Financial Specialist for School Finance

TITLE: Financial Specialist for School Funding
STATUS: Permanent, Full-time
ANNUAL SALARY: $47,766.38
CLOSING DATE: July 23, 2018
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS: Yes

POSITION NO: 351-00641
DEPARTMENT: Office of Public Instruction
DIVISION: School Finance
LOCATION: Helena, Montana
RETIREMENT: PERS
UNION: MPEA

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING: Only the information you submit on your attached resume and supplemental questions will be reviewed to determine if you meet the qualifications. The State of Montana Careers system application will not be considered in this process.

To apply for this position you must attach the required resume and supplemental questions as separate documents. Supplemental questions located at the bottom of this job announcement are required . Materials not requested in this vacancy announcement will not be considered. (Example: Transcripts and Letters of Reference) Required materials must be received or postmarked by midnight (Mountain Time Zone) on the closing date in order to be considered.

Your resume must include the following information:
• Education
• All relevant work history, listing employment in chronological order in a month/year format with the most recent job first.
• Supervisor’s name and phone number for each job.
• Detailed description of the duties for each job, including hours per week, and the reason why you separated.

Applicants claiming employment preference are required to submit proper documentation to opipersonnel@mt.gov in order to receive any preferences. If you indicate your preference status while completing your application process, the system will generate an e-mail with instructions on how to submit the required preference documents.

Procedures to be used in evaluating an applicant’s qualifications may include, but not limited to, a resume, supplemental questions, an oral interview, skills based testing and reference checks.

If accommodation for disability is needed during the application or interview processes, please contact the OPI Human Resource Office at (406) 444-2673 or opipersonnel@mt.gov.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction is an equal opportunity employer. Women (and/or) minorities are under-represented in this position and are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

ADDITIONAL SALARY AND BENEFIT INFORMATION: This is a Public Employee Retirement position. Full-time employees earn 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, state holidays, health and dental benefits and life insurance. They also receive access to a defined benefit - contribution retirement. More information can be found at mt.gov.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The OPI’s School Finance Division is responsible for distributing state aid to Montana public schools, setting standards for the accounting system used by these schools, verifying school expenditures are in compliance with statute and administrative rules, analyzing public school financial data for the legislature and others, interpreting statutes in support of public schools, and reporting data to the U.S. Department of Education. The division utilizes complex software to support its collection, analysis, and reporting of school financial data. Division staff frequently appear before legislative committees and the Montana Board of Public Education. The division is a key resource for schools in setting financial policy, resolving disputes, and educating business managers and clerks.

The Financial Specialist position provides support to the following activities:

• Reviewing annual financial statements and budgets submitted by school districts and then verifying the statements and budgets comply with Montana statutes and administrative rules.
• Reviewing special education expenditures for compliance with federal maintenance of effort rules and local matching rules.
• Calculating and preparing monthly payments to schools considering state funding statutes and enrollment data provided by the school districts.
• Providing technical information, instruction and assistance to school districts, county officials, school district auditors, Legislators, parents, taxpayers, professional bond advisors, and others on a broad range of complex school finance topics.
• Staying current with GASB rulings and understanding their application to school financial practices.
• Testing and implementing changes to the software used by the division to collect financial data and establish budgets in line with regulations.
• Other duties as necessary.



Qualifications:


COMPETENCIES:

1. Knowledge of GAAP accounting and the ability to evaluate GASB rulings and apply to school district accounting issues.
2. Understanding of information systems and their application to the management of large fiscal programs.
3. Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
4. Ability to interpret fiscal records, compile data and prepare fiscal reports.
5. Ability to understand the needs of a diverse set of clients and to communicate policy guidance clearly and effectively.
6. Ability to work in stressful situations and meet tight deadlines

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:A combination of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or another related field of study and at least 1 year of experience in governmental budgeting, accounting and/or auditing, or 3 years of experience in governmental budgeting, accounting and/or auditing. Other combinations of education and experience in governmental budgeting, accounting and/or auditing, preferably with school districts, will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS: The supplemental question(s) are scored in a separate phase and are required for this vacancy announcement. Supplemental questions are evaluated on their own merit without referring to your resume, so it is important to provide specific information regarding names of employers, dates, job titles, etc. List the position title and your name at the top of each page. The suggested response is a minimum of ½ a page, but no more than 2 pages per question.

Once you have answered the following supplemental questions, you must upload your responses into the State of Montana recruiting system.

1. Describe your education and work experience(s) in accounting, budgeting, and/or auditing. Include any experience in government or school accounting, budgeting and/or auditing. Be specific in describing the number of years you have been employed in each related position.

2. Do you want to be informed before we contact your present employer?



Eligible Training Assignment:

47,766.38