Government Contracts Specialist/Financial Analyst

The Salvation Army USA Central Territory • Chicago, IL

3d • $64,195 - $93,083

About The Position

At The Salvation Army, we are dedicated to “Doing the Most Good”. We are made up
of thousands of officers, soldiers, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners
working together to holistically meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual
needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. We do this through programs designed to
combat homelessness and hunger, provide safe spaces for youth after school and
on the weekends achieve and maintain sobriety, and give hope to the hopeless.
The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division provides these services
to people in need.

Responsible for ensuring compliance with government contract agreements,
coordinating required data collection, and filing financial or other required
reports with funding sources or regulatory agencies as necessary. Also provides
City Fund Program Directors direct financial support that assists them in
managing their programs and ensures compliance with established policies and
procedures of the Salvation Army, generally accepted accounting principles and
contract requirements as necessary.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field.
• 4 to 8 years of experience with accounting, financial analysis and government contracts in a not for profit environment.
• Valid Driver’s license/MVR clearance
• Willing to promote the mission of the Salvation Army.
• An interpersonal style that is service oriented as well as anticipates and responds to the needs of client departments.
• A demonstrated ability to manage projects, priorities, and information in a constantly changing environment.
• A problem solver with a demonstrated ability to investigate and resolve problems.
• Ability to gather information, consults others, analyzes options, and works in a team environment as well as work autonomously.
• A positive attitude and the ability to be flexible in light of changing job situations/priorities.
• Precision in managing detail, procedures, processes and policies.
• A communication style that exhibits the principles and values of the Army as well as fosters team relationships and effectively communicates information.
• A working knowledge of the principles of accounting and contract management, especially in a not for profit setting.
• An understanding of data management, procedure development and flow of information.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, using diplomacy and good judgment.
• A “hands-on” knowledge of how to effectively work with diversity in the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of government contract related budgets, both for new and renewal contracts.
• Assist Program Directors during the yearly budgeting process, to ensure all grant revenues and expenditures are included in the Program budgets.
• For State Grants – assist and/or complete the budget in the State of Illinois’ CSA Website and review the portal weekly to see when budgets are linked to contracts and pull down the Agreement and Budget for reporting and audit purposes. Communicate this to the Program Directors at the institutions.
• For City Grants – assist and/or complete the budget for the City of Chicago Grants. Review the iSupplier portal weekly to see when the grants are approved and Release Packages have been uploaded and pull them down for reporting and audit purposes. Communicate this to the Program Directors at the institutions.
• Function as a resource to all Program Directors or their designee in helping them understand the contractual parameters upon which their programs are funded from the government agencies. This includes: Assisting Program Directors or their designees with grant vouchers / billings to government or private funding sources on a timely basis, enhancing City Fund cash flow positions. Ensuring that expenditures of grant funds follow both Salvation Army and funding agency guidelines or requirements. Preparing regular analyses of actual versus budgeted income and expense variances relating to government grants/contracts and to assist Program Directors in their decision-making process and the identification of unfavorable revenue or spending trends Review the Voucher entries in the Acumatica Receivables Module that are entered by the various institutions. Review the voucher backup that is uploaded and approve or reject the entry. If rejected, reach out to the institutions to discuss necessary changes for vouchers to be approved.
• Assist with researching or resolving questions from vendors, Program Directors and outside grant agencies as requested, including utilizing Acumatica and other systems as necessary, if institutions cannot retrieve the necessary information from their inquiries to the funders. This might require reviewing funder websites as well as reaching out to funders directly to reconcile variances or retrieving missing information.
• Compile workpapers and analyses and record the grant information into the Grant Tracking Database as information is updated. Review this on a quarterly basis for any changes that haven’t been included.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Prepare and file financial reports and other documentation to funding organizations as required on a timely basis. This includes: Illinois Gata Grantee Portal – ensure Salvation Army is in good standing with all pre-qualification requirements. Complete sections as necessary. This includes but is not limited to: Fiscal & Administrative Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ) Indirect Cost Rate Election Active Audit Sections (This requires input both at the beginning of the State FY of 7/1 and at the end with reports for 6/30, as well as the SA Audited Financial Statements. Upload all documents to this portal Centralized Repository Vault System (CRV) – upload all documents required that were mailed to the SA from the State of Illinois. (i.e.: IDHS Checklist, Demographics, Grant Reports, etc.).
• Complete Quarterly SEFA’s (Schedule of Federal Awards) for review by the City Fund’s Director of Finance to ensure that grant funds are being tracked in a timely manner, and to prepare for the year-end audit.
• Compile reports, workpapers and analyses as requested by the following: Internal Auditors (THQ) External Auditors (GT – Audit Firm contracted by SA) External Auditors (FAR & Monitoring) – Government funders such as HUD, FBOP, IDHS, City of Chicago, and any outside audit firm hired by these funders to complete audits and/or reviews.
• For Government funder audits/reviews – Coordinate with the Funder to schedule the audit and then coordinate with the Program Directors the timing of the audit/review.
• For Government funder audits/reviews – Provide Responses to Findings and/or comments and provide them to the Funder and Program Director, as well as the external auditors, GT.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, hearing, disability and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement accounts, a company-funded defined contribution (pension) plan and generous time off policies.

What This Job Offers

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