Finance Specialist

Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana's Division of Administration/Office of Community Development seeks a professional to administer disaster recovery programs under OCD, focusing on accounting, budgeting, and regulatory compliance. Knowledge of CDBG-DR and FEMA programs and Lagov ERP modules is essential.

You will reconcile financial data across multiple systems, review draw requests, ensure proper funding, and provide information to grantees and vendors. This is a state government role with public service impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field plus two years of experience.
• Three years of full-time experience in accounting, finance or budget may substitute for a degree.
• Master’s degree may substitute for one (1) year of required experience or two (2) years for a specialized degree.
• Knowledge of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR).
• Knowledge of Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 (Word, Advanced Excel skills, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Proficiency in Data Analysis.
• Advanced experience with Excel.
• Advanced experience with reconciliation of systems.
• Ability to understand federal regulations and state policies.

Responsibilities

• Reconcile financial information across systems and files (including LaGov, DRGR, IGX, and Excel) and maintain accounting records that provide an audit trail.
• Provide grantees, vendors, program staff, and other stakeholders with financial information; research and resolve discrepancies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review and approve project draw requests and disaster recovery payments, verifying documentation, approvals, coding, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure grantee and vendor costs comply with federal regulations, state policies, guidelines and contract terms.
• Verify payment request against budgets to ensure proper funding is available.
• Assist the Division of Administration and other stakeholders in interpreting program directives, best practices, regulations, and legislation.
• Coordinate with key partners and agencies for special disaster recovery needs and in specific technical expertise.
• Provide highly responsible and complex technical support in specialized recovery effort to division Director or designee and OCD management.
• Position-Specific Details: Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities.

Skills

Accounting

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Excel

Microsoft Office

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance or related field

Tools

Lagov ERP (ECC)

Lagov ERP SRM

Lagov ERP LEO

Excel

Office 365

Job description

The Division of Administration/Office of Community Development/Disaster Recovery Unit (DRU) has a vacancy. This job is Unclassified. The Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) administers Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT) grants and other federal and state funding allocated to the State of Louisiana. These programs support long-term recovery, resilience, and mitigation for communities affected by Presidentially Declared Disasters. OCD’s grant portfolio exceeds $20 billion and encompasses multiple federal awards, each containing numerous programs, funding activities, and implementation timelines. This is a professional level position designed to implement disaster recovery programs under the Office of Community Development (OCD). The position will oversee or assist in the administration of disaster recovery programs in observance of federal and state statutory requirements and regulations and policies. This position requires a particular knowledge of accounting principles, as well as aspects of disaster recovery, disaster CDBG programs, FEMA programs and other federal and state recovery initiatives and key disaster recovery entities and organizations. The Division of Administration is the state government’s management arm and the hub of its financial operations. Division offices perform a wide variety of activities including the following:

• Overseeing the state’s capital construction program
• Working to provide state and federal grants for community development
• Development of the state budget
• Providing technology services
• Giving agencies guidance in the state purchasing and contracting process as they seek goods and services
• Administering a program that provides federal funds to help Louisiana residents recover from a series of devastating hurricane

A baccalaureate degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Auditing, or related field plus two years of experience in accounting, finance or budget.

Substitutions

Three years of full-time experience in accounting, finance or budget may substitute for a degree.

A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience or two (2) years for a specialized degree in related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)

Knowledge of Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program

Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 (Word, Advanced Excel skills, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

Experience with the Lagov ERP system, specifically the ECC, SRM & LEO modules.

Proficiency in Data Analysis

Advanced experience with Excel

Advanced experience with reconciliation of systems

Ability to understand federal regulations and state policies

Essential Functions

Reconcile financial information across systems and files (including but not limited to LaGov, DRGR, IGX, and Excel) and maintain accounting records that provide a clear audit trail.

Provide grantees, vendors, program staff, and other stakeholders with financial information; research and resolve discrepancies throughout the project lifecycle.

Review and approve project draw requests and disaster recovery payments, verifying documentation, approvals, coding, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.

Ensure grantee and vendor costs comply with federal regulations, state policies, guidelines and contract terms.

Verify payment request against budgets to ensure proper funding is available.

Assist the Division of Administration and other stakeholders in interpreting program directives, best practices, regulations, and legislation.

Coordinate with key partners and agencies for special disaster recovery needs and in specific technical expertise.

Provide highly responsible and complex technical support in specialized recovery effort to division Director or designee and OCD management.

Position-Specific Details: Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities.

Contact Information

For further information about this posting, please contact: Erica R. Gay HR Specialist Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources email: [e-mail]