Fiscal Analyst 2 - Travel & Employment Reimbursement Specialist

Full Job Description

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years.

Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment.

We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

The Opportunity

The Financial Services Program provides centralized budget, accounting, payroll, and benefits to support the agency and program operations.

Financial Services works to ensure budget and accounting operations are completed in compliance with state and federal guidelines as well as agency policies and procedures.

This position is the agency's expert travel & employee reimbursement processor, back-up cashier as well as a critical member of the accounts receivable section handling reconciliations and private-local agreements.

This position performs detailed fiscal work that requires familiarity with complex regulations.

This position analyzes and interprets travel and accounts receivable requirements, policies, rules, and regulations adopted by OFM and the agency for travel and accounts receivable.

The position accurately prepares, reconciles, and approves payment for travel and accounts receivable submittals based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

This position interprets requirements, explains complex policies and procedures to travelers and supervisors of travelers in the agency and prepares training and reference documents for employees regarding the Travel Expense Management Systems (TEMS).

This position monitors the agency's travel credit card program through US Bank, rental car and airfare expenses.

Additionally, the incumbent serves as the primary back-up to the agency's lead cashier and performs monthly and year-end reconciliations and assists supervisor and management with travel, accounts receivable, and financial risk audits.

Important Notes

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Fiscal Analyst 2 position within the Directors Office Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington. This is a non-represented position.

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary for this position is: Range 49, Step A $53,136 - Step L $69,744 annually.

Requirements

What to Expect

Some of the various responsibilities within this role:

Employee and Travel Reimbursement Requests and US Bank airfare and Enterprise

• Analyze, interpret and assign appropriate expenditure codes to process paper and electronic travel vouchers, tuition reimbursement requests, travel advances and A-19-2A reimbursement requests.
• Ensure all reimbursement requests are complete, correct, accurately coded and comply with current state travel regulations and agency travel policies.
• Maintain and verify Out-of-State Prior Authorizations comply with travel regulations.
• Prepare and input warrant batches for payment to US Bank for airfare and Enterprise Rent-a-Car expenses.
• Maintain and monitor electronic fund transfer authorizations and travel signature approvals and make journal voucher corrections.
• Oversee the corporate travel charge cards used by agency employees to include issuing, monitoring and canceling cards. Review and analyze charge card accounts for delinquencies and compliance with travel policy.
• Oversee archiving of travel documents.

Agency coordinator for employee travel and reimbursements

• Interpret and explain travel rules and regulation and WSDA travel policies to agency employees.
• Develop training materials that explain complex requirements and conduct training seminars for agency employees.
• Conduct monthly travel audit for agency.
• Review and analyze travel regulations and processes to recommend specific improvements to the agency travel policy for additional efficiencies.

Assist supervisor and management with audit requirements and the fiscal month-end and year-end reconciliations

• Review, analyze and reconcile general ledgers and program funds.
• Analyze revenue accrual reports and make JV adjustments.
• Monitor the deferred revenue reports, determine adjustments needed and make adjustments.
• Reconcile GL 1383 Travel Advances.
• Reconcile GL 5191 Deposits Payable.
• Audit and process cashiering monthly suspense fund distribution.
• Monitor and issue reports for litigation holds on financial services travel records.

Primary back-up cashier

• Interpret and explain OFM cashiering rules and regulations and WSDA policy for revenue and payments to agency employees.
• Review and analyze cashiering regulations and processes to recommend specific improvements to the agency cashiering policy for additional efficiencies.

Monitor and reconcile Private Local Agreements

• Review and monitor private local contractual reimbursements including WUSATA.
• Reconcile expenditures and reimbursements on each agreement.
• Provide programs with estimated contract balances each month and resolve discrepancies.

Qualifications

Who should apply?
Professionals with:

• High School Diploma or GED or equivalent experience.
• Three (3) years of fiscal or accounting experience.
• Higher education which includes 18 quarter, or 12 semester hours of accounting, auditing, or budgeting may substitute year for year for experience.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a financial related filed.
• Experience interpreting federal, state, and/or agency travel policies and procedures.
• Experience using the state accounting systems including TEMS, AFRS, Enterprise, WebI, TM$, Toolbox and PayPoint.
• Ability to work with individuals with diverse backgrounds, understands and performs governmental accounting transactions. Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively and respectfully conveys and receives information verbally and in writing.
• Responsible contributor with commitment to excellence and success.

Additional Information

Employee Benefits

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
• WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
• 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
• Commute Trip Reduction Program.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us atwww.agr.wa.gov.

How to apply:

You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position.

Applications with comments "see attachments" will be considered incomplete.

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required.

Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.

Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.

Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Work Authorization

• Candidates who are offered a job with WSDA must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future;

WSDA complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9.

The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.

• WSDA does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
• Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Equity at WSDA

The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways.

We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion.

We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement.

We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service.

Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

Contact Us

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at Recruitment@agr.wa.gov.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.