Fiscal Officer III

County of Chester; West Goshen (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Chester seeks an experienced financial operations manager to lead the department’s multi-revenue budget, forecast financial needs for county leadership, and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. The role includes supervising staff, developing fiscal policies, and coordinating with subcontractors.

The position requires strong accounting knowledge, ability to analyze complex financial data, and the capacity to deliver accurate reports across varied funding

Qualifications

• One year as County Fiscal Officer I or two years of accounting/budgetary experience and a business-related bachelor’s degree with six accounting credits
• Four years of accounting/budgetary experience and a business-related associate’s degree with six accounting credits
• Equivalency combining experience and training with six accounting credits
• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures
• Ability to assemble, analyze and prepare reports of difficult financial data
• Ability to supervise and train accounting staff

Responsibilities

• Develop the department’s multi-revenue budgets across state and federal fiscal years and the County calendar year budget based on funder requirements and program goals
• Develop and maintain systems for managing and tracking fiscal requirements and budgeting across periods to ensure funding availability
• Create policies for department fiscal management to ensure compliance with all requirements and sound accounting principles
• Ensure subcontractor budgets, contracts and invoices comply with county, state and federal requirements
• Supervise fiscal staff and oversee implementation of the purchase of service contractual system
• Oversee year-end closing for county and department fiscal years and ensure timely completion
• Manage multiple revenue sources with complex reporting requirements
• Prepare all required funder financial reports and reconcile to County accounting records
• Conduct financial analysis and forecasts for the County Finance Office and Controller’s staff
• Provide ongoing financial analysis for Director and recommend actions as needed
• Review provider contract budgets for cost reasonableness and compliance
• Ensure payroll and other financial transactions are accurate and compliant
• Perform other duties and special projects as required

Skills

Analytical skills

Budgetary oversight

Staff supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related with accounting credits

Associate’s degree with accounting credits

Tools

PeopleSoft

Excel

Job description

This is a management position responsible for managing and supervising the financial operations of the department, including development and management of a comprehensive multi-revenue budget that complies with multiple local, state and federal requirements; ensuring accountability and compliance with local, state and federal fiscal requirements and reporting; forecasting budget needs and expenses for Executive Director and County management; and recommending fiscal actions as needed to achieve the financial and program goals of the Department and County.

A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the system of care practice model, which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system of care includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals.

This job requires the following documents to be obtained, reviewed as acceptable by the supervisor and re-obtained every five years: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History and FBI Criminal History.

• Develop the department’s multi-revenue, state fiscal year budget, federal fiscal year budget and the County calendar year budget based on federal, state, county and funder-specific requirements as well as departmental-established program goals and services.


• Develop and maintain systems and cross-walks for managing and tracking the different fiscal requirements and budget years to ensure compliance; develop and maintain systems and cross-walks for managing funding to ensure sufficient funds are available in the different budget periods.


• Develop and maintain policies and procedures for department fiscal management to ensure that all department accounting functions are in compliance with all federal, state, local and funding-specific requirements as well as sound accounting principles.


• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that subcontractor budgets, contracts and invoices and are compliant with county, state and federal requirements as well as sound accounting principles.


• Train, direct and supervise fiscal staff including the oversight of the County Fiscal Officer II in implementing the SCA’s purchase of service contractual system.


• Oversee and complete accurate and timely year-end closing of the County calendar year and the department fiscal year.


• Manage multiple revenue sources with complex utilization and reporting requirements.


• Prepare all required federal, state and local and other funder financial reports. Ensure all information in reports is accurate and reconciled to County accounting records.


• Perform analysis and prepare forecasts of financial data for the County Finance Office and the Controller’s staff, as required.


• Develop and maintain a system for ongoing analysis and forecasting of financial data and needs for the Director; recommend actions, as needed, in response to the analysis.


• Review provider contract budgets for appropriateness of costs and compliance with all funder’s fiscal guidelines.


• Ensure that provider payment practices are compliant with all requirements, policy and acceptable accounting standards.


• Ensure that all financial transactions and recordkeeping are accurate and compliant with federal, state, county and specific funding requirements, including use of automated systems, as required.


• Ensure that all miscellaneous fiscal functions necessary for the operation of the department are handled accurately and effectively, including but not limited to requisitions, staff expenses, etc.


• Serve as an authorized signature for payroll.


• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• One year as a County Fiscal Officer I; or two years of accounting and/or budgetary experience and a business-related Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university that includes six college credits in accounting; or four years of accounting and/or budgetary experience and a business-related Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university that includes six college credits in accounting; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes or is supplemented by six college credits in accounting.


• Strong knowledge of commonly-accepted accounting principles and procedures.


• Knowledge of the principles and practices of auditing and cost accounting.


• Ability to assemble, analyze and prepare reports and statements of difficult financial data.


• Ability to analyze and interpret accounting and cost accounting records.


• Ability to apply accounting principles to the resolution of a variety of accounting or fiscal problems.


• Ability to evaluate staff and program effectiveness.


• Ability to train and supervise a professional and non-professional accounting staff.


• Ability to develop and install modifications in established accounting systems, procedures, records and controls.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.


• Ability to travel and attend meetings off-site.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting or Finance.


• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting and auditing standards.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Intermediate to advanced math / accounting knowledge.


• Ability to work independently and proceed with objectives.


• Ability to work as part of a team.


• General understanding of fiscal planning.


• Strong working knowledge of budgets, spreadsheets and interpreting audits.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.


• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of County management.


• Accurate and detail-oriented.


• Strong organizational and time management skills.


• Ability to establish priorities.


• Intermediate skill to use a personal computer and various software packages.


• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems.


• Strong professional ethics.


• Flexibility and the ability to multi-task.


• General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.


• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.


• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:

• Basic Word skills


• Intermediate Excel skills


• Basic Outlook skills (Email and Calendar)


• Basic PowerPoint skills (preferred but not required)


• PeopleSoft skills or the ability to learn PeopleSoft


• Basic Internet skills