What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cost Accountant (Accountant 1) position at Department of Environmental Quality?
Initial Posting Date:
04/01/2025
Application Deadline:
04/10/2025
Agency:
Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range:
$4,409 - $6,732
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Cost Accountant (Accountant 1)
Job Description:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
. At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Cost Accountant (Accountant 1). This position will be located in Portland, Oregon.
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.
About DEQ!
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. Here is a video about DEQ:
https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Central Services Division (CSD) assists the Agency in achieving its mission by providing central management services for the agency in accounting, budgeting, information systems, human resources, health and safety, training, policy and organizational development, purchasing, and facilities management. The division serves headquarters and 3 regional divisions, the Vehicle Inspection Program, and the Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division. Services are provided for over 800 positions, various local and regional governments, and directly to citizens.
The Financial Services Section provides agency-wide accounting, audit coordination, contract and agreement compliance, cost recovery project accounting, payroll support, financial reporting services, biennial budget support through preparation of reports and monitoring, emergency board requests, and fiscal analysis of legislation and other proposals.
DEQ has a complex cost structure in order to account for multiple funding sources, which include: General Fund, Federal grants, Lottery funds, a variety of fees, cost recovery reimbursements for cleanup sites, and civil penalties. Each has stringent reporting requirements. DEQ’s cost center structure captures the funding source, activity, location (by region and office), manager, grant, and project. DEQ has approximately 125 funds, 75 activities, 80 active Federal grants, and an excess of over 10,000 projects.
Click
here
to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.
What you will do!
You will serve as the cost and project account. This work will include coordinating the invoicing of cost recovery projects, costing out monthly payroll, reconciling Treasury cash accounts monthly, and reconciling DOR and payroll cost centers monthly. In addition, you will manage miscellaneous invoicing “M Invoices”; assist agency programs with business operations and external reporting requirements; work with IT departments to determine finance business systems needs; and participate in financial project implementation.
What’s in it for you!
The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a
competitive benefits package
that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
, and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
. If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
What are we looking for?
Minimum Qualifications:
- 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours in Accounting from an accredited institution AND 2 years of technical, para-professional accounting experience, which included a) classifying, analyzing, and reconciling complex financial data and records; b) designing, recommending, and installing modifications of accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records; c) preparing financial statements and reports; d) analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances to ensure the legality of financial transactions; and e) analyzing, interpreting, and making recommendations related to accounting transactions, accounts, and account relationships resulting in accounting entries; OR
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; OR
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline that includes or is supplemented by 32 quarter (21 semester) credit hours in accounting from an accredited institution; OR
- Possession of a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Government Financial Manager certificate
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:
- Demonstrated experience and personal commitment to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture where all team members feel empowered to contribute.
- Experience working with complex grants and multiple fund types.
- Experience with governmental accounting.
- Advanced proficiency and experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access (or similar database); experience with R*Stars.
- Experience with accounting software programs, and an ability to quickly learn new databases, software, and procedures.
- Understanding of Oregon Accounting Manual (OAM) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Ability to research across resources and ask questions.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with an ability to switch priorities or projects seamlessly; high aptitude for learning new things and an ability to pay attention to detail.
- Excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to calmly, tactfully, professionally, and clearly explain, interpret, and apply Federal and State laws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations to a variety of diverse audiences.
Working Conditions:
DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.
This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters office in Portland, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.
There is frequent work under tight deadlines, including daily and monthly deadlines, as well as fiscal year-end deadlines. Extended hours will be needed during fiscal year-end reporting. There will be occasional travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, public hearings, and trainings, some of which may include evening work and/or overnight stays. This job will involve occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
How to Apply: (complete the application in full)
-
External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this linkfor the External Candidate job aid, and view thisvideofor additional information.
-
Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this knowledge articlefor assistance.
Helpful Tips:
- Allow yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the application.
- Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity.
- This posting closes at 11:59 PM on the close date listed.
- Please save a copy of the job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job posting closes.
- Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
- Workday performs best in Google Chrome.
-
Click here for Resourcesand aJob Support Page.
Help Your Application Rise to the Top!
Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.
Interested in hearing about future opportunities with DEQ?
Click here
to subscribe for our weekly e-mail updates.
Veterans Information:
DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit
Veterans Resources
, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.
Equal Pay Analysis:
As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit
http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx
for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation
page for more details.
Work Authorization:
DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.
Questions/Need Help?
If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at
jobs@deq.oregon.gov
or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
