Payroll Accountant

Accounting Section

Phoenix Location

Under the direction of the Accounting Administrator, this position is responsible for maintaining a fiscal services system for state appropriations and federal grants of the agency's fiscal management section including examining a variety of financial documents for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) or other specific accounting requirements. This position:
Applies the principles, theories, and concepts of accounting to a specific system;
Reconciles reports and financial data, and identifies apparent inconsistencies or errors;
Carries out assigned steps in accounting analyses, such as researching amount variances between systems;
Reviews fiscal documents and verifies for accuracy, timeliness, and proper preparation;
Gathers and compiles data and writes report summarizing financial transactions and status of accounts for a given period;
Makes entries and revisions to agency accounts, ledgers, and financial records;
Monitors funds from the federal government to ensure proper matching of state and federal expenditures;
Examines and verifies such fiscal transactions as billing invoices, payments, payroll or other financial documents; and
Reviews, monitors and controls amount expended from budget(s) to assure that expenditures do not exceed funds available.
Occasional in-state travel is required for this position.
The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Process accounting transactions involving federal grants and state appropriated funds in the AZ360 accounting system and other interfacing financial systems
Utilize accounting reports, contracts, operating procedures, and guides to verify accounting information is appropriately coded
Develop, implement, modify, and document record keeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology
Maintain personal and group inboxes, monitoring logs, and other shared data, ensuring transaction and communication requests are being addressed, processed, and resolved timely
Provide expeditious and friendly customer service to LEAs (Local Education Agencies), suppliers, internal/external customers, and agency leadership in alignment to performance measures
Provide changes/updates in guidance to all affected parties in order to minimize the processing of incorrect financial transactions
Analyze, prepare, and reconcile daily, monthly, and yearly financial and encumbrance reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards
Report variances to Accounting Administrator
Monitor and verify Federal and State funding for allowable expenses and available funds
Survey operations to ascertain accounting needs and to recommend, develop, or maintain solutions to business and financial problems

Knowledge in:
Fiscal principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques of fund accounting, internal control structures, and fiscal management
Methods and techniques of automated accounting systems and data processing as it relates to accounting practices
Analyzing and preparing financial reports
Time management and priority setting techniques
A Bachelor's degree in an Accounting or a related field or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree is required
Skills in:
Analysis, interpretation, and reconciling of financial data
Work techniques required to maintain accounting records through automated accounting systems
Oral and written communication
Training and reviewing the work of others
Work organization and accomplishment
Applying accounting principles and practices
Excellent customer service
Intermediate skills in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams
Ability to:
Work independently and understand complex financial information in a large agency
Read and understand federal regulations, Arizona Revised Statutes, applicable agency manuals, and policies and procedures
Effectively manage time.
Detail-oriented
Assess customer needs and deliver desirable outcomes

Preference will be given to those applicants with experience in:
Payroll experience
HR systems experience

Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
Ten paid holidays per year
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Deferred compensation plan
Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.