Budget Coordinator

State of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas. Children's Trust, operating under the Executive Office of Education, is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in Massachusetts. Our mission is to partner with organizations and communities to drive systemic change that addresses the root causes of child abuse and neglect. We provide high-quality programs and services, deliver training and technical assistance to the family support workforce, and work towards systems change, enabling MA children to grow up safe and thrive. Our values of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and celebrating successes are at the core of the work we do. The Budget Coordinator serves as a critical analytical and operational leader within the Finance Unit, providing comprehensive oversight of financial management operations across state and federal funding streams. This position is responsible for strategic budget administration, financial policy implementation, and fiscal compliance across multiple complex systems including MMARS, federal grant programs, and nonprofit financial platforms. The successful candidate will serve as the primary technical expert and liaison for budget operations, coordinating financial activities across agency units and external stakeholders including the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, legislative budget offices, and federal grant agencies. This position requires advanced analytical capabilities to develop spending projections, conduct policy impact analyses, and provide actionable financial intelligence that directly supports executive decision-making and strategic planning. The Budget Coordinator exercises independent judgment in managing complex budget transfers, ensuring compliance with state financial regulations and federal grant requirements, and providing critical financial oversight for both state agency operations and 501(c)(3) activities. This role demands a sophisticated understanding of governmental accounting principles, legislative processes, and the ability to translate complex fiscal data into clear recommendations for senior leadership and external partners. The position plays an essential role in maximizing the impact of agency resources through effective financial planning, forecasting, and strategic resource allocation to meet critical operational and programmatic needs. This position is funded through June 2028. The candidate will work a hybrid schedule, with a mix of remote and in-office work at the Children's Trust office in Boston.

Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in accounting or auditing, of with at least (B) three years must have been in a supervisory, administrative or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Nice To Haves

Advanced proficiency in MMARS system operations and reporting
Strong QuickBooks knowledge and ability to provide user support
Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and reporting
Knowledge of state and federal government compliance regulations and accounting principles
3 years of demonstrated analytical skills including the ability to recognize and forecast trends in data
Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in financial data management
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Excellent communication skills for presenting complex financial information
Ability to work independently while maintaining collaborative relationships
Project management skills to handle multiple priorities and deadlines
Experience with and understanding of nonprofit financial regulations and audit requirements
Experience with financial system implementations or upgrades
Strong understanding of the Massachusetts state budget cycle and key players
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
Demonstrated project management experience

Responsibilities

Recommend and implement new reporting and systems of budget management across the organization
Execute budget transfers in both MMARS and internal financial systems
Conduct thorough analysis to ensure all transfers are necessary, justified, and align with operational needs
Develop and monitor spending projections across both caseload and programmatic accounts
Determine projected expenditures and/or revise agency spending plans
Perform comprehensive budget quality control reviews and provide detailed reporting to senior leadership
Generate regular and ad-hoc financial reports to support decision-making processes
Establish and maintain reporting cadences that educate staff on spending patterns and budget performance
Provide proactive follow-up with departments regarding budget variances and spending concerns
Prepare cost/benefit analyses and talking points on policy initiatives and proposed legislation
Implement and/or review accounting procedures consistent with agency laws, rules and regulations and GAAP in order to control agency expenditures, to ensure consistency of accounting activities and to establish standards for performance
Make recommendations on cost savings initiatives and program expansion proposals
Execute encumbrance processes in MMARS with precision and timeliness
Support the APO (Allotment and Pre-encumbrance Online) process for all staff utilizing Checkbook system
Monitor and analyze encumbrance activities through comprehensive reporting mechanisms
Process complex MMARS transactions including BGTS (Budget Transfers), LARQ (Line Adjustment Requests), EX's (Expenditure transactions), DEPTEs (Department Expenditures), and POAA (Purchase Order Award Adjustment) rules
Ensure all transactions comply with state financial regulations and internal policies
Analyze payroll, travel, and contractor expenditures to identify trends and potential issues
Develop and maintain comprehensive tracking documents for all major expense categories
Collaborate with department managers and stakeholders to provide accurate financial projections
Present findings and recommendations to leadership with clear, actionable insights
Participate in crafting budgets, briefs, strategic communications, and spending plans
Supply analysis for any mid-year budget increases or reductions
Track legislation and provide analysis of impacts for annual budget
Assist with evaluation and summary of legislation and policy with fiscal implications
Establish and manage Interagency Service Agreements within MMARS
Review and validate budget allocations for reasonableness and necessity
Coordinate with external agencies to ensure proper financial documentation and compliance
Act as liaison between the agency and fiscal/budget staff within relevant state offices
Collaborate with agency staff to create fact sheets and narratives explaining agency initiatives
Respond to budget-related inquiries from external stakeholders
Provide documentation, reporting, samples to outsourced non-profit auditors for the organization's 501(c)(3) arm
Deliver QuickBooks guidance, training, and technical support to ensure accurate financial record-keeping
Maintain separation of funds and ensure compliance with nonprofit financial regulations
Review all requests for funds to ensure agency resources are spent in a manner that purchases the best services for the best value
Communicate and collaborate with managers across agency units on a regular basis regarding budget expectations and expenditures
Provide analysis and prepare materials for projects which need budget information
Lead with creation of charts, graphs, and data for board or leadership presentations
Assist senior leadership with preparing presentations, fiscal policy strategies, and implementation of strategic priorities

Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

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