APD Financial Analyst

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.   Reporting directly to the Information Technology Project Management Office (PMO) Advanced Planning Documents (APD) Director, the PMO Senior Financial Analyst is responsible for drafting, editing, and revising complex technical documents—including APDs and supporting documentation to various stakeholders. Collaborating with agency budget, accounting, finance, IT, and program divisions, the Senior IT Federal Programs Analyst interprets financial data related to IT APDs and devises robust methodologies for assessing state costs associated with HHSC initiatives. Responsibilities include collecting, organizing, and analyzing financial information to generate reports and forecasts concerning state expenditures and staffing needs for various projects and providing highly advanced consultative services and technical assistance to stakeholders.  This position routinely collaborates with agency Federal Partners, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service (USDA/FNS), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) among others, to achieve compliance objectives. Working closely with teams from budget, accounting, finance, IT, and program divisions, the PMO Senior Financial Analyst clarifies financial data for IT APDs and develops effective methodologies for evaluating state costs associated with HHSC projects and financial programs. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: The selected candidate(s) will compile expenditure data, create budget tracking mechanisms, and monitor IT APDs to alert appropriate parties when project spending nears CMS-approved limits or remains below expectations. Delivering expert consultative services and technical support, the selected candidate(s) must operate with proficiency in software applications including CAPPS and Project and Portfolio Management, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and related tools.  A successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional oral and written communication abilities, along with strong knowledge of project management practices, business workflows, and technical systems. This position functions with a high degree of independence, requiring initiative and sound professional judgment. This full-time position (40 hours per week) may require work beyond standard hours and includes additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance or related field from an accredited four-year college or university.
• At least three years’ experience in budget, accounting, auditing, or financial compliance.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis
• Skill with computer software including Excel, CAPPS, and other governmental financial or human resources applications
• Skill in monitoring and analyzing budgets and preparing financial requests and reports
• Advanced skill with written and oral communication and the ability to communicate with all levels of an organization in a variety of formats.
• Skill in process identification and improvement
• Skill in coordinating and problem-solving
• Skill in managing multiple and competing priorities
• Skill in preparing financial reports and conducting financial analysis including data modeling
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Ability to analyze complex information.
• Ability to develop plans to address identified issues.
• Ability to demonstrate negotiation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to think creatively and support creative thinking in others.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to effectively manage, motivate and build effective work teams.
• Ability to accurately interpret data, evaluate reports and make timely and effective decisions.
• Ability to organize and present information effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and deliver results in an environment of broad, consultative management.
• Ability to adapt to change or modify behavior in response to changes in situations or priorities.
• Ability to analyze, and develop solutions complex issues
• Ability to report on performance measurements
• Ability to organize workload, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Ability to prepare financial reports with clarity and accuracy
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with staff, agencies, and management
• Ability to perform and interpret numerical analyses;
• Ability to interpret statutes and analyze and summarize financial and management records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules, and regulations;
• Ability to prepare reports and correspondence regarding findings and communicate effectively
• Ability to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to administer financial processes and systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with the State of Texas and federal accounting, budgeting and/or financial practices and operations is preferred.
• Previous experience with Medicaid, WIC, CHIP, or similar programs is preferred
• Knowledge of Enhanced Federal Funding and/or Advanced Planning Documents  requests is preferred.
• Experience developing and/or analyzing financial reports is preferred.
• Project Management Professional (Preferred)
• Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) (Preferred)
• CTCM (Preferred)
• Knowledge of financial analyses and examination procedures for regulated entities, of financial and industry terminology and practices, and of statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of cost allocation principles and practices
• Knowledge of enhanced federal funding and APDs
• Knowledge of HHS system programs and IT projects
• Knowledge of state accounting and budgetary procedures
• Knowledge of effective waterfall and agile project management principles.
• Knowledge in project management theories and practices applicable to small, medium, and large-sized scope projects.
• Knowledge of project management theories of systems and procedures used to evaluate a third-party vendor's performance.
• Knowledge of related state and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules and requirements as well as the Texas legislative process

Responsibilities

• Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares financial reports and projections concerning state costs and staffing requirements for various projects.
• Verifying reports are accurately prepared and routed for internal review, maintaining the integrity and completeness of all technical documentation.
• Reviewing and preparing APD budgets, coordinating with agency financial departments, and completing other PMO tasks as assigned.
• Gathering expenditure data, developing budget tracking tools, and monitoring IT APDs to notify relevant teams when project expenditures approach CMS-approved thresholds or when spending is minimal.
• Collaborates with internal HHS systems teams, business stakeholders, IT professionals, and agency executives to facilitate the production and timely submission of vital documentation.
• Gathers IT project status updates on federal compliance requirements throughout different stages of IT projects.
• Drafting, editing, and revising complex technical documents such as APDs and/or IT system certifications, as well as developing and submitting federal reports.
• Gathering status updates related to federal compliance requirements throughout various phases of IT projects.
• Plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates agency policies and procedures, keeping abreast of state and federal rules, regulations, and reporting mandates for APDs.
• The analyst assesses policy changes, evaluates their impacts, identifies areas needing improvement, and recommends operational enhancements.
• Reviews Federal policy changes, assesses their impact, identifies opportunities for improvement, and recommends operational adjustments.
• May participate in routine audit activities or IT system certifications for state or federal compliance.
• Participates in the preparation of financial information for use in APD submissions.
• Evaluates Federal Financial Participation (FFP) levels and determine the appropriate allocation of project resources at those levels.
• Communicates errors in allocations to appropriate stakeholders for resolution.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes financial reports related to approved APD funds.
• Monitors and tracks approved APD budgets for IT APDs.
• Prepares ad hoc reports requested by management, department staff, the Legislative Budget Board, CMS, and the Health and Human Services Commission.
• Interprets state and federal fiscal policies, procedures, and regulations; and maintains knowledge of state and federal funding policies and regulations as they affect the IT projects and operational teams’ fiscal responsibilities.
• Gathers expenditure information from various sources and tracks expenditures against cost models to identify discrepancies.
• Monitors ongoing project and operational financial data.
• Maintains records of all financial data, both historical and in flight, and reports on funding allocations to internal stakeholders and federal partners.
• Works with various areas of budget, accounting, finance, and program areas to clarify financial information for IT APDs.
• Develops and implements effective techniques for evaluating state costs related to various HHSC projects and financial programs.
• Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares financial reports and financial projections related to state costs and staffing requirements in response to various projects and financial programs.
• Acts as a financial subject matter expert (SME) for IT and agency staff by conducting research and providing necessary interpretation and guidance related to APDs and IT projects, including other tasks and duties as assigned

Benefits

• Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees