Accountant-(FMS-SDP)

US Accountant – FMS-SDP

Department: Financial Management Services (FMS) – Self-Determination Program (SDP)
Position: US Accountant
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: FMS/Finance Leadership
Work Arrangement: Remote
Location: United States

Position Summary:

The US Accountant – FMS-SDP is responsible for supporting the financial, accounting, payroll, and compliance functions of HR Alliance’s Financial Management Services (FMS) operations supporting participants in the Self-Determination Program (SDP).

This position ensures accurate financial records, timely reconciliations, proper payroll and expense accounting, and compliance with applicable accounting standards, payroll requirements, tax regulations, Regional Center requirements, and internal HR Alliance policies.

The US Accountant works closely with FMS Coordinators, payroll and finance personnel, participants/employers, service providers, and other internal departments to ensure that financial transactions are processed accurately and that participant funds are properly accounted for.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Management:

• Maintain accurate accounting records for FMS-SDP operations.
• Record and review financial transactions, journal entries, accruals, adjustments, and account classifications.
• Perform bank, payroll, accounts payable, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between accounting records, payroll records, participant budgets, invoices, and payments.
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing activities.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for financial transactions.
• Prepare financial schedules, reconciliations, and reports for management.
• Monitor outstanding accounting items and ensure timely resolution.

FMS-SDP Financial Administration:

• Support the financial administration of participant-directed services under the Self-Determination Program.
• Review financial activity associated with participant/employer accounts.
• Assist in ensuring payments are consistent with authorized services, approved budgets, and applicable program requirements.
• Reconcile participant funding, service expenditures, payroll costs, reimbursements, and related transactions.
• Identify potential overpayments, duplicate payments, funding discrepancies, or unsupported transactions and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Coordinate with FMS Coordinators to resolve participant, employer, employee, or service-provider financial issues.
• Maintain accurate financial documentation needed to support Regional Center billing, reconciliation, reporting, and audits.

Payroll Accounting:

• Review payroll-related accounting transactions for accuracy and completeness.
• Reconcile payroll registers to accounting records and funding information.
• Verify payroll expenses, employer payroll taxes, deductions, reimbursements, and related liabilities.
• Assist with resolving payroll discrepancies involving participants/employers and their employees.
• Coordinate with payroll personnel to ensure payroll transactions are properly recorded in the accounting system.
• Support payroll-related month-end and year-end reconciliations.

Accounts Payable & Payment Review:

• Review invoices, reimbursement requests, and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Verify appropriate approvals and supporting records prior to payment processing.
• Ensure expenses are properly coded and allocated to the appropriate participant, program, account, or cost center.
• Research and resolve vendor/service-provider payment discrepancies.
• Assist with payment reconciliations and outstanding payable items.

Tax & Regulatory Compliance:

• Support compliance with applicable federal and state payroll and accounting requirements.
• Assist with payroll tax reconciliations and required financial documentation.
• Support preparation and reconciliation of applicable year-end payroll and tax reporting.
• Maintain organized records supporting audits, tax filings, Regional Center reviews, and compliance requests.
• Work with management and external accounting/tax professionals when additional documentation or reconciliation is required.
• Maintain confidentiality of participant, employee, payroll, banking, and financial information.

Financial Reporting & Audit Support:

• Prepare recurring financial and reconciliation reports for management.
• Assist with financial audits, program reviews, and Regional Center requests.
• Compile supporting schedules and documentation requested by auditors or management.
• Identify unusual transactions, accounting inconsistencies, or control weaknesses and communicate them to management.
• Assist with implementing corrective actions resulting from accounting reviews or audits.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement:

• Follow established accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Assist with developing and improving FMS accounting procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Recommend improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, accountability, and financial controls.
• Maintain clear audit trails and organized financial records.
• Collaborate with FMS, payroll, operations, and leadership to improve financial workflows.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional experience in accounting, bookkeeping, payroll accounting, or financial operations.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Understanding of payroll accounting, account reconciliation, accounts payable, and general ledger processes.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel or comparable spreadsheet applications.
• Experience working with accounting and/or payroll software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and financial priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential financial and employee information appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA, CPA candidate, or equivalent accounting credential.
• Experience with Financial Management Services (FMS), participant-directed services, Medicaid-funded programs, or California Regional Centers.
• Familiarity with California’s Self-Determination Program (SDP).
• Experience with payroll tax reconciliations and multi-state payroll/accounting.
• Experience supporting audits or regulatory reviews.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookup functions, reconciliations, and financial analysis.
• Experience working in a remote and cross-functional environment.

Core Competencies:

• Accounting Accuracy.
• Financial Reconciliation.
• Payroll & Tax Knowledge.
• Regulatory Compliance.
• Analytical Thinking.
• Attention to Detail.
• Confidentiality.
• Problem Solving.
• Organization & Time Management.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration.
• Documentation & Recordkeeping.
• Accountability.

Performance Expectations:

Success in this position will be measured by:

• Accuracy and timeliness of accounting records and reconciliations.
• Accurate reconciliation of payroll and participant-related financial activity.
• Timely identification and resolution of financial discrepancies.
• Compliance with accounting, payroll, FMS-SDP, and internal requirements.
• Quality and completeness of audit and financial documentation.
• Responsiveness to FMS Coordinators and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain organized and audit-ready financial records.
• Contribution to improving financial controls and FMS accounting processes.

Physical & Work Requirements:

• Ability to perform computer-based accounting and administrative work for extended periods.
• Ability to participate in virtual meetings and communicate effectively in a remote work environment.
• Reliable internet access and ability to maintain a secure and confidential remote workspace.