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The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is seeking a dynamic and strategic manager for the position of Accounting Director. This position reports to the Senior Director of Finance Operations. This role requires an experienced fiscal administrator and manager with Commonwealth financial systems expertise, exceptional management skills, and who is eager to lead a team in a mission-driven environment. This position oversees all program accounting, accounts payable, and collections functions associated with administering the department’s $1B operating budget and $2.5B in federal benefits. This position is responsible for setting strategic goals for these functions, developing, and implementing continuous improvement strategies, managing for results, and ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations. This position directly supervises the Deputy Director of Accounting, the Program Accountant, and Program Auditor positions; this position leads a team of approximately 12 employees. This position is hybrid and is required to report to a DTA office once weekly (subject to change). The Director must have strong financial management and oversight skills and the capacity to manage and develop a team. Our applicant will have a proven track record in ensuring accounting transactions are performed accurately and timely within an internal controls environment. The Director will also drive all accounting initiatives by closely interacting with peers, Senior Director of Financial Operations, the Chief Financial Officer, and the DTA senior leadership team.  DTA attracts people passionate about public service, who love to work in a fast-paced environment, and who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.__ / / /_Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):_/ * Through direct supervision and unit leadership, execute an efficient system of control and compliance for accounting functions. Establish performance expectations, standards, and evaluation of outcomes. Provide policy guidance in the design and implementation of policies and procedures, establish process and outcome measures and standards, implement management controls, and provide senior level management. * Directly supervise the assigned staff and provide strategic leadership to the entire unit. * Ensure the integrity of accounting records between DTA’s dedicated system (Beacon), the Massachusetts Management Accounting and Reporting System (MMARS), and other internal systems. * Ensure data is leveraged from multiple sources and databases in accounting business processes to execute tasks accurately, efficiently, and effectively. * Directly manage the Program Accounting Unit to ensure that benefit issuances are accurately reconciled and errors are resolved timely and accurately. Manage DTA’s relationship with its external banks. Evaluate spending activities in order to ensure that the agency’s appropriations and bank accounts have available cash flow to support upcoming transactions. * Oversee management of the Accounts Payable unit to ensure payments are appropriate and sufficiently documented, payments are paid within timeframes established by the Comptroller’s Office, and rejected payments are corrected in a timely manner. * Oversee management of the Collections Unit to ensure required correspondence is sent to debtors on a timely basis, repayments are credited correctly to debtors’ accounts, unpaid debts are referred to the department’s collection agency and/or intercept program, and the department writes off uncollectible debts as appropriate. * Manage the accounting process and determine improvements to be made utilizing best practices. * Serve as the agency’s liaison to MMARS by providing training, guidance, and technical assistance to staff. * Lead interactions and communications with external parties, including vendors, auditors, and oversight agencies. * Ensure compliance with the agency’s internal control plan and state finance law as it relates to the agency’s Bill Paying and Accounting systems. Ensure internal controls are in place for all accounting transactions. Review unit financial procedures to confirm compliance with regulations issued by Comptroller, Operational Services Division (OSD) and Administration and Finance; recommend changes as necessary. * Prepare required financial reports, including GAAP and SEFA reports. * Ensure compliance with reporting and accounting requirements related to DTA’s federal benefit issuances and associated revenue. * Train internal staff to develop their expertise, methods, and overall capacity. Provide professional development opportunities to support optimal and team performance. /_Preferred Qualifications:_/ * * * Certified Public Accountant or master’s degree in accounting, Finance, or Business Administration. * Knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and practices applied to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and related accounting methods promulgated by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). * Familiarity with the principles and practices of financial management, including financial analysis budgeting, forecasting, information recording and processing as it relates to human service programs. * Prior experience working with Massachusetts Management Accounting and Reporting System (MMARS), and the Commonwealth Information Warehouse. * Understanding of federal and state financial regulations. * Self-starter who can take initiative, organize their work time and priorities, and produce high quality deliverables. * Strategic thinker who can solve complex problems, learn new processes and information quickly, and navigate complex processes. * Demonstrate high emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills. Build relationships within and outside of the department, including with senior and executive level stakeholders. * Ability to communicate effectively in written an oral forms and present complex information simply and clearly. * Ability to think and make decisions, in order to independently analyze and determine the applicability of financial and program data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations. * Knowledge of financial management principles and practices. * Knowledge of quality assurance, quality control, external audit and risk management principles and practices. * Knowledge of project and change management principles and practices. * Knowledge of methods, techniques, and tools used in the collection and analysis of data. Ability to interpret and use data in problem solving and process improvement. * Knowledge of management principles and practices, including the management of staff and * professional development. * Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take corrective action. Ability to solve problems, build consensus, resolve conflicts, and build effective teams. * Ability to coordinate numerous projects simultaneously to successful completion. * Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, with excellence in Microsoft Teams, Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint. * Familiarity with MMARS and the Commonwealth's Information Warehouse. _Agency Mission:_ * The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the state agency responsible for administering public assistance programs to low-income residents of the Commonwealth. DTA is committed to providing a high level of service to all those in need. The mission of the Department is to assist and empower low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long term economic self-sufficiency. DTA serves one out of every seven people in Massachusetts – including working families, children, elders, and people with disabilities. Our services include food and nutritional assistance, economic assistance, and employment supports. Learn more about our services and programs visit:www.mass.gov/dta_* * Pre-Offer Process:* A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete theADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form*.* For questions, please the contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #2. MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results), of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience. II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience. III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience. IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience. _*Comprehensive Benefits* When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Accounting and Finance* *Organization: Department of Transitional Assistance *Title: *Accounting Director Location: Massachusetts-Boston-600 Washington Street Requisition ID: 23000C9A