Financial Analyst

The Western District of Arkansas is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Financial Analyst. This position is a shared position with the U.S. District Court and U.S. Probation Office and reports directly to the Financial Administrator. The Financial Analyst assists in performing and coordinating administrative, technical, and professional work related to financial and accounting activities of the court, including compliance with appropriate guidelines, policies, and internal controls.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school graduate or equivalent. A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field is preferred.
• Two years of specialized experience in the financial or business field that provided a knowledge of the rules, regulations, practices, and principles of financial administration and/or accounting, and involved the routine use of automated financial and accounting systems or other computer-based systems and applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, or databases.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written.
• Possess the ability to initiate, manage, prioritize, and follow through on multiple high impact projects and priorities within strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter with demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Must possess outstanding attention to detail and accuracy.
• Be innovative and creative and contribute to a positive work environment.
• Candidates must be highly organized, possess tact, good judgement, a strong work ethic, and always maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
• This position requires exceptional ability to communicate, articulate, and relate to coworkers and others with professionalism and integrity.
• Demonstrated proficiency in problem solving, troubleshooting, and identifying alternative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to make timely and effective decisions.
• The successful candidate must be a team player and exhibit the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and display always and to all persons, a courteous, professional, and cooperative attitude.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field is preferred.
• Knowledge of government policies, practices, and terminology related to administration of financial reporting, procurement processes, and financial transactions.
• Previous experience in a court or legal environment.
• Previous government financial and/or procurement experience.
• Extensive knowledge of financial systems and how to use automated systems to perform day-to-day activities.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in establishing, maintaining, and analyzing accounting records, consisting of a cash receipt's journal, deposit funds, as well as subsidiary ledgers for criminal case records to properly account for case receipts and disbursements.
• Assist in the preparation, update, examination, and analysis of a variety of regular and non-standard reports as requested by court units, Administrative Office, U.S. Treasury, financial institutions, or other organizations and agencies.
• Process victim restitution payments, including processing incoming checks, compiling necessary information, creating payments, maintaining ledger of restitution payments, and processing returned checks.
• Responsible for answering phone calls and emails within the finance office. Respond to inquiries related to cases. Provide customer service to victims and their representatives. Direct callers to the appropriate individual within the office or the court.
• Reconcile case balances with U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Probation Office.
• Review case ledgers for monies eligible for transfer to unclaimed fund accounts and make transfers as necessary.
• Assist the Financial Manager in the daily creation of criminal cases, upload criminal Pay.gov receipts, process Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) batch reports, as well as research victim and defendant addresses to be updated.
• Assist in monthly reconciliation process and report preparation.
• Run daily, monthly, and annual reports and reconciliations. Reviews, reconciles, and processes Department of Corrections payments, Bureau of Prisons payments, and Treasury Offset payments monthly.
• Procure supplies and equipment from government and non-government sources through new contracts, competitive bids, or existing government contracts.
• Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contracted obligations; assist with clarifying contract requirements and resolving any conflicts.
• Review invoices from suppliers and prepare payment vouchers for approval.
• Review and process travel vouchers. Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes. Communicate with individuals in court units to respond to questions, problems, or insufficiencies with voucher submissions and the status of payment of vouchers.
• Assist with oversight of financial operations to ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and procedures.
• Assist with internal control annual self-assessments and cyclical audits, including audit or document requests and submissions.
• Prepare spreadsheets and maintain databases to track expenditures.
• Answer policy and procedure questions for judges and court staff. Provide customer service and resolve difficulties while complying with regulations, rules, and procedures.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Some travel is required.

Salary : $52,831