General Ledger Manager

WHY WORK FOR DFPS?

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting the unprotected — children, elderly, and people with disabilities — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000 workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in service to the citizens of Texas. DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, longevity pay, generous paid leave, access to the Wellness program, lifetime retirement annuity, Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Brief Job Description:

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial work administering the daily operations and activities of the agency’s Accounting division. Work involves establishing goals and objectives; developing guidelines, procedures, and policies; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating business function, division, or department activities; developing and evaluating budget requests; and monitoring budget expenditures. Supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Manages day-to-day activities of staff within a large and/or highly complex business function(s), division(s), or department(s).

• Oversee the activities, daily operations, and personnel issues of accounting staff across multiple business units.  
• Ensures staff obtain necessary training to perform job duties. Manages staff that works with multiple business functions and ensures collaboration across areas.
• Develops, manages, and evaluates guidelines, procedures, policies, activities, and budgets
• Ensure timely coordination and communication with internal and external staff and parties.
• Represents the agency in all forms of communication, including cross-functional and cross-agency workgroups/meetings related to finance.

Oversees and/or establishes goals and objectives; develops and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and manages evaluation activities.

• Develops monthly, quarterly, and annual actions and deliverables that align with achieving divisional goals.
• Develops and implements strategic plans for assessing and improving accounting functions. 
• Develops work performance plans, creates and maintains position descriptions for direct reports and conducts performance evaluations at least annually.
• Provides leadership and direction to staff by using appropriate skills, abilities, and resources for the quality delivery of required program activities and services.

Oversees the allocation of resources to achieve timely outcomes and measurable goals; and monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of staffing levels.

• Oversees standard and mandated reports and deliverables required of the team and  ensures accurate and timely submission according to rules and regulations. 
• Provides direction on prioritization and timelines to achieve meeting goals and deliverables.
• Assign and allocate staffing and resources to meet deliverable deadlines. 

Oversees the development and implementation of techniques for evaluating business function(s), division(s), or department(s) activities.

• Evaluates team structures and implements methods to maximize team output, including establishing and maintaining processes for quality assurance reviews, new hire onboarding, training, and mentorship.
• Develops and implements procedures and makes recommendations on improving business functions.

Oversees the identification of areas that need change and the recommendation of initiatives to improve operations and oversees implementation of changes.

• Identifies and supports system improvement efforts by working with leadership to strategically use data to identify what parts of the system are working well and areas to target for improvement.

Oversees and approves budget expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments.

• Assesses team needs, fiscal impact, and opportunities for skill building (e.g. conferences, trainings) and approves when applicable.
• Ensures expenditures are in line with budget allowance and remains within the operating budget and makes alterations as needed.

Oversees special investigations, research studies, special projects, internal audits, and the implementation of special initiatives.

• Directs, advises, and coordinates high-priority projects related to DFPS Accounting. 
• Provides overall direction and guidance to staff to promote efficient and effective delivery of services or special initiatives.
• Monitors the development and coordination of audits, provides documentation and data pulls, tracks associated staff assignments, and provides status of audits to leadership.

Oversees the monitoring and analyses of relevant state and federal legislation and oversees the implementation of changes resulting from new legislation.

• Ensures new and/or revised policies and procedures due to changes in legislation are promoted throughout the division and implemented and properly evaluated. 
• Reviews, evaluates, and provides data-based reports to understand and determine agency and divisional impact of proposed legislation on DFPS programs.
• Reviews and evaluates actions and documentation to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local legislatively mandated standards, and meet program, region and agency goals and objectives.

Prepares management and productivity reports; and reviews and approves documents and reports developed by employees to ensure professional quality and appearance, appropriate content, consistency, and responsiveness.

• Prepares, reviews, and checks for accuracy, quality, clarity, and completeness of reports prepared by team.
• Prepares communications, responses, and reports and ensures they are completed and issued within required timeframes.

Monitors compliance with policies and procedures; and provides input or approves new policies and procedures.

• Systematically reviews staff’s work to ensure compliance of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and state and federal regulations. 
• Directs and develops staff to ensure compliance with the law, policies, and procedures through the review of performance data, consultation, training, and performance appraisals.

May serve as backup to a Director(s).

• Serve as subject matter expert related to financial accounting operations in absence of finance leadership. 
• Facilitate and attend meetings on behalf of Deputy Accounting Director.
• Review and approve documents in lieu of accounting leadership.

Supervises the work of others.

• Perform and oversee performance evaluations
• Acts in a leadership capacity by leading, supervising, and mentoring a team of accountants.
• Serving as a role model to team members, guiding them in the execution of their duties, and encouraging and enabling professional growth.
• Delegating tasks and deliverables as appropriate.
• Provides leadership to employees using a performance management strategy and development process to provide an overall context and framework to encourage employee contribution, and includes goal setting, feedback, and performance development planning.
• Leads employees to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment.

 Performs related work as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of Accounting, Budget, and Finance theories and practices and the ability to apply these.
• Experience in governmental accounting and financial operations, including basic general ledger, accounts receivable, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of State of Texas accounting procedures including GAAP standards.
• Experience working with complex automated accounting systems, including CAPPS Financials (PeopleSoft) and USAS.
• Experience preparing reports.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office products, including Excel.
• Ability to plan, organize, assign, monitor, and direct the accounting work of others.
• Ability to work within established deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, or a related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible full-time accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, financial operations, banking, or budget experience.

OR

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible full-time accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, financial operations, banking, or budget experience

Acceptable Substitutions:

• Thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university, with a minimum of nine hours of accounting may be substituted for one (1) year of required experience.
• Sixty semester hours from an accredited college or university, with a minimum of twelve hours of accounting may be substituted for two (2) years of required experience.

Additional Selection Criteria:

• Experience in governmental accounting and financial operations.
• Experience using CAPPS Financials (PeopleSoft) or USAS.
• Experience with General Ledger accounting and/or reconciliation.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience preparing complex financial reports.
• Three years of lead, supervisory, or managerial experience.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.