Accountant 1 (General Accounting and Defined Contribution Plans Division)

Are you a self-motivated accountant who is organized, takes pride in your work, and can manage deadlines and multiple priorities?  Are you proficient in Microsoft Excel, and do you appreciate collaborating and making meaningful contributions to your team?  If so, then you have come to the right place!  The Office of Financial Management of the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) invites you to apply today to join our defined benefit plan team in the General Accounting and Defined Contribution Plans Division (GADCP).The individual in this position plays a key role in the GADCP of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) at SERS. The position is a member of a small team that focuses on performing general accounting duties for the Defined Benefit Plan. The position assists with the processing of routine transactions such as processing employer/member contribution payments and cash activity for the plan.
Key responsibilities as an Accountant 1 include:

• Ledger Transactions: Record, classify, and post transactions to the general ledger
• Contribution Processing: Handle checks and electronic payments received from SERS employers
• Cash Movement: Perform daily cash movement tasks to ensure agreement with PA Treasury records
• Journal Entries: Prepare and post journal entries to maintain accurate financial reporting
• Account Reconciliation: Complete reconciliations as part of monthly and annual financial statement preparation
• Data Compilation: Compile financial information for reports, surveys, and information requests

Interested in learning more? Additional details can be found in the position description.
About SERS: Established in 1923, SERS is one of the nation's oldest retirement plans for public employees and manages the pension benefits of more than 246,000 employees and retirees for 96 public sector employers. In 2025, SERS paid more than $4.0 billion in benefits and managed nearly $50 billion in assets. Additional information is available at www.SERS.pa.gov.
 
Our mission is to prepare our members and participants to achieve financial security in retirement. We achieve this through focusing on our mission, acting ethically and with integrity, empowering our members, embracing innovation, fostering life work balance, modeling an inclusive and respectful workplace, valuing and developing team members, collaborating, and finding joy in our work. 
 
SERS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified individuals to our team.  We are committed to an inclusive and respectful work environment that fosters personal and professional growth, embraces the contributions of all team members, and leverages diversity in people, ideas, and experiences to achieve our highest potential.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5-hour work week, Monday through Friday. 
• A work schedule beginning and ending between 8:00 a.m.  - 5:00 p.m., inclusive, with a half-hour or one-hour unpaid meal period will be considered, dependent on operational requirements.  The requested work schedule may not end prior to 4:00 p.m.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time (hybrid telework schedule), depending on operational needs. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you must work on-site at the work location specified in this job posting. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable. 
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Commonwealth's Accounting Intern Program; or
• One year as a Fiscal Technician (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration), and fifteen college credits in accounting; or
• One year as a Financial Programs Trainee (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Five years of Bookkeeping experience and fifteen college credits in accounting; or
• A Bachelor's Degree including or supplemented by fifteen credits in accounting.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines. 
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements: 

• You must pass a background investigation.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position. 
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions. 
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.