Program Specialist 5 | Payments and Receipts

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a skilled Program Specialist 5 to support the Accounting and Financial Services (AFS) division in Lacey, WA. In this critical role, you will serve as the department’s subject matter expert, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, agency policies, and internal control requirements while managing program performance, risk, system administration, training, and stakeholder engagement. Supporting all WSDOT regions and divisions, this position helps facilitate efficient procurement and payment processes, strengthens financial stewardship and accountability, and oversees a high-volume program processing more than 112,000 transactions annually totaling approximately $70 million. Through strategic program management, continuous improvement, and collaboration with financial institutions, regulatory agencies, and internal partners, this position directly supports WSDOT’s mission by delivering high-quality financial services that enable safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation.

Requirements

Knowledge of federal and state financial regulations, policies and audit requirements.
Ability to analyze financial and program data, identify discrepancies, evaluate processes, and recommend improvements while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies.
Proficient in using financial systems and enterprise databases to accurately manage, retrieve, and analyze data to support program operations and decision-making.
Ability to develop, interpret, and administer program policies and procedures in coordination with statewide governing authorities.
Knowledge of internal controls, audit requirements, and risk mitigation practices in financial or procurement programs.
Ability to apply sound judgement and independent decision-making within delegated authority to resolve complex program issues in alignment with agency objectives and requirements.
Skills to ensure accuracy, compliance, and integrity of financial and program activities and communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
Skills to communicate clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
Skills to provide accurate guidance and respond effectively to inquiries regarding program rules, processes, and systems.
Skills to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve program objectives and contributes to a respectful, effective, and cooperative work environment.
Skills to manage competing priorities in a statewide program environment while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
Ability to operate office technology and software applications (Excel, Outlook, Teams) for analysis, reporting and communication.
Demonstrated experience supervising staff, including assigning work, evaluating performance, and ensuring accountability for deliverables.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Demonstrates initiative and responsiveness to meet the needs of our internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a public sector financial, procurement, or administrative program with policy compliance and fiscal accountability responsibilities.
Experience administering or supporting a procurement card or similar financial control program.
Experience developing and delivering training and outreach programs for users of financial or administrative systems.
Experience working with external partners such as financial institutions, vendors, or statewide/national workgroups.
Experience analyzing workflows and implementing process or system improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance.
Experience supporting or administering enterprise systems financial systems, including user access, data integrity, and coordination with IT or system vendors.

Responsibilities

Administer and monitor statewide PCard operations, including card accounts and PCMS users to ensure appropriate access, strong internal controls, and effective program governance.
Provide program leadership by directing, prioritizing, and coordinating PCard activities in alignment with agency objectives and applicable regulatory requirements.
Analyze program performance, compliance risks, and trends; develop and implement procedural and system improvements to strengthen efficiency, controls, and compliance.
Develop, revise, and administer PCard policies and procedures in coordination with OFM and DES to ensure statewide compliance monitoring, and decision-making.
Provide technical guidance, training and consultation to internal and external stakeholders, anticipating issues and recommending proactive solutions.
Provide training, consultation, and outreach to WSDOT PCard users on purchasing requirements, financial rules, and PCMS procedures.
Develop, update, and coordinate PCard training materials and guidance to ensure consistent statewide application of program policies.
Facilitate and participate in outreach and training events across WSDOT regions.
Maintain accurate PCMS records for authorized users, cards and system access in compliance with internal control requirements.
Supervise, train and support the Purchasing Card Coordinator position to ensure effective workload management, staff development, and continuity of PCard operations.