Financial Analyst

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Performs (mid-level) financial support services and technical assistance work for the Finance and Contacts Group Manager under the Operations Unit of the HIV/STD Section (HSS) within the Infectious Disease Prevention (IDP) Division of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Works under the limited supervision and direction of the Finance and Contracts Group Manager with latitude for exercising initiative and independent judgment. Performs financial monitoring of technical and program-related projects and procurements that support expenditure forecast, budget, and operational impact. Work involves the investigation and review of HIV/STD Section budget and accounting records, financial approvals, and monitoring federal and state funds to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, as well as DSHS policies and regulations. Prepares financial and expenditure progress reports. Assists with planning and coordination related to program areas, procurements, and budgets. Interprets agency policies; creates and documents processes and procedures; and recommends, implements, and evaluates process improvements related to procurement and budget. Analyzes and interprets budget data and creates reports for management. Creates, assigns, and responds to section and program budget assignments, and federal budgets and ensures their timely and accurate submission. The work involves providing recommendations and technical assistance to staff on all matters related to financial compliance and best practices. Inform the Section Finance Manager of financial risks or changes. Coordinates with section accounts payable (A/P) and grant support staff, including service as backup. Build cooperative relationships that support good internal and external customer service.

Requirements

• Knowledge of financial analyses and examination procedures for regulated entities, of financial and industry terminology and practices, and of financial analysis.
• Knowledge of Budgeting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), purchasing and contracting processes.
• Knowledge of the Texas Legislative Appropriations, state budget cycle, and requirements.
• Skill in Microsoft Office products, superior skills in Excel and/or other database programs.
• Skill in responding to customer inquiries and tactfully handling difficult customers.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines for simultaneous tasks.
• Ability to take direction and relay constructive criticism in a team environment.
• Ability to gather and analyze data and facts, and to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to communicate processes and procedures clearly and effectively to others.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments to meet deadlines.
• Ability to handle and safeguard sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to administer financial processes and systems.
• Ability to perform and interpret numerical analyses.
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and summarize financial and management records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to prepare reports and correspondence regarding findings.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and to exercise judgment in making administrative and technical decisions.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise and implement solutions to problems; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; and to plan, and assign the work of others.
• Ability to achieve goals/objectives, action items, timelines, and strategies.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in stressful times.
• Experience in financial analysis and regulatory work.
• Education plus 1-year experience in Financial Monitoring, Funding/Resource Allocation, Budget, Accounting, Grants, Administration or other financial experience is required.
• Or 5 years of described experience and education combined is required.
• Experience in Microsoft Office products.
• Advanced skills in Excel and/or other database programs.
• Experience in preparing financial reports and correspondence regarding findings.

Nice To Haves

• Prefer experience providing consultative/technical assistance to management and staff.
• Prefer experience in Financial Systems (CAPPS, CAPPS Reporting, etc.).
• Prefer experience working independently and exercising judgment in making administrative and technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Assists with budgeting, reconciling, and tracking funding and expenditures on state-appropriated funds, including budgets and multiple federal funds, and reporting on available funds for projects and procurement.
• Prepare and review financial reports for all budget assignments, including budget load, task profiles, and other budget and miscellaneous assignments related to operations.
• Files and retains source documentation and records necessary for tracking logs.
• Reviews budgets and grants for financial completeness.
• Develops budget expenditure reports to monitor, track, forecast, and analyze expenditures for internal management.
• Provide financial recommendations to the finance manager on financial resources to meet the program's objectives and utilize funds most efficiently.
• Assists in the development of plans, policies, and procedures for the allocation of funds and best practices for accounting for all types of funds.
• Tracks trends and spending utilization in support of HIV STD Section programs and agency goals and priorities.
• Develops and maintains productive relationships with the Finance Group, Section Leadership, Section Program Managers, and Unit staff to resolve issues.
• Provides financial and technical assistance in the review of federal grant applications, including preparing the Finance Group budget detail roster, and reviewing and assisting with the Federal budget template.
• Assists and works closely with program leadership and the Finance Manager on grant application budget reviews.
• Assist with approving or tracking requisitions for purchases and tracking federal expenditures by funding source.
• Responsible for the communication of budget details to the HIV STD Finance Group Manager and finance staff.
• Escalates and coordinates, as necessary, the resolution of financial risks with the HIV STD Finance Group Manager.
• Works with finance A/P and unit staff from across the HIV STD Section who have budget and resource-related duties to ensure coordination of spending resources.
• Responds to the Section Finance Manager on agency and section assignments.
• Timely prepares spreadsheets, reports, and documents as needed for program managers and key staff or in response to assignments.
• Assists Financial Analyst III on budget and procurement issues to other parts of the agency, including the Division Finance Section, the HIV STD Section Leadership, Contract Management Section (CMS), the Division Accounts Payable Section, the Budget Office Coordination and Management Section, Information Technology Section, and the HHSC Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS).
• Responsibilities include sharing necessary information, resolving issues, coordinating to achieve accurate budget loads and fund movements as needed, and communicating with the HIV STD Section Finance Group Manager.
• Maintains source documents and tracking logs, and the budget roster by coding relevant financial information from budgets and financial activities.
• May assist in training staff on processes and procedures.
• Produce reports from CAPPS financials as needed.
• Builds cooperative relationships that support good customer service.
• Assists the Finance team with procurement, requisition, and purchase order activities for the HIV STD Section.
• Reviews and approves requisitions as directed in CAPPS Financial as requested.
• Assists FA III, A/P, and Finance Manager on guidance and technical assistance to admin staff on procurement issues, and CAPPS Financial, and ensures the use of an efficient system to document and track financial activity within the HIV STD Section.
• Maintains backup information on all financial reports and transactions.
• Interprets agency, federal, and state procurement policies.
• Monitor fund availability to ensure funds are properly budgeted or recommend transfers as needed to support successful procurement and contracting.
• Tracks recurring purchases and timelines to initiate renewals on time.
• Assists in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern and/or a different location.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level