Financial Services Specialist

Grand Rapids Public Schools • Grand Rapids, MI

4d

About The Position

The Financial Services Specialist is a member of the Business Division and works with other team members to provide timely and accurate financial budgeting, accounting, and reporting for the district. The position provides quality services in an efficient, timely and professional manner to a variety of internal and external customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting or Finance.
• Minimum of 3 years’ demonstrated experience in a finance role related to school finance.
• Proven leadership ability and excellent communication skills.
• Familiarity with federal and state restricted program grant principles/procedures for legal requirements, comparability guidelines, allowable costs, financial reporting, budgeting, grant management, indirect cost allocations, and reimbursement.
• Demonstrated ability to perform budget forecasting and planning.
• Demonstrated ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data, establish, and analyze facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and provide training.
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects concurrently and to prioritize responsibilities.
• Proficiency in use of personal computers including spreadsheet software, database applications, and word processing software.
• Ability to work comfortably in other business and scholar accounting technology platforms.
• Proven ability to provide excellent customer service to a variety of customers.
• Proven ability to work with confidential information.
• Proven ability to make decisions and act independently.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and coordinate the completion of monthly financial statements.
• Analyze monthly financial information and reports.
• Initiate, analyze and prepare reports to explain significant variances in anticipated balances.
• Forecast budget revenues and expenditures and recommend budget revisions.
• Prepare budget projections, revisions, and adjustments in accordance with changes in program cost allocations, projections, and established procedures.
• Prepare and maintain budget and account work papers, adjustments, and other financial reports
• Assist in development of salary schedules and cost analysis for contract changes and cost analysis for negotiation projections and budgeting.
• Communicate financial information to senior management.
• Assist in understanding financial implications of options, situations, and decisions.
• Prepare detailed cost/benefit analysis for district programs, including new initiatives and programs.
• Act as liaison to various control officers, providing financial information and direction.
• Coordinate a comprehensive financial training program for control officers.
• Provide information and training to control officers.
• Assist control officers and program directors in the preparation of budget, expenditures, and fund transfers.
• Initiate and coordinate the monitoring and analyzing of all budgets to ensure that expenditures do not exceed authorized levels.
• Ensure that financial records are accurate, and transactions are properly documented.
• Monitor general ledger, staffing, board paid benefits, and other issues in accordance with budget allocations and established policies and procedures.
• Promote fiscal responsibility within the district’s operations.
• Create and update internal audit plan.
• Test the operation of the design of existing financial controls and recommend modifications as needed.
• Assist in the development of the annual budget projections for all sites, programs, and departments.
• Assist in the preparation of annual financial statements and financial reports for the State of Michigan, including the Michigan Department of Education (MEGS+, Nexsys, CMS) and Center for Educational Performance and Information.
• Compile and analyze year end work papers, adjustments, reconciliations, and other year-end activities.
• Provide leadership and support to Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Financial Services Coordinators.
• Coordinate the development and preparation of various internal and external reports, including reporting for granting agencies.
• Maintain and cultivate a master inventory of our business procedures, practices, and processes.
• Assist in the coordination of the implementation and on-going maintenance of the district system software in the financial, payroll, and human resources areas.
• Act as a liaison between the Business Office, Payroll, Management Information Systems and Human Resources.
• Coordinate and review the preparation and timely issuance of billings to appropriate outside entities.
• Coordinate the district’s banking and investment needs.
• Preparation of a cash flow projection to anticipate borrowing needs and available funds for investments.
• Ensure sufficient funds are available to cover operations, debt repayment and capital investments needs.
• Maintain an efficient system of procedures that adequately control and protect district funds.
• Act as a liaison with the district’s banking and investment institutions.
• Consistently demonstrate dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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