Financial Specialist

Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday – Friday; 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; full-benefit
 
This professional position is responsible for completing fiscal reporting and maintaining and monitoring accounting transactions for the Frederick County Division of Housing.  This position follows fiscal plans and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal law, regulations and policies.  Supervision is received from the Financial Office Manager.

NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions.  For transfers and promotions, wage rates are calculated per County policy.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • Vesting after 5 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan.
• Coming in 2025: Employee Health Center with no or low cost primary and urgent care

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.

 

• Review and analyze expenditures of federal and state grants; ensure funds are used in accordance with grant requirements; monitor and reconcile program activities with financial accounting system monitor and track financial obligations and reporting of grant sub-recipients 
• Compile data and prepare required monthly, quarterly, and year-end grant reports; identify and resolve discrepancies; send to and discuss interim and status reports with Financial Office Manager
• Assist in the development and implementation of grant/program financial processes  
• Oversee the transactions, reconciliations and reporting for the Bell Court rental property; coordinate collection of monthly rental income, prepare security deposit returns, review tenant re-certifications and rent increase calculations, and track contractor and vendor service agreements and expenditures following Procurement and Risk Management policies and procedures
• Assist with the preparation and monitoring of the annual program operating budget; prepare long and short-term revenue and expenditure projections 
• Prepare budget information and corresponding backup documentation for preparation of budget journals to establish new grant budgets; submit budget amendments, alignments, etc.
• Review non-capital asset inventory, mileage, work orders, contracts, and other backup documentation submitted by staff and reconcile before approving fiscal transactions
• Monitor and review general ledger postings, address misallocation or unallowable expenditures, initiate necessary adjusting journal entries; make recommendations to the Financial Office Manager 
• Oversee and reconcile personnel posting against internal timekeeping systems and update tracking reports ensuring personnel-approved expenditures remain within program budgets 
• Perform advanced planning, research, technical and program administration work that ensures division fiscal integrity and adherence to grant requirements
• Identify, respond to and resolve discrepancies between program and fiscal data; keep leadership apprised of potential fiscal problems, so that adjustments can be made in a timely manner
• Monitor account line balances for Federal, State and County resources
• Supports the implementation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) repayment plans and monitors and reports fiscal activities of other revolving loan programs under the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF)
• Coordinate and maintain in-house fiscal database, timelines, and appropriate documentation of administrative and financial information relevant to the various grants and funds for internal verification and annual Federal grants audit and State fiscal monitoring
• Use computerized procurement system to review and approve requisitions, vouchers, invoices, timesheets, procurement card and other procurement needs; reconcile p-card statement as necessary/monthly
• Provide fiscal technical support (Infor and Excel) to other Division staff, as needed
• Actively participate in Division wide emergency planning and activation of County shelter and/or family assistance center
• Perform other related duties as required

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed above, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  
 

• Associate’s degree 
• Minimum 3 years of work experience in a responsible accounting or budget position which includes experience using an automated accounting/finance system
• Minimum 1 year of work experience with MS Excel spreadsheets and databases 
• Intermediate skill in the use of MS Office Suite
• NOTE:  A combination of education and work experience may be counted towards the overall requirements of this position

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of fiscal management, budget procedures and controls
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Circular
• Ability to effectively organize work, establish priorities, manage time effectively and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with sensitive information, and maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with state and local officials, community partners, co-workers and the general public
• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills including to prepare and present clear, concise reports
• Strong and effective mathematical skills with the ability to accurately compile, verify, and analyze detailed fiscal and statistical information
• Ability to accurately compile and prepare statistical data and reports
• Ability to effectively access and utilize Microsoft Office Suite, e-mail, spreadsheet and other systems and equipment, and to learn new software as it is required

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR:

• College degree in in Financial Management, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field
• Work experience utilizing Infor financial systems
• Federal grant financial management work experience
• Work experience in government accounting
• Advanced Skills in Microsoft Excel

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly sit and perform repetitive motions and occasionally walk
• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors

• Ability to provide own transportation as needed for meetings and other commitments
• Available for some varied work hours to accommodate meetings or other commitments

 KIND OF EXAMINATION (may include): 

1.  An evaluation of training and experience
2.  One or more interviews
3.  Excel Assessment

Salary : $57,218 - $91,549