DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.

DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.

ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST 1

Job Location:

Division of Financial Operations
Accounting Administration
400 West Congress Suite 500, Tucson, Arizona 85711

Posting Details:

Salary: $29,822.00 – $42,702.00 Annually 

Grade: 16

Closing Date: November 12, 2025

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Financial Operations, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Accounting Specialist 1. This position is responsible for managing Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits received from the Social Security Administration, as well as other benefits such as those from Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement, Civil Service, stipends, and earnings. This role involves collaborating with various organizations, including DES/DDD Support Coordination, the DES/DDD Revenue Desk/Residential Billing, ALTCS, and qualified vendors and providers, to ensure that members' essential needs, such as housing, food, clothing, and medical care, are met. The Representative Payee Specialist is also tasked with daily monitoring of accounts and communicating with Support Coordination regarding accounts approaching the maximum federal resource limits. Additionally, the Accounting Specialist 1 prepares and submits reports for each assigned member, detailing how federal benefits are utilized, and reports any changes in circumstances to the Social Security Administration.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Collaborates with DES/DDD Support Coordination, DES/DDD Revenue Desk/Residential Billing, ALTCS, and qualified vendors and providers to ensure that members’ needs such as housing, food, clothing, and medical care are met.
  
• Reviewing, analyzing, monitoring, and maintaining accurate financial records for assigned members. Approve or deny requests for funds and expenditures, issues disbursements, establishes budgets and payment schedules and ensures spending plans set by Support Coordinators adheres to the budget.
  
• Identifies any Social Security Income or billing variances or discrepancies, and works towards expedient resolution. Monitor and communicate to Support Coordination of accounts approaching maximum the Federal allowable resource requirements.
  
• Prepares and submits reports for each assigned member accounting for the use of Federal benefits received and reports changes in circumstances to the Social Security Administration. Reports earnings, account information, and submits annual eligibility documents to Social Security and ALTCS, in order to maintain member’s eligibility for benefits.
  
• Frequently provides policy interpretation and guidance to DES/DDD Support Coordinators and Qualified Vendors/Providers with regard to use of funds, Federal and State eligibility requirements, valid expenditures and receipts, ledgers, return of funds, and completion of Social Security required forms.
  
• The Representative Payee Speci