Fiscal Officer I

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Alexandria seeks a Fiscal Manager to oversee the fiscal and budget operations of the Department of Community and Human Services. The role includes budgeting, grant information, and coordination with program directors to ensure proper funds management.

Responsibilities cover monitoring program expenditures, vendor payments, and preparing monthly financial analyses, with strong emphasis on accounting controls and supervisory duties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, and experience supervising staff.
• Strong knowledge of budgetary principles, financial management, and accounting systems.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct accounting procedures and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Performs analytical work formulating budget estimates and fund requirements for operating programs.
• Executes approved budgets and provides program controls over obligations and expenditures.
• Collaborates with program directors to gather budget data for grants and reports.
• Monitors reimbursement systems, billing, and vendor payments; prepares monthly analyses.
• Provides financial guidance to staff and supports auditors with documentation.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Supervising staff

Accounting systems

Program coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration

Tools

Excel

Statistical packages

Job description

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well‑being, safety and self‑sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self‑determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play.

Fiscal Manager is the management level in the occupational group for Accountant. Employees are responsible for overall management and administration of the fiscal and budget operations of a Local Department of Social Services. The Fiscal Manager is distinguished from the Accountant by having responsibility for the overall management of the fiscal operations of a Local Department of Social Services.

A Fiscal Officer I performs analytical and evaluative work involving the formulation of budget estimates including development of fund requirements to support operating programs; execution of approved budgets by City program officials and/or contractors; exercising program controls over the obligation and expenditure of appropriated funds; and the provision of administrative management services. The work involves gathering of grant information and data as a part of a larger coordinated program. The completed work generally contributes to other departmental/divisional programs and affects the reliability, accuracy or acceptability of the outcome of such programs. An incumbent independently conceptualizes, organizes and carries out most work assignments under minimal supervision. Special assignments are outlined by the supervisor in terms of the end product required. Written guidelines are available for use in most City/State financial management matters. The incumbent develops local procedures for use in various other program matters.

Example of Duties:

• Performs analytical work involving the formulation of budget estimates, including developmentof fund requirements to support operating programs, and the execution of approved budgets by City program officials and/or contractors;
• Coordinates reimbursement activities for Early Childhood Programs and provides program controls over the obligation and expenditure of funds or plans. The work involves the gathering of grant information and data for division grant applications and reports.
• Works in close collaboration with program directors to gather information for the budget, grant applications and other financial management projects.
• Performs complex accounting activities that require discretion and interpretation in the application of federal, state and local policies and procedures;
• Monitors various facets of the division's reimbursement system, including billing and collection of client, third‑party payer and contract program payments;
• Reviews and verifies the accuracy of a variety of expenditure and revenue reports to prepare monthly analyses of expenditures and revenues, to include the resolution of any financial issues requiring adjustments;
• Ensures that all program transactions are properly coded, approved, signed and documented;
• Monitors fiscal condition of the Early Childhood programs;
• Assists program grants managers for grant close‑out;
• Responds to agency and vendor inquiries regarding status of payments and researches and resolves vendor inquiries on past due invoices. Resolves various other problems regarding payment to vendors;
• Prepares monthly budget reports;
• Monitors program expenditures & revenues and recommends solutions to identified issues;
• Enters new vendors into system, processes invoices, maintains records and files;
• Provides technical guidance on financial matters to employees within the program;
• Provides support documentation and schedules to auditors;
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or related field, and experience in supervising staff to include professional accountants OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Considerable knowledge of budgetary principles and practices; Skill in the use of personal computers, including spreadsheet applications and statistical packages. Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and direct accounting systems and procedures; Demonstrated ability to supervise or manage work directly or through subordinate staff; Demonstrated ability to organize work and meet critical deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

Four‑Year College Degree and completion of college‑level courses in the principles and theories of accounting, budgeting, procurement, contracting, human resources management, training or related administrative management experience in the subject matter area; Some experience in progressively‑responsible positions involving public administration, including some experience in public financial planning and administration; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.