Support Specialist: Budget (Office of Community Schools)

About the position

The Support Specialist: Budget performs complex budgeting duties in support of Community and School Based Program budget and grants. This role assists schools and Central Office with grant and budget requirements, purchasing processes, financial expenditures, and federal, state, and local reports. The specialist supports schools with data collection related to Community Schools, Title I, and other grant-funded programs.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains relationships with schools and offices; provides assistance and support including processing school purchases, maintaining accurate financial reports, assisting with payroll and travel processes, responding to budget questions, assisting with budget and expense reports, expenditure and transfer inquiries, and budget allocations.
• Works with Purchasing, Budget, and Accounting to monitor expenditures related to office and grant funds. Researches inquiries from departments, schools, and vendors regarding purchasing, budgeting, contract development, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) completion, and financial reports.
• Performs financial/budget management responsibilities including review of financial statements, preparation of financial reports, monthly budget reconciliation, and maintaining expenditure justification documentation for department, office, and grant budgets.
• Prepares and participates in the dissemination of reports, surveys and other Federal, State and local grant requirements.
• Conducts quarterly budget meetings with schools to ensure that grant and other funds are being used to support their Comprehensive Needs Assessment, Implementation Plans, and other school goals as allowable by law.
• Maintains Community and School Based Programming website and supports schools with communication strategies using websites, social media, and direct communication with families. Keeps Community School and Title I programming master calendar.
• Assists team with creating forms and reporting tools to help schools with Community School Programming data collection, such as parent registration for adult education classes, participation of families in different experiences and programs, community partnerships, and attendance of students in extended day programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university required.
• Two (2) years professional financial, budget, and/or administrative office support experience in an educational, social service, or government office (including grants and development) required.
• Two (2) years experience working as a school-based financial secretary and working in district level administrative and/or financial support preferred.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication, organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work independently to complete tasks.
• Ability to create and utilize spreadsheets and/or databases to create budget reports.
• Knowledge of budget, financial and human resources systems.
• Strong mathematical and analytical competency skills.
• Excellent human relations and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative and use tact in dealing with community partners, government agencies, parents, students, and other stakeholders.
• Experience working with budgets, following regulations and policies related to purchasing, contracting, creating MOUs, travel, payroll, and reporting.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and/or preferred) and web development software.

Nice-to-haves

• Achievement of a Professional Certificate, Certification, License in Finance, Budget or Technology or Completion of coursework or workshops leading towards such certificate, certification or licenses in related field required.