Accountant 5 (ACPE)

Job Description

Are you seeking a unique State of Alaska accounting position?

Do you enjoy working independently and managing a dedicated team?

Do you believe supporting Alaska’s students in their educational path a worthwhile endeavor?

If you answered yes to these questions, you are encouraged to apply for this position!

Position Summary:

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is seeking an Accountant 5 as a subject matter expert on the financial aspects of Alaska Student Loan Corporation (ASLC) loans and Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE); the platforms used to originate and service loans, account for balances, and report activity; and the structures necessary to establish efficient and accurate controls and reporting. This position is responsible for completion and coordination of work efforts of loan-related disclosures and workpapers in the financial statements for the ASLC.

This position supervises staff responsible for recording and tracking financial activity on the loans in the general ledger (IRIS); confirming the timeliness and accuracy of loans originated and financial activity recorded in the subsidiary ledger (COMPASS); and analyzing, monitoring, maintaining, and reporting on loan related assets, liabilities, equities, revenues and expenditures recorded in multiple funds and within multiple bank accounts.

Why Join Our Team:

Mission:

ACPE provides sustainable solutions for college, career and technical training. We are a collaborative team that supports one another. We actively support and model ACPE’s values:

Service, Innovation, Empowerment, Quality, and Accountability

.

For more information about ACPE, our mission and our services, visit our website at:

http://acpe.alaska.gov

Culture:

We value continuous learning and growth. ACPE is the State’s postsecondary education agency, promoting access to, and success in, education and career training after high school. We are Alaska’s trusted higher education agency; our purpose is to serve Alaskans. We operate with integrity in everything we do.

Professional Growth:

We support training for employees and have opportunities for upward mobility. ACPE seeks engaged candidates who are eager to expand their knowledge and skills. We are committed to providing the training and support needed for the right candidate to succeed.

Office Location:

This position is located in Juneau. ACPE’s Juneau office is located in the Vintage Business Park area of Mendenhall Valley; conveniently close to public transportation and we have ample parking available.

Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule

: This position offers a flexible/hybrid work schedule. However, during the probationary period, employees are required to work full-time, in person, at the Juneau office, Monday through Friday. For more information, please review the State of Alaska

Telework Policy.

Upon successfully completing the probationary period, employees become eligible to telework from Juneau, AK. Employees may telework up to four days per week and work in-person at the Anchorage or Juneau office one day per week. Currently, all staff work in-office on Wednesday; this schedule may change based on agency needs, operational needs, special projects, meetings, or other job responsibilities that may require employees to work in the office more frequently. Employees should be prepared to report to the office as needed.

Benefits:

As a State of Alaska employee, you may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Actual benefits vary based on bargaining unit, position type, and full – or part-time status.

For complete information about insurance, retirement, and leave benefits, visit the

State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits

website.

Insurance Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions

• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance (additional optional coverage may be available)

• Optional insurance plans, including long- and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), long-term care, and supplemental survivor benefits

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits:

• Membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) or Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), as applicable

• Employer contributions to defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, depending on date of hire

• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity in lieu of Social Security

• Optional participation in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program

Paid Leave and Other Benefits:

• Personal leave that increases with years of service

• Twelve paid State holidays each year

What You’ll Do:

Manage, serve as primary source of staff coverage and review work of staff responsible for education loan payments, scholarship/grant and education loan funding, education loan disbursements and refunds, accurate recording of all activity to the general ledger, tracking and clearing deposit activity, transferring loan receipts from depository bank account to proper bank account, reconciling the depository bank account and various balance sheet accounts.

Finance liaison for loan servicer (AES) responsible for: understanding and relaying updates to the loan servicing guidelines or other documents, managing finance loan related oversight and monitoring tasks, understanding AES’s financial and administrative processes and reports, and constructing tools and resources for finance staff in relation to the servicer’s loan data.

Manage and review work of staff responsible for monitoring federal loan reporting required by USDOE; paying/depositing of net SAP and Interest Benefits; validating federal loan repurchases; tracking federal consolidations and claims, properly recording related entries in IRIS, and the preparation of the schedule of federal financial assistance related to participation in federal loan programs, and the annual federal awards report for the ASLC.

Assist with the coordination of efforts to manage the preparation of loan related audit schedules that support ASLC financial statements which includes but is not limited to: liaison for loan related tasks; coordinate staff schedules and assignments; review partner SOC I reports and document results; ensure user entity controls are in place and documented; ensure loan and origination support documentation is accurate; document and/or provide partner and loan related process overviews; manage and review work of staff responsible for loan related disclosures and workpapers, including preparing workpapers used to support the estimate loan and interest loss allowances and reconciling the education loan system to the general ledger.

Assist staff with developing, updating and implementing processes and procedures to comply with governing rules and regulations, eliminate duplication of effort, enhance efficiencies and ensure sound financial and internal control practices. Edit, approve, publish, and ensure accuracy and maintenance of procedures, guides, tools, forms on ACPE’s SharePoint site.

Research issues, test and implement updates, maintain mapping documents, and relay changes between AES, ACPE, and DOA (IRIS only) related to IRIS and InfoCentre structures. Manage and assist staff responsible for creating, editing, and publishing ALDER reports for the Finance loans unit and intermittently payable/budget unit. Design, implement and maintain structures for various systems used by loan staff: IRIS and Infocentre.

Manage and review work of staff responsible for calculating and recording subsidized interest on non-Federal loans accurately.

Serve as Finance representative (in-person and via MS Teams) on agency wide projects as needed and manage and support staff participating in loan-related projects, such as: annual write-offs, PFD garnishments, and new year loan offerings.

Other duties as assigned, including ad hoc and routine loan data analysis and reporting.

What We’re Looking For – D