Accounting Division Manager

Essential Functions

• Develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures pertaining to the preparation and publication of the State Employees, Judges, and General Assembly Retirement Systems’ comprehensive annual financial reports, including the audit work papers, and supporting schedules.  Plans, develops, organizes, and controls the preparation of the quarterly financial statements and monthly division reports in a timely and accurate manner.  Sets agency goals and objectives for the financial reports and monitors timelines to ensure compliance with established targets.  Acts as State Retirement Systems liaison with the Illinois Auditor General and the external auditors in matters pertaining to the comprehensive annual financial reports published by the systems.
• Develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures pertaining to internal accounting and financial reporting requirements.  Provides information and guidance to Accounting Division staff and other agency personnel regarding accounting, cash flow, and financial reporting issues.  Resolves daily problems involving both internal and external accounting and financial reporting questions.  Interprets agency policies and procedures as well as accounting rules and standards to ensure compliance with reporting requirements and to determine their impact to the Retirement System.
• Directs and coordinates the efforts of technical staff processing member applications to establish pension credits through optional service purchases.  Ensures that the eligibility of members making optional service purchases are within the established guidelines and rules and that the calculations of contributions, interest, and other required payments are made accurately and appropriately.
• Provides guidance, direction, and policy interpretation relating to the collection of overpayments and establishment of overpaid benefit account records.  Manages overpayment collections via written correspondence or through submissions of involuntary withholding requests through the Comptroller’s Illinois Debt Recovery Offset Portal (IDROP).  Consults with the Attorney General’s Office for non-performing accounts.
• Serves as full line supervisor.  Assigns and reviews work.  Provides guidance and training to assigned staff. Counsels staff regarding work performance.  Re-assigns staff to meet day to day operating needs.  Establishes annual goals and objectives.  Approves time off.  Adjusts first level grievances.  Effectively recommends and imposes discipline, up to and including discharge.  Prepares and signs performance evaluations.  Determines and recommends staffing needs.
• Develops the Division’s annual budget.  Prepares and analyzes the fiscal management and personnel requirements associated with the operation and continued program development of the Accounting Division.  Establishes annual goals and objectives for the division.
• Represents the agency in a liaison capacity between State Retirement Systems and the Office of the Comptroller.  Prepares annual GAAP packages to submit to the Comptroller’s Office and serves as the agency liaison to the IOC.
• Coordinates the education and training of in-house personnel regarding the codes used on member Data Base; updates the transaction codes used by State Retirement Systems; and prepares State Retirement System Bulletins used by all agency payroll clerks throughout the State.
• Coordinates activities of the Accounting Division with the Information Technology Division; initiates and reviews I.T. projects to determine effectiveness and efficiency of Accounting Systems.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a Master’s degree, with courses in accounting, business, finance, or economics.
• Requires Certified Public Accountant accreditation.
• Requires four years of progressively responsible administrative experience in accounting, auditing, or budgetary planning and control.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers 10 years of experience preparing GAAP financial reporting.
• Prefers 5 years of experience working with the Illinois Pension Code as it relates to State Retirement Systems. 
• Prefers 5 years of experience using Statewide Accounting Management System (SAMS).
• Prefers 5 years of experience with the State of Illinois appropriation and budget process.
• Prefers 5 years of experience preparing complex financial documents/statements/reports.
• Prefers 5 years of experience supervising staff including assigning and reviewing work, counseling staff on work performance, establishing goals, and administering performance evaluations.
• Prefers ability to develop or modify an accounting process based on recently passed legislation.

Employment Conditions

• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.  This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position.  As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine. 
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in Section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest.  The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statement of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public.  All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission.  (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.