Regulatory Document Compliance Specialist- Non-Classified

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Health benefits

PFML

11 paid holidays

Paid time off

PERA retirement

RTD Eco Pass

Professional development

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Education is seeking a Regulatory Document Compliance Specialist to conduct school district compliance audits under the Public School Finance Act. The role requires managing audit reviews from start to finish and ensuring funded pupil counts are accurate.

You will review documentation, draft audit reports, and communicate findings to district personnel, with opportunities to develop training materials and collaborate across state agencies.

Qualifications

• Six years of relevant experience in compliance auditing and project management.
• Bachelor’s degree can substitute for up to 4 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Excellent communication and detail-oriented work.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple active compliance audit reviews and track deadlines.
• Analyze information to inform audit review processes.
• Prepare detailed work papers and validate results using Excel tests.
• Verify district data through documentation reviews.
• Draft audit reports with findings and recommendations.
• Communicate findings clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to training materials and act as a subject matter expert.
• Support verification of additional pupil count processes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Audit & compliance

Project management

Analytical thinking

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Word

Job description

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

Why Work For CDE

The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals.
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org.
• Employer-paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply).
• Paid professional development opportunities.

A wide salary range is posted for this position, and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority relative to others performing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Work Environment

This position is a full-time, hybrid, general-funded position.

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• 5% Travel required within Denver Metro/Downtown within the state of Colorado for Meetings/Training.
• A Remote (Home) office is required.
• Required to report to the work location per business needs.
• DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements. (For positions that only report to CDE locations and can use public transportation to complete that.)
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • LIGHT/Office environment:
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
    • May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
    • Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
  • DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements.

Position Summary

Are you interested in learning about school districts across the state and keeping up with changes in how Colorado public school districts are funded? Can you remain impartial and focused while completing a long and complex task? If so, the School Auditing Office is looking for a Regulatory Document Compliance Specialist who will be responsible for conducting school district compliance audits associated with the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act.

The Regulatory Document Compliance Specialist will be required to conduct all aspects of assigned compliance audit reviews, from start to finish, to include the validation of all funded student counts (funded pupil, at‑risk, ELL funding factor, and Special Education pupil) included in the Total Program funding calculation as outlined in the School Finance Act. Overall audit process includes, but is not limited to, developing a plan for and scheduling audit reviews, setting/monitoring deadlines, reviewing large quantities of documentation to confirm funding eligibility compliance (as described in the School Finance Act, accompanying Administrative Rules, and published Audit Resource Guides), and drafting audit reports that outline findings and recommendations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage multiple active compliance audit reviews (that may last several months), including scheduling audit reviews and tracking/meeting deadlines, through the use of effective time management and calendaring.
• Analyze available information and data to inform the audit review process.
• Prepare accurate and thorough work papers following standard operating procedures, documenting the conducted work, and identifying audit count adjustments and exceptions; includes providing the logic and methodology used during the audit review, and executing a variety of quality control validation tests in Excel to verify the accuracy of results.
• Verify reported district level data through an extensive review of district-provided documentation that includes both program-level and student-level documentation, including but not limited to calendars, bell schedules, contracts, enrollment reports, attendance reports, scheduled instructional hours reports, lunch eligibility status reports, language proficiency, and identified disabilities, if applicable.
• Communicate with appropriate school district personnel throughout the audit review process regarding identified questions, issues, and findings. Provide guidance to ensure compliance with rules and statutes.
• Draft audit reports for districts in order to highlight identified findings and issues found during the audit review, the criteria used as the basis for the exceptions, and recommendations to address findings moving forward.
• Effectively communicate findings, both verbally and in writing, so that the findings are placed in appropriate context and clearly understood.
• Contribute to the drafting of written materials and development of training materials for both internal and external customers, and act as a subject matter expert, as assigned.
• Participate in the verification of funding and audit documentation requirements associated with additional pupil count processes, including but not limited to the Duplicate Count process and the Annual Audit Review process.
• Other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in a combination of compliance/performance auditing and project management.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for up to 4 years of relevant experience.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

• Demonstrated experience completing all aspects of a long-term audit or project (from start to finish).
• Demonstrated ability to follow and utilize standard operating procedures and logically apply statutes and regulations to reasonably support all review findings and exceptions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while adapting to the changing needs and goals of each project.
• Ability to apply mathematical reasoning to real-world scenarios.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Detail oriented (i.e., proofing work, spelling, grammar, formatting, etc.).
• Proven administrative and project management skills.
• Effective and constructive interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in various workplace software including Excel, Word and Adobe Acrobat.
• Experience with managing documents using electronic systems in a paperless environment.
• Ability to effectively balance quality of work and productivity expectations.
• Demonstrates initiative and exhibits a proactive approach to work.
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external customers (i.e., school districts, BOCES, other CDE units, etc.).
• Ability to work equally well independently or as a member of a team.
• Exhibits CDE’s mission, vision, and values by the consistent expression of professional, respectful, and customer service-oriented behaviors.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently determine, obtain means, and complete required travel/commuting needs.
• Work extended schedule per business needs.
• Report to work location per business needs.
• DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements.

Notes

Only completed applications received by the deadline will be considered for review. Following the close of the posting, all applications will be reviewed, and selected candidates will be contacted to participate in the interview process.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [e-mail].