Accountant I

Remote Work/Hybrid: In office 2 days a week, Remote 3 days a week

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

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CDHSCareers

About this Unit:
About the Position/s:
This position ensures accurate and timely payroll and timekeeping processing for assigned CDHS facilities following the elimination of automated data processing with the new COMPAS system. With the loss of automation, the position performs critical manual data entry, timekeeping calculations, and payroll adjustments—including processing deductions, direct deposits, pay/hour reconciliations, and state benefit interactions (health, dental, life)—while ensuring strict compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Colorado State Personnel Rules across statewide department facilities.


Summary of Duties:
Approval, Compliance and Technical Oversight:

• Applies generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), federal and state laws, and department rules to conduct final technical review and approval of manual payroll and timekeeping entries submitted by subordinate staff. Reviews, verifies, and authorizes critical personnel/payroll transactions—including W-4 tax withholdings, state benefit enrollments and adjustments (health, dental, life), direct deposit setups, voluntary/statutory deductions, and complex pay or hour reconciliations. 
• Resolves non-routine issues, disputes, and inquiries regarding hours worked, leave balances, and overtime calculations across assigned agencies. Provides technical guidance and expertise to staff, facility timekeepers, and supervisors on payroll, timekeeping, benefits, FMLA, STD, workers' compensation, PERA forms, and related personnel rules. 
• Ensures all assigned work from subordinates is completed accurately and within strict payroll deadlines. Monitors workflow, approves submitted work actions, and establishes operating standards to maintain uninterrupted payroll delivery following the transition away from automated systems. Promotes positive working relationships across CDHS facilities and develops/delivers in-service training for team members. 
• Operates a state vehicle to attend required training or management meetings outside Denver as needed

Payroll Supervisors Support:

• Supports Payroll Supervisor, performs the management duties for payroll officers assigned to the other payroll supervisor.  As part of that duty, decides how to handle various situations involving errors or problems with individual employee leave accruals that need to be adjusted.
• Manages staffing considering deadlines and workloads.  • Reviews submitted work from payroll officers for absent payroll supervisor.• Completes balancing functions in the absence of other Payroll Supervisors (Accountant II).
• Serves as backup to the CDHS Payroll Supervisors

Supports Subordinates and Other Team Members:

• This position supports the CDHS staff processing timekeeping and payroll for the assigned agencies

Other Duties:

• This position will maintain the filing for the facilities assigned payroll and timekeeping for biweekly and/or monthly employee files.
• This position will also assume other duties as assigned.

Option 1 (Minimum Qualifications) 

• Four (4) years of relevant experience in accounting which included timekeeping administration, payroll processing experience or closely related.

  
  
• Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.

Option 2 (Substitutions)  

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in accounting which included timekeeping administration, payroll processing or closely related equal to four (4) years

Conditions of Employment:

• [Standard/full] background check and reference check required

• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.

• Motor Vehicle Check , if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.

• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border

• Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date.  

• Other Conditions of Employment specific to Program

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

1. Disclose that information on the application.

2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

3. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.  

• You can find the official appeal form here. 

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email ([email protected]), or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or 

  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

•  Refer to the  Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. 

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.  The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

Required Supplemental Questions:

• (Multiple Choice) The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. 

  • Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

    • This information is available to me and I have read this information.

    • I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

• Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting  your application. Yes/No

• If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997…). Your application may be considered incomplete if you do not provide this information. An incomplete application may not move forward in the Selection process.  If you are a former or current state employee, please identify what state agency you work(ed) with and how many years of relevant state service you have related to the position you are applying for. (Ensure this is listed on your application under work experience).

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application.

In the space below, please explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify your application from the current position. 

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~