Accountant, Financial Reporting, Financial Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

Summary:

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDSDC) is interested in attracting the best talent for our organization. To be considered for this vacancy announcement, applicants should review the announcement in its entirety and follow the instructions within. To learn more about PDSDC, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..org

PDS Overview: The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to adults and children who are facing a loss of liberty but who cannot afford an attorney. The PDS staff consists of approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical employees who collaborate to advance the mission of the organization.

By statute, PDS employees are entitled to participate in federal health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans, to include the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees with prior tenure at federal agencies will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes.

Employment at the Public Defender Service is considered “At Will” and is not considered as federal nor District of Columbia government employment.

Division

Description:

This position is in PDS’s Office of Budget and Finance (OBF). OBF provides planning, oversight, management and stability of all financial activities including accounting, financial management, procurement, and budget operations. The OBF mission is to protect the organization’s assets through effective financial planning and management, enhance fiscal integrity, ensure accurate and comprehensive financial reporting and analysis, and enable the achievement of the PDS mission through the strategic allocation and optimization of resources.

Major Duties:

The incumbent serves as an accountant and accounts payable/accounts receivable analyst – assisting the Accounting Officer with analyzing, evaluating, and administering PDS’s financial management processes.

Additionally, the Accountant:

• Performs a wide variety of financially-focused, programmatic, and evaluative functions in executing accounts payable functions. Reviews and evaluates accounts payable and accounts receivable process flows and makes recommendations to the Accounting Officer for improvement of internal controls related to those processes.
• Serves as the primary payment certifying officer for PDS. Ensures accurate and timely payment of invoices and intra-governmental payments and collections (IPACs). Ensures existence and completeness of supporting documentations related to payments. Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of payments and ensures the timely reporting thereof in meetings and other forums.
• As required under PDS’s lead tenant responsibilities, ensures accurate and timely invoicing to, and collection from, intra-governmental customers for shared expenses as appropriate.
• Reviews system-generated financial reports to identify problems and discrepancies, and determine if adjustments and/or corrections are required.
• In conjunction with PDS’s shared service provider, participates in the preparation of recurring financial management reports, financial statements, and supporting source documentation.
• Recommends updates to financial management handbooks and other media; communicates with managers on issues of proper documentation, authorization and appropriateness of payments and collections; provides informational reports on payments and collections; provides guidance on policies and procedures for the processing of disbursements, and maintains responsibility for the operations of day-to-day payment, collection, and other accounting activities. Provides support to the Accounting Officer by assisting with reconciling general ledger account balances.
• Performs special projects as assigned by the Accounting Officer.

Educational Requirements

An accounting degree, or degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, OR a degree in public administration that included, or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting; the 24 semester hours may…