Accounting Specialist – Disaster Recovery Grants

Job Description

Disaster Recovery Accounting Specialist | North Carolina Department of Public Safety

The Tone:
This is a full-time, time-limited role for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, located in Wake County, NC, with part-time teleworking options. The Department is a large organization with over 3,000 employees and 12,000 National Guard members, dedicated to safeguarding and preserving the lives and property of North Carolina citizens through preparation, prevention, and protection. This position is vital for supporting Disaster Recovery Programs, ensuring strict compliance with complex state and federal regulations for grant funds ranging from $115M to $750M annually. The specialist’s work is essential for maintaining accurate financial records, meeting critical financial obligations, and ensuring the agency remains compliant with diverse and evolving grant requirements.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: TIME-LIMITED (with potential to extend up to 36 months)
• Location: Hybrid, Wake County, NC
• Pay: $45431–$79504 yearly
• Team: Part of the Controller’s Office, Disaster Grants section, working closely with the Grants Accounting Manager and Accounts Payable Supervisor.
• Mission: Ensure fiscal accountability and compliance for the use of federal, state, and private grant funds awarded to the agency for disaster recovery programs.
• Tech Stack: North Carolina Accounting System, North Carolina Financial System (NCFS), Microsoft Excel

What You’ll Actually Do
• Support: Provide accounting support for Disaster Recovery Programs by ensuring compliance with complex state and federal regulations governing fund disbursement and grant management.
• Review: Examine reimbursement requests and verify vendor setups within the North Carolina Accounting System to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Perform: Execute various accounting functions, including preparing journal entries, conducting expenditure audits, and compiling grant reports.
• Oversee: Collaborate with the Grants Accounting Manager and Accounts Payable Supervisor to oversee invoice processing, financial reporting, and internal control procedures.
• Communicate: Verify the accuracy and completeness of accounting documents, present findings effectively in oral and written form, and maintain strong working relationships with internal staff and external agencies.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or another curriculum with a core in financial management coursework from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Experience: Associate’s degree in accounting and three (3) years of accounting or auditing experience; OR a High school/GED diploma and four (4) years of experience as an accounting technician, three of which must have been at an advanced technical level; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skills: Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), experience reconciling financial data, documents, and reports, proficiency in Microsoft Excel functions, and an understanding of state financial regulations and federal grant requirements.
• Bonus: Experience using the North Carolina Financial System (NCFS) and/or other electronic accounting system(s), and experience with state and/or federal grants.