Business Manager I

Cook County • Chicago, IL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, the Budget Director, and Director of Department of Corrections (DOC) Business Office and Supply Chain Management, the Business Manager I is responsible for performing everyday management of all payment cycle activities. This includes keeping track of, processing, and reconciling payments and expenditures, such as purchase orders, invoices, statements, checks, and refund requisitions, in compliance with financial policies and procedures. The role also involves performing accounting work connected with these functions for various Sheriff’s funds and maintaining financial records by accurately recording day-to-day financial transactions.

Requirements

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years full-time paid practical work experience utilizing the skills, knowledge, and ability of an advanced bookkeeper, comparable to those characterized herein and applicable to area of assignment.
• Technical skills and experience with intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access and Oracle.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Attention to detail the ability to accurately review and enter data, ensuring that invoices and payments are processed correctly.
• Strong organizational skill the capacity to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical skills the ability to reconcile accounts, identify discrepancies and resolve issues in timely manner.
• Excellent communication skills, the competence to effectively communicate with vendors suppliers and internal stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Problem-solving abilities, the aptitude to identify and resolve issues independently, or escalate them to the appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Time management skills, the capability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Ethics and Integrity, the commitment to maintaining high ethical standards and handling sensitive financial information confidentially.
• Significant experience with basic accounting procedures.
• Solid practical experience in operating spreadsheets and accounting software.
• Excellent data entry numerical solid understanding of basic bookkeeping principles.
• Hands-on experience with spreadsheets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• High accuracy skills and close attention to detail.
• Ability to calculate and manage accounting figures.
• Prepare correspondence using personal computer.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask.
• General knowledge of basic accounting principles, methods, and procedures.
• Ability to follow and apply general and special instructions and procedures.
• Initiative and resourcefulness in forwarding essential information to superiors for further action.
• Good attention to detail, ability to proof, verify and edit complex data, transcribe, and cross reference data from a CRT screen and documents.
• Ability to write and communicate in a complete and concise manner.
• Skill and proficiency in the use of keyboard as applied to the operation of typewriters, word processors and CRT terminals.
• Ability to meet level of responsibility for planning laying out individual assignments.
• Skill and/or ability to maintain and balance a cash drawer and accurately account for money or payments received.
• Ability to follow-up in a thorough and timely manner, relative to unresolved business.
• Good communication skills: ability to gather information from taxpayers and convey information.
• Skill and accuracy in the control, organization and maintenance of files and records according to various methods.
• Ability to coordinate several tasks and perform well under pressure, plan and conduct multiple assignments within specified time frame/deadlines.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• This position requires successful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and/or medical examination.

Nice To Haves

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting or related field
• Experience working in a public sector.
• Previous internship at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Responsibilities

• Ensure correct approval, sorting, coding, and matching of invoices/receipts.
• Liaise and communicate with internal and external clients.
• Regularly tabulate data.
• Compile and present necessary reports.
• Process and enter invoices into the accounting system ensuring that all relevant information is accurately recorded.
• Review and process all inmate welfare expenditure and asset forfeiture requests.
• Maintain all documents for inmate welfare and asset forfeiture approvals in a systematic manner.
• Investigate and resolve any irregularities or enquiries in invoices.
• Reconcile and verify source documents such as invoices, receipts, and computer printouts.
• Process accounts and incoming payments in compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Reconcile the accounts receivable ledger to ensure that all payments are accounted for and properly posted.
• Verify discrepancies.
• Facilitate payment of invoices due by sending bill reminders and contacting clients.
• Post receipts in a timely manner.
• Organize bills and invoices.
• Update financial spreadsheets with daily transactions.
• Assist with financial data entry and general bookkeeping.
• Manage data, records, and reports by checking for errors and verifying accuracy of information.
• Attend and take notes at all financial department meetings.
• Assist with audits as necessary.
• Adhere to current accounting/finance laws and regulations.
• Monitor, control, and maintain financial activity of accounts.
• Ensure expenditures are posted to proper accounts.
• Identify, research, and correct questionable expenditures.
• Perform clerical functions incidental to accounting activities.
• Assist the financial management team with budget planning and expense analysis.
• Coordinate daily financial tasks with the financial management team to optimize workflow.
• Maintain an organized office environment.
• Maintain a complete filing system to support financial records.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.
• Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year. Employees who are active at the beginning of the fiscal year (December 1st) also qualify for a floating holiday.
• Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.
• Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.
• Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.
• Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten (10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.
• Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree