes maintenance level decision packages after analyzing expenditure data.
* Designs, develops, implements, and maintains monthly program status reports for management; including analysis and projections of program spending.
* Reviews and analyzes legislation to assist with fiscal note coordination, preparation, tracking and submittal.
* Maintains and updates the fund balance sheets and fund balance protection reports.
* Ensure WSDA expends proviso funds consistent with legislative intent; monitor proviso spending and ensure all eligible expenditures are coded or transferred to the appropriate proviso throughout the year to ensure the fiscal year is closed efficiently.
* Creates allotment workbooks for program staff for the biennial and supplemental budget entry into The Allotment System (TALS).
* Maintains agency chart of accounts.
* Prepare fiscal year close transactions, as necessary, in coordination with Accounting.
*Qualifications* *Who should apply?* Professionals with: * A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, economics, or a related field with 18 quarter hours or 12 semester hours of accounting.
Professional experience may substitute for education on a year for year basis as long as the academic accounting requirements are met.
* Two (2) years of combined experience using the automated statewide financial report system, TALS, ABS, ECMS, GP and/or Enterprise Reporting to work with budgets, grants, and accounting.
* Knowledge of Washington State budgeting and accounting processes.
* Expert level Microsoft Excel skills including formulas and pivot tables.
*In addition to the above qualifications, the following desired knowledge, skills, and abilities would make your application more competitive:* * Understanding of state budget activities with experience submitting written documents required during all phases of the budget process.
* Microsoft Great Plains software experience.
*Supplemental Information* *How to apply:* You must complete your careers.
wa.
gov profile and answer the supplemental questions.
In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position: · Current resume detailing experience and education · A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position · Three professional references By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct.
The state may verify information.
Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.
*Applications with comments "see attachments" will be considered incomplete.
* If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.
com.
The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted.
All information may be verified, and documentation may be required.
Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.
*Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion* The Department of Agriculture celebrates our differences.
We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
We are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, status as a protected veteran, genetics, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission.
Having a diverse workforce is this agency's greatest resource of strength and knowledge.
It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.
*For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at **www.
agr.
wa.
gov**.
* Job Type: Full-time Pay: $67,380.
00 - $90,624.
00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Vision insurance Schedule: * Monday to Friday Work Location: Hybrid remote in Olympia, WA 98501