ACCOUNTANT

Position Overview

The Department of Juvenile Justice is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented individual to serve as an Accountant in the agencies general office performing professional accounting work maintaining records and detailed ledgers on State and Federal grants. The incumbent in this position will also assist in the preparation of spending plans, monitoring expenditures and obligations, recommending and initiating budget adjustments, and compiling data for financial report development. The ideal candidate for this position will have previous experience utilizing SAP or a similar software program, possess experience analyzing data, developing professional financial reports, assisting with audit functions, and will possess knowledge of grant funds. The Department of Juvenile Justice encourages all interested and qualified individuals to apply.

Essential Functions

1. Maintains support documentation for grants received by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
2. Maintains support ledgers on Federal and State grant accounts.
3. Generates allotments to allocate grant funds to accounts.
4. Provides technical assistance to field staff and business office staff in documents processing and general fiscal procedures.
5. Maintains detail of assigned accounting records of allotments, obligations, expenditures and unencumbered balances in the assigned grants; works with vendors to resolve problems with billings and receipt of orders.
6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, with courses in business administration and accounting or four (4) years of technical accounting experience.

*This title is included as an Upward Mobility Program certificate title.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prefers at least three (3) years of professional experience working in a fiscal setting with governmental accounting and financial reconciliations.
2. Prefers at least three (3) years of experience reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting complex accounting records and recommending solutions to accounting or auditing problems.
3. Prefers at least two (2) years of experience utilizing accounting systems, such as SAP or a closely related program.
4. Prefers at least three (3) years of experience utilizing electronic spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel or a similar program to create formulas, pivot tables, and data validation in a professional setting.
5. Prefers at least two (2) years of professional experience preparing comprehensive accounting reports.
6. Prefers at least three (3) years of experience ensuring compliance with accounting and auditing rules and regulations for state government or a related entity.
7. Prefers at least two (2) years of experience acting as a liaison and providing technical assistance to other fiscal staff and employees regarding financial inquiries.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires the ability to pass an IDOC/IDJJ background check.
2. Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
3. Requires the ability to comply with all local and federal health requirements and/or mandates.

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. Over 900 staff members from across various departments—security, programming, education, mental health, and more—collaborate with the understanding that youth are physically, emotionally, and cognitively different from adults. The department provides extensive services to young people through a developmental, treatment-focused model of care that builds youth resiliency,
engages families and promotes community safety at the five youth facilities it operates across the state. IDJJ serves and houses approximately 150 youth and is responsible for approximately 500 youth on Aftercare in various Illinois’ communities.

Employee Benefits

The Department of Juvenile Justice offers an excellent benefits package including:

• A Pension Program

• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance

• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually

• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)

• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)

            * Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour Work Schedules (as applicable)

• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years

• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)

• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave

• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan

• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)

• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility

• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans

• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx