What are the responsibilities and job description for the Budget Specialist position at State of Georgia?
Job Description, Responsibilities, Standards, and Qualifications
Job Description:
Under the direct supervision of the Budget Administrator, the Budget Specialist performs a variety of administrative, technical, and budget-related functions essential for maintaining efficient operations within the Budget Office. The Budget Specialist will assist in managing, developing, and revising the budgets for the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA). This includes budgets for operations and capital funded programs, along with supporting schedules. Additionally, the Budget Specialist will review departmental budget estimates to ensure they are complete, accurate, and compliant with relevant procedures on a regular basis to ensure budgetary controls are sufficient for business processes. This role also involves collaborating with internal staff on procurement initiatives by confirming that there is appropriate budget capacity for expenditures, creating purchase orders in the SRTA financial system (currently, TeamWorks FSCM), and occasionally providing recommendations to management on budget trends for consideration in SRTA budget amendments.
Summary of Essential Job Functions
- Assist with day-to-day activities for the Budget Office.
- Develop, prepare, and/or revise annual budgets along with supporting schedules in accordance with agency instructions and within allowable budget tolerances.
- Examine internal budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations.
- Monitor and project budgets and identify variances, surplus or deficit amounts, and recommended solutions.
- Identify projected cost variances requiring reallocation of resources or identification of additional resources (prepare budget transfers as directed).
- Consult with management to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes.
- Initiate purchase orders (POs) for goods or services after the relevant documentation has been signed by authorized personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Management.
Abilities, Knowledge and Skills
- Ability to use technical judgment in determining the accuracy and completeness of financial information.
- Ability to research and understand internal business processes to assist with budgetary matters
- Knowledge of the SRTA procurement and purchasing policy.
- Ability to create and approve purchase orders in the SRTA financial system (TeamWorks FSCM)
- Routine management and analyses of purchase orders including, but not limited to verifying contractual agreements and dates to ensure the validity of open purchase orders, closing purchase orders as assigned, altering purchase orders as assigned, and communicating with staff on purchase order balance(s) if necessary.
- Knowledge of the State of Georgia record retention and documentation policy.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to manage time effectively and work under deadlines of varying sensitivity
- Ability to handle confidential matters.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, accounting, finance or related field from an accredited college or university AND two (2) years of fiscal analysis experience OR an Associate's degree in public administration, business administration, accounting, finance or related field from an accredited college or university AND three (3) years of fiscal analysis experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- State of Georgia government budgeting experience.
- Proficient with the State’s TeamWorks Enterprise Financial System (FSCM).
- Advanced skills using MS Word and MS Excel, such as pivot tables.
- Experience and/or knowledge of the State of Georgia budgeting process
- Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate Certification
- Experience and/or knowledge of Workday Financial System.
- A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
- Prior work experience in the tolling and/or transportation industries.
Key Attributes
- Diplomatic and tactful with exceptional relationship-building skills.
- Possess SRTA’s core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, Customer Focus, and Diversity.
- Committed to continuous improvement and quality.
