Child Support Financial Specialist

Ventura County • Ventura, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our agency's mission is to "Transform Lives Through the True Power of Child Support." The Ventura County Department of Child Support Services Program (VCDCSS) was established in 1975 to provide children with the financial, medical, and emotional support they need to help ensure a bright future. Child support payments help provide children with food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities. By providing the means for many families to meet their most basic financial needs, the program is a critical part of efforts to fight poverty in California. In addition, public assistance recipients are required to open a child support case, with collections being used to recoup the government's cost of providing that assistance. California's program is administered by 49 local child support agencies (called LCSAs) and operates under the oversight of the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS). DCSS is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in all departments.

Under direct supervision, performs analyses of child support received from parents paying support based on Federal and State laws and regulations. The Child Support Financial Specialist conducts detailed reviews and audits the allocation, distribution and disbursement of payments to determine if court orders have been properly executed and enforced. Child Support Financial Specialists analyze child support payments for proper allocation, distribution and disbursement based upon Federal and State rules and regulations, court orders, case status etc., and adjust collections and payments as needed.

Each successive level in the Child Support Financial Specialist series is distinguished by the specific assignments and level of independence. Incumbents in the I and II levels are primarily involved in manual distribution, opening and closing accounts. Incumbents at the III and IV levels are assigned the tasks of complex account management and payment distribution and leadership roles. The level of the position within the series is commensurate with the complexity of the tasks assigned within the discipline. In addition, security access to all automated systems increases with each position level.

Requirements

• One year of experience as a Child Support Distribution Specialist II OR three (3) years of comparable experience.
• College coursework with an emphasis in mathematics, economics, business, finance, or a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience on a year for year basis with thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal to one (1) year.
• Thorough working knowledge of: the state and federal regulations regarding child support collections and distributions; child support case management; Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA) regulations, aid history and status; staff training and mentoring; Child Support Enforcement (CSE) systems including child support legacy systems such as KIDZ and CASES, and HSA related systems Cal SAWS; statistical data collection, reporting and analyses; automated system data entry; fundamental math calculations; development and application of computer generated reports.
• Thorough working ability to: follow detailed instructions; analyze system data; identify case account discrepancies; prepare routine narrative and statistical reports; communicate effectively orally and in writing; interpret and comprehend legal documents; establish and maintain cooperative communication with people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and levels; create and understand computer generated reports; interpret legal documents and court orders; provide testimony in court and at state hearings; evaluate and trouble shoot automated system issues and interfaces; effectively communicate with and respond to the public, and other county or state agencies.

Nice To Haves

• Recent experience in the areas of finance, statistics, or accounting.
• Performing complex mathematical computations rapidly and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Performs analyses of child support received from parents paying support based on Federal and State laws and regulations.
• Conducts detailed reviews and audits the allocation, distribution and disbursement of payments to determine if court orders have been properly executed and enforced.
• Analyze child support payments for proper allocation, distribution and disbursement based upon Federal and State rules and regulations, court orders, case status etc., and adjust collections and payments as needed.
• Process complex financial tasks within CSE including modifications, registrations, consolidations, interstate case transfers, and updates to payees.
• Respond to inquiries and requests regarding financial processes from internal and external customers.
• Conduct comprehensive audits of accounts using State Audit Tool (SAT) and Legacy Data Archive (LDA) at the request of various governmental agencies, local and state.
• Research claims of forged endorsements and prepare affidavits of forgery.
• Cancel checks released in error.
• Reviews the collection of excess monies and determines if disbursements should be made to parents receiving support (PRS), parents paying support (PPS) or other interested parties.
• Reviews and interprets legal documents such as court orders, reports, and correspondence based on Federal and State child support laws and regulations relating to child support accounts.
• Research and process affidavits and stop payments utilizing various statewide programs.
• Review unidentified payments and determine the proper account for posting.
• Interprets Federal and State child support rules and regulations including assignment of support rights, allocation of payments in multiple cases, distribution and disbursement of monies collected based on Federal and State regulations, including hierarchy of payment priorities for obligations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification.
• Bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification skills.
• Telecommuting option following successful demonstration of competency in the position.
• Overtime compensation.

What This Job Offers

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