DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY _Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.
DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.
DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life._
### ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST 1
Job Location: Address: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
400 West Congress Street, Suite 500, Tucson, Arizona 85701 Posting Details: Salary: $42,711.97
Grade: 16
Closing Date: June 9, 2024 Job Summary:
Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES' video. Come join the DES Team!
The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Accounting Specialist 1. DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high quality, and member driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.
Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.
This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.
The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.
Job DutiesEssential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Review, analyze, monitor and maintain accurate individual member accounts do not exceed Federal resource limit. Establish budget and setup recurring payments that are within monthly benefits received. Engage in collection activities and/or recommend contract action to Office of Licensing, Certification, & Regulation & Quality Assurance on any findings of misuse of members' benefits.
• Approve/Deny request for funds, issue & mail out payments by check. Approve/Deny expense ledgers & onetime special funds expenditures. Review Social Security Income & Room/Board billing for variance or discrepancies, report/request expedient resolution.
• Report delinquent items to our Qualified Vendors/Providers for resolution. Provide & explain procedure &/or policy on valid use of member funds, submission of monthly expense ledgers &/or one time special expenditures.
• Data entries &/or upload various information or documents into Exact Payee program. Download ACH deposits, update & prepare paper deposits. Monitor & respond to bank exception report & upload daily positive pay report. Provide technical support to DES/DDD Support Coordination on how to use the Exact Payee program, reset passwords, unlock accounts, modify use, add/delete users, etc.
• Complete & submit accounting of federal benefits to Social Security. Report changes to Social Security such as residence, employment, death, adoption, incarceration & hospitalization. Report monthly earnings and account balances. Complete & submit various documents to Social Security to avoid suspension or termination of federal benefits.
• Conduct phone interviews with Social Security for continuous disability benefits or additional benefits. Conduct phone interviews for Rep Payee requests. Coordinate process for disability determination of benefits with Support Coordination & DCS Case Manager.

Knowledge InKnowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) and DDD Services & Social Security Benefits.
• Principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques of government accounting.
• Maintenance of financial accounts and records and public speaking.
• The preparation of balance sheets, financial statements, summaries, audits, reconciliation, and other reports.
• Researching cash deposits, cash receipts, expenditures, and revenue reconciliation.

Skills In

• Summarizing and analyzing large amounts of information and data and records management.
• Reading, understanding, and interpreting complex issues, rules, regulation, and policies.
• Working as a contributing member of a cohesive work group.
• Strong verbal and written communication and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships.
• Problem solving, research, organization active listening and advanced skills in Google Suite, Excel, Gmail, Rep Payee Program Software.

Ability To

• Provide clear, concise documentation and calculate, analyze, reconcile data.
• Reconcile accounts with a great deal of detail and accuracy.
• Resolve interpersonal issues, provide training to mixed groups of diverse backgrounds.
• Work with difficult customers to resolve issues and cross trained on other duties of the unit staff.
• Organize, prioritize, and manage a very heavy workload with short deadlines and use independent judgement for all financial responsibilities for each individual account.

Selective Preference(s)The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Knowledge of Social Security benefits.
• Twelve (12) semester hours OR one (1) year of accounting experience

Pre-Employment Requirements

• 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. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

BenefitsThe Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.
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
RetirementState employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.
On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.
Contact UsFor questions about this career opportunity, please contact Shobana Jeyaraj at 480-915-7157 or shjeyaraj@azdes.gov.
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 contacting 480-915-7157 or shjeyaraj@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.