CACFP Fiscal Compliance Specialist

The Work Unit

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) advances Colorado’s health and protects the places we live, work, learn, and play to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive. Our staff use evidence-based best practices in public health and environmental fields and play a vital role in educating Coloradans to help them make informed choices. In addition to strengthening our core programs, the department actively identifies and addresses emerging public and environmental health issues across the state.

The Prevention Services Division (PSD) partners with public and private organizations throughout Colorado to improve the health and well-being of all residents through health promotion, prevention efforts, and expanded access to care. PSD professionals develop, implement, and evaluate public health initiatives designed to encourage healthy living, prevent chronic disease, reduce injury risk, and ensure access to health care and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle.

Within PSD, the Nutrition Services Branch (NSB) promotes access to healthy food for eligible Coloradans by providing information and resources that support breastfeeding and nutritious food in homes and care settings to realize a world in which every Coloradan has consistent access to nutrition information and healthy food to thrive. Colorado WIC provides these services in home settings, while the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), also known as the Colorado Food Program (CFP), delivers them in care settings.

CFP administers the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) CACFP by reimbursing providers for serving nutritious meals to children and adults in child care centers, after-school programs, Head Start Centers, emergency shelters, family child care homes, and adult day care centers. The program also offers nutrition education, training, and support in areas such as food service, menu planning, and program regulations. Our work ensures that children and adults in care settings across Colorado have reliable access to healthy food.

Many Coloradans face challenges in accessing nutritious food due to factors such as poverty, unemployment, limited affordable housing, barriers to healthcare, and the scarcity of fresh, healthy, and affordable food in their communities. We recognize that historical and systemic obstacles have further intensified these issues. With this in mind, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and working to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to lead healthy lives.

The Position

This position performs fiscal monitoring and compliance per the division's statutory and regulatory requirements by verifying the soundness of fiscal audit reviews during recertification, maintaining fiscal records, creating fiscal processes and procedures for ensuring compliance of fiscal requirements, and reconciles payments during the federal fiscal year.

This position independently develops auditing review procedures through site visits, desk reviews and other duties for ensuring compliance with fiscal requirements. This position can work jointly with the Colorado Food Program Fiscal Administrator and Fiscal Compliance Specialist on audits, evaluating internal controls and prepares reports and follow-up on findings for PSD leadership with recommendations for strengthening operations. In addition, this position works with division staff on concerns related to fiscal technical guidance.

An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only: Six (6) years of relevant experience in auditing, fiscal compliance monitoring, bookkeeping, or accounting.
OR
Education and Experience: A combination of related education, graduation from an accredited college or university in business, finance, accounting, administration, or closely-related field AND relevant experience in auditing, fiscal compliance monitoring, bookkeeping, or accounting equivalent to six (6) years.

Substitution: Current, valid licensure as a CPA from the Colorado Board of Accountancy or current, valid CIA certificate will substitute for five (5) years of the requirement

Preferred Qualifications and Essential Competencies
The preferred experience, competencies and abilities are highly desirable for this position and will be considered in selecting the successful candidate:  

1. Experience working with Child and Adult Care Food Program or other federal grant programs

2.  Strong written and verbal communication skills

3. Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and adapt to changing priorities

4. Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP)

5. Excellent relationship management skills

6. Experience with Excel, Word, and the Google Suite,  including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs,  and Google Sheets

7. Ability to explain complex concepts in simpler terms

8. Excellent time management skills with the ability to work independently

• Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE.
• Must be willing to travel 10% of the time as the position requires.
• Must be willing to work a hybrid schedule.
• If using transcripts to earn credit towards minimum qualifications for education, you must attach transcripts to be considered.

APPEAL RIGHTS: If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the department’s action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules. 

A complete application packet must include:

• A completed State of Colorado application.

• Unofficial transcripts if using to verify educational requirement

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process 

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, of up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

ADAAA Accommodations:

 The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Dan McKenna, at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.  

Salary : $63,624 - $101,808