Financial/Accounting Specialist III: Employee Travel

Position Information

Home to SXSW, Austin City Limits (ACL), and glorious natural springs and parks, Austin, Texas, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, as well as the Live Music Capital of the World. Austin is the historic state capital of Texas and is the location of the Texas Department of Transportation Headquarters. TxDOT's Financial Management Division is seeking a Financial/Accounting Specialist III for Employee Travel . Come join our team at our beautiful, new Stassney campus in Austin, where you will enjoy a hybrid work schedule (with minimal in-person days), covered employee parking, walking trails, on-site fitness center, coffee bar, and on-site cafeteria. We have a diverse workforce of over 13,000 employees statewide. If you want to build an exciting career, let's talk!

At TxDOT we value employee work-life-balance. In keeping with our commitment to this value our employees benefit from a wide array of programs and activities that include telework, flexed and compressed work schedules, wellness leave incentive, in-house fitness center, career development programs, tuition assistance, and various other benefits. For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hrd/careers/hidden_benefits.pdf

Stassney Campus:

https://youtu.be/u42vEZacDgA

Benefits and Perks

At TxDOT, we value employee work-life balance. In keeping with our commitment to this value, our employees benefit from a wide array of programs and activities that include:

• Low Turnover
• Retirement Pension
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Paid Leave/Holidays
• Health Premiums paid at 100% for full-time employees
• On the Job Training
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Comprehensive Wellness Program/Wellness Leave Incentives
• Career Development Programs/Opportunities for advancement

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package

To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)

Position Description

The Financial/Accounting Specialist III for Employee Travel reports to the Employee Payments Branch of the Financial Management division at our Stassney Headquarters. This role is responsible for completing various accounting related activities, including the payment of employee travel, airfare, car rentals, and DART card program expenses and reimbursements (along with related financial reporting). The Financial/Accounting Specialist III also serves as a subject matter expert with the Oracle PeopleSoft Travel and Expense module to audit employee travel expenses, review related reports and participate in travel meetings to provide guidance to agency travel coordinators and individual travelers. Work requires contact with employees across the department, as well as other governmental agencies. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties:

• Analyze, enter and process data into the Oracle PeopleSoft Travel and Expense Module and/or other financial modules and accounting systems.
• Respond to inquiries from travel vendors, contractors or other out of agency personnel regarding departmental financial transactions.
• Access TxDOT accounting systems to track status of travel and expense payments and other accounting transactions.
• Monitor divisional Tableau dashboards and reports and assists Travelers, Travel Coordinators and other department staff to resolve pending transactions in the PeopleSoft Travel and Expense Module.
• Provides technical assistance to travelers and/or travel coordinators and assist with the implementation of new systems/programs or enhancements to existing systems/programs.
• Review and audit employee travel expense reports and provides training and guidance on complex Travel related accounts and activities.
• Communicates Department Travel policies and procedures to district or division personnel and/or provides training.
• Examines accounting or travel source documents for accuracy, completeness and compliance with departmental and state rules, regulations and agreements.
• Investigates and reconciles complex accounting discrepancies related to Travel.
• Responsible for handling complex accounts or transactions related to Travel Expense, Citibank Airfare, Direct bill hotels and Hotel Engine.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business-related discipline. Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Experience: 2 years accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, auditing experience. (Experience can be satisfied by fulltime or prorated part-time equivalent).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, etc. highly preferred.

Competencies:

Extensive knowledge of -

• Auditing and investigative methods, practices and procedures related to state travel documents
• Generally accepted accounting principles, procedures and terminology
• Applicable State of Texas laws, rules, and regulations related to employee travel
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers.
• Maintains effective working relationships with others
• Experience with PeopleSoft (CAPPS) Travel or AP modules or other ERP systems
• Presents Travel information using PowerPoint, Teams meetings or in person
• Experience with Teams, Zoom or other messaging apps

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Sitting - prolonged periods of time
• Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)