Review Vacancy
AgencyTeachers' Retirement System
TitleSenior Accountant/Accountant Trainee (NY HELPS)
Occupational CategoryFinancial, Accounting, Auditing
Bargaining UnitCSEA Local 658 (NYS Teachers’ Retirement System)
Salary RangeFrom $76378 to $99656 Annually
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Duties Description Position Summary:
The Finance Department is seeking to fill a total of three (3) Senior Accountant/Accountant Trainee vacancies. These positions will work under the direction of an Associate Accountant and will perform duties related to financial management operations and may be required to supervise subordinate staff.
One vacancy exists in each of the following units:
Finance Systems - Assist with improving financial processes, support the new ERP system and implement finance software.
Financial Accounting & Reporting - Provide support for multiple financial reports, OPEB accounting and account reconciliation reviews.
Payment Integrity - Assist in identifying pension overpayments, ensure controlled processes for payments and perform compliance testing.
Job Duties:
The duties of the Senior Accountant/Accountant Trainee include, but are not limited to, the following:
Finance Systems Unit:
Evaluate current business processes and systems for improvement, automation, and efficiency
Research new accounting/finance technology and systems to improve operations
Act as subject matter expert for the implementation of new/improved finance-related technology and systems
Build and maintain a strong knowledge of the automated accounting systems used by NYSTRS
Gather and communicate operational and functionality needs to business analysts, project managers, and IT developers
Liaise with customer departments to identify ways to better integrate processes to increase compliance and efficiency
Submit Finance Department IT demands
Track and update the Finance Department’s portfolio of IT projects and demands
Maintain documentation for finance systems and assist in providing training to end-users
Coordinate or assist in testing changes to Finance Department systems and processes
Perform operational accounting duties, including journal entries and account reconciliations
Financial Accounting & Reporting Unit:
Accounting activities related to the System’s OPEB trust fund
Journal entries
Accounting for fixed and intangible assets
Review of journal entries before they are posted to the general ledger
Account reconciliation, review, and tracking
Preparation of quarterly and annual financial statements for the System and the System OPEB trust fund
Assist with the preparation and issuance of external financial reporting, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, OPEB Basic Financial Statements, GASB 68 Report, MWBE Financial Report, Popular Financial Report, and annual NYS Department of Financial Services annual filing
Assist with the annual independent financial statement audit
Preparation and presentation of financial information and reports for internal use and management decision-making
Coordinate user access to the software used for financial reporting
Payment Integrity Unit:
Manage and monitor unpaid retirement benefit account balances
Manage and monitor unclaimed and abandoned funds account balances
Work with multiple units and/or departments throughout the month to ensure members and/or beneficiaries are properly identified before sending payments
Conduct due diligence needed to locate a member with whom we’ve lost contact or believe to be deceased
Process Death Match results
Collaborate with the Finance Operations and Payroll Units within Finance to ensure that funds are released in an appropriate and timely manner
Maintain statistics related to various death reporting mechanisms NYSTRS employs
Approve changes made to supplier records
Assist with administration of the procurement card program
Create and maintain standard operating and desk procedures for the Payment Integrity Team
Minimum Qualifications Minimum Qualifications
EITHER: 1) Reachable on the Civil Service eligible list; OR 2) Eligible for reassignment by virtue of having permanent competitive service as a Senior Accountant (SG-18); OR 3) Eligible for transfer under the provisions of the Civil Service Law by virtue of having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title.
To be appointed via the NY HELPS program, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
The position of Accountant Trainee is a two-year traineeship leading to a salary grade 18 (Senior Accountant). The first year of the traineeship is equated to a Grade 14. The second year of the traineeship is equated to a Grade 16.
Accountant Trainee 1 (Grade 14):
Either 1. A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation; OR
2. A bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses.
Accountant Trainee 2 (Grade 16):
Either 1. A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation OR a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses AND one year of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles; OR
2. A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation may substitute for one year of experience.
Senior Accountant (Grade 18):
Either 1. A bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester credit hours in accounting, auditing, or taxation courses AND two years of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles; OR
2. A master's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or taxation AND one year of professional experience in accounting/auditing or financial internal or field auditing, where you were responsible for the full range of activities in the design and/or review, analysis and management of accounting systems, resulting in the preparation of, or recommendations on, financial statements in accord with generally accepted accounting principles; OR
3. A currently valid Certified Public Accountant license and registration issued by New York State.
(NOTE: Courses such as business law, economics, statistics, and most finance courses, although taken as part of an accounting curriculum, cannot be counted toward the 24 semester credit hours.)
(Experience NOT considered qualifying are activities restricted to teaching, bookkeeping, maintaining/auditing payroll records or accounts receivable/accounts payable, or preparing tax returns.)
Additional Comments To be considered for a position at NYSTRS, you must apply through our applicant portal. You can find the link to our open positions here: https://www.nystrs.org/careers/job-opportunities/
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Applications received after 5:00 pm will not be considered.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address recruitment@nystrs.org
Address
Street 10 Corporate Woods Drive
Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for a position at NYSTRS, you must apply through our applicant portal. You can find the link to our open positions here: https://www.nystrs.org/careers/job-opportunities/
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Applications received after 5:00 pm will not be considered.