Fiscal Analyst II, Division of Academics

Howard County Public School System; United States; On-site; USD 104,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is seeking a Fiscal Analyst II to provide high-level financial expertise across budgets and grants. You will analyze complex financial data, build financial models, forecast expenditures, and present findings to program leaders and senior management to maximize resources for students and schools.

As a key member of the Division of Academics Budgets, you will ensure compliance, support strategic resource allocation, and develop internal controls

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, public administration, business administration or related field.
• Four years of budget development, budget analysis, forecasting, accounting, auditing, or finance experience.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills; ability to communicate complex financial information.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages annual operating and grant budgets for assigned units in collaboration with Program Managers.
• Monitors budget-to-actual performance, staffing trends, expenditures, and contract activity for programs and grants.
• Communicates financial status, trends, variances, and issues to stakeholders to support decision-making.
• Performs financial analysis using spreadsheets and databases to evaluate fiscal performance, identify risks, and recommend actions.
• Prepares expenditure forecasts and analyzes variances; coordinates budget reallocations or modifications as needed.
• Monitors contracts and grants, including expenditures, funding levels, compliance, and reporting obligations.
• Coordinates monthly, semi-annual, and annual financial and grant reports; supports management decision-making and accountability requirements.
• Provides fiscal support for Board budget work sessions and interacts with Program Managers and departments.

Skills

Excel pivot tables

Advanced Excel formulas

Budget analysis

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/accounting/economics/public administration/business

Tools

Workday

Job description

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

DESCRIPTION

Two Fiscal Analyst II postings are open concurrently in two different departments (Division of Academics and Strategy and Student Success). Since both roles share the same minimum qualifications, candidates are encouraged to review the two unique roles and preferred qualifications and are welcome to apply to one or both positions based on their experience. This posting will be used to fill one vacancy.

Under the direction of the Coordinator, Department of Academics Budgets, the Fiscal Analyst II provides high-level, technical financial expertise to support the financial management of the department. This position plays a key role in shaping resource decisions by analyzing complex financial and operational data, building and maintaining financial models, and presenting findings in clear, actionable ways. The Fiscal Analyst II collaborates with program leaders, central office staff, and external partners to ensure funds are managed responsibly and aligned with district priorities. By contributing accurate analysis and strategic recommendations, this role directly supports the department's mission to maximize resources for students and schools. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, analytical financial professional with experience managing operating and grant budgets, forecasting expenditures, analyzing budget-to-actual performance, and ensuring financial compliance. They should be highly proficient in financial systems, spreadsheets, and data analysis, with strong skills in identifying trends, risks, and variances, and developing actionable recommendations. The candidate should also excel at communicating complex financial information to Program Managers, senior leadership, and stakeholders; managing reporting deadlines; developing internal controls; and supporting informed, strategic resource allocation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in finance, accounting, economics, public administration, business administration, or a related field.

Experience: Four years of experience in budget development, budget analysis, forecasting, accounting, auditing, or finance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, finance, or a related field.
• Governmental budgeting experience for a school system, federal, state, or local government.
• Experience managing state and/or federal grants.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams or supporting multiple program managers within PreK-12 financial management including special education finance.
• Experience working with enterprise resource platforms (e.g., Workday) as they relate to data processing, database structure and digital reporting.
• Highly proficient in using Excel pivot tables and advanced formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, SUMIF) to integrate, analyze, and interpret large and complex datasets.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and manages annual operating and grant budgets for assigned budget units in collaboration with Program Managers; reviews budget requests for accuracy, completeness, and justification; analyzes expenditure trends and funding requirements; and recommends appropriate funding levels consistent with organizational priorities and approved budget authority.
• Monitors and analyzes budget-to-actual performance, staffing trends and changes, expenditures, and contract activity for assigned programs and grants using enterprise resource planning, procurement, and financial systems.
• Communicates financial status, emerging trends, variances, and key issues to Program Managers and other stakeholders to support decision-making; supports timely resolution of identified issues.
• Performs financial and operational analysis using spreadsheets, databases, and other analytical tools to evaluate fiscal performance, identifies trends and risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend actions to improve resource utilization and financial outcomes.
• Prepares expenditure forecasts and coordinates cost-to-complete analyses for assigned programs and grants in collaboration with Program Managers; analyzes projected-to-actual variances, researches discrepancies, initiates corrective actions, and recommends budget reallocations or modifications as needed.
• Monitors and manages financial aspects of contracts and grants, including expenditure activity, funding levels, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations; provides financial and analytical support for grant applications, budget development, and required grant reporting.
• Coordinates the preparation and review of monthly, semi-annual, and annual financial and grant reports within established timelines to support management decision-making and county, state, and other accountability requirements.
• Provides fiscal and analytical support for Board of Education budget work sessions, including developing financial analyses and reports, responding to budget-related questions, and coordinating timely responses with Program Managers and other departments.
• Manages budget-related data and reporting processes for the department, including entering, maintaining, reconciling, and reporting budget data within financial and budget systems; ensures data integrity, compliance with established requirements, and timely processing of budget amendments.
• Supports the development and review of annual budget book materials for assigned programs, including compiling financial and operational data, preparing performance measures and supporting schedules, and ensuring accuracy and consistency of submitted information.
• Develops, implements, and maintains internal controls, financial procedures, and standard operating procedures to strengthen fiscal oversight, improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and prevent and identify errors or discrepancies.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge Maryland legal regulations related to school funding, budgeting, and grants (including Part B & C requirements).
• Current issues in public education and their impact on funding and budgeting.
• Budgeting processes across multiple programs or business units.
• Skills Proficient use of Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas) and Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
• Interpreting, analyzing, and reconciling financial data, reports, and transactions to inform decision-making and ensure compliance.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving applied to financial analysis and budget management.
• Strong attention to detail with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and data integrity.
• Preparing reports, presenting complex financial data clearly, and advising stakeholders.
• Documentation and organization to support audit readiness and efficient record-keeping.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication, with the ability to clearly convey complex financial information and collaborate with diverse stakeholders through in-person, email, virtual, and other communication channels.
• Abilities Build strong partnerships across offices and organizations, fostering collaboration, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Work independently, self-direct tasks, and proactively manage multiple priorities.
• Adapt quickly to new systems, tools, and processes.
• Collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Uphold high ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Working Hours The duty day for this position is eight hours including a one-hour duty-free lunch.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system. Applicants may be required to complete a skills assessment prior to or during the interview process.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade 26 on the Technical Central Office and School Based salary scale, $104,417 - $157,345. Actual step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA-ESP Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.

Retirement Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee's annual salary.

Benefits HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors. All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing. Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at [e-mail].

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email [e-mail]. HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students! To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email [e-mail].