Initial Posting Date: 10/10/2024
Application Deadline: 10/17/2024
Agency: Office of Public Defense Services
Salary Range: $4,024 - $5,665
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Accounting Technician 3 (AT3, Limited Duration)
Job Description:
***This is a Limited Duration position through June 30, 2025 with the potential of becoming permanent pending budget approval.***
Who we are:
The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is a nine-member commission appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court that serves as the governing body for Oregon’s public defense system. The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the administration of the system. As required by ORS 151.216(1)(b), the Commission oversees the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) that serves as the administrative agency responsible for carrying out the Commission’s directives and other statutorily defined duties. The legal services provided by OPDC represent an essential component of Oregon’s public safety system.
The mission of OPDC is to establish and maintain a public defense system that ensures the provision of public defense services consistent with the Oregon Constitution, the United States Constitution and Oregon and national standards of justice.
OPDC employs 113 staff. The office includes the Executive Division, the Compliance, Audit, and Performance Division, the Appellate Division (AD), and the Administrative Services Division. The agency negotiates contracts with trial level public defense providers and administers and distributes funds for representation and related services for cases during the biennium for criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment cases. The agency provides compliance and oversight to the trial community providers through quality assurance practices, training, and education.
Financial Services processes all expenses related to representation in public defense cases. The Appellate Division provides direct legal representation in the state appellate courts in criminal cases, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases, and parole cases. Other services in the agency include Data Collection and Analysis, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Internal Audit, and Policy Development.
The primary purpose of this position is to: Conduct a pre-audit examination of the OPDC's public defense expenditures to ensure that the appropriate OPDS policies and procedures, state and federal laws have been applied prior to the disbursement of available funds.
Duties:
- Reviews error on vendor payment requests, edits to isolate problem and determines how the issue should be resolved.
- Regular telephone and email contact with individuals both internal and external to the agency to clarify information, resolve discrepancies or explain agency accounting policies or procedures. Apply accounting standards and methods to resolve unusual situations and use judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines to specific cases or problems.
- Recognizes potentially precedent setting situations, and appropriately seeks guidance from the supervisor or higher-level professional accountant. Verify accuracy and integrity of information on Non-Routine Expense Requests.
- Verify provider is authorized to bill for the service provided with internal and external data systems.
- Check dates, math and consistency of amounts requested, verify no duplicate requests for services, note corrections as needed.
- Ensure request for payment conforms to applicable policies and procedures.
- Communicate with providers to answer questions regarding policy and billing.
- Work closely with Contract Analysts to research contractual obligations, determine non-routine expense payment rates, and communicate to providers.
- Tracks exceptions to Payment Policy for consistency and communication to other accounts payable staff.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Extensive knowledge of bookkeeping principles, practices, and procedures.
- Basic knowledge of governmental accounting policies, procedures, and operations.
- Skill applying accounting methods and procedures.
- Skill compiling and consolidating accounting information for various fiscal or budget reports.
- Skill applying rules, policies, and procedures to work assignments.
- Skill instructing others in office or bookkeeping procedures or methods.
- Skill tracking errors and resolving discrepancies in accounting records.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Three (3) years of technical support accounting experience. Two (2) years of the experience must include a) coding transactions and checking them for propriety, b) balancing, and c) resolving discrepancies in computer edits, OR at least 90 quarter (60 semester) credit hours from an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school that includes 12 quarter (9 semester) hours in accounting.
Training or experience must include using a computer to enter, update, or retrieve information.
To receive credit for required courses, submit a photocopy of transcripts.
TO APPLY:
Interested applicants must submit the following materials:
- RESUME
- COVER LETTER: Explaining how you meet the desired attributes for this position.
- THREE REFERENCES (WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES)
**APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT ALL THREE DOCUMENTS STATED ABOVE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT**
Veterans Preference:
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting. For more information, please go to the State website: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx
The Oregon Public Defense Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce. Assistance will be provided in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance. Please call (503) 991-2274 as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.
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