Project Accountant/Contract Specialist

The job of Project Accountant/Contract Specialist was established for the purpose/s of providing fiscal management support to program activities with specific responsibility for managing various Federal, State, Local and Fee for Service Projects for the DCIU and DCTS as well as providing financial information to program in a timely and accurate manner.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in unit meetings, in-service training, workshops, etc. for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job functions.

• Reconciles fiscal information and account balances for the purpose of verifying accuracy of information, maintaining accurate balances and complying with accounting practices.

• Trains department staff regarding proper accounting practices for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the fund account and generally accepted accounting principles.

• Analyze resolve and reconcile financial information and reports for the purpose of identifying potential budget variances, compiling statistical information, developing procedures, and conforming to established financial practices and regulatory requirements.

• Assists auditors for the purpose of providing requested supporting documentation, informationon internal processes, and/or coordinating activities in support of the audit process.  

• Collaborate with other administrative personnel and departments (e.g. financial reporting,budgeting, budget management including salary & benefit determination; development ofmultiple budget planning scenarios) for the purpose of maintaining updated revenue andexpenditures data relating to services and/or programs in accordance with established financial policies, practices, laws and/or regulatory guidelines.

• Compiles statistical and financial data (e.g. special projects, salary and benefit calculations andscenarios, estimates of budget revenue/discrepancies with board-approved positions, ) for thepurpose of providing third-party reporting; developing budget recommendations; providing financial summaries to other personnel, reconciling fiscal information and/or ensuring compliance with established guidelines.

• Develop maintenance, monitoring and reporting (e.g. multiple budgets, reporting processes,procedures and internal controls, fixed assets policies, state regulations and requirements) forthe purpose of maintaining the efficient flow of financial processes and an overall knowledge ofall business office functions and district staff as necessary.

• Generate a wide variety of billing and disbursement reports (e.g. district billings and reconciliations; expenditure reports; monthly cash distribution; institution balances) for the purpose of ensuring expenditure/revenue/financial obligations and reporting according to Board policy.

• Implements accounting procedures for the purpose of providing internal financial controls throughout the organization and ensuring compliance with established accounting practices and all applicable regulatory requirements.

• Monitor expenditures against budget and/or a wide variety of account information (e.g. Fair Share; assessments done by IU evaluation team) for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of reported information, availability of funds, and compliance with established financial guidelines and program policies, practices and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee budgets (e.g. Federal & Special Projects; Technical Schools budget development process; IU compliance for contractual obligations; consolidated budget book; host district and tuition based contracts; DCIU office trust account; fixed assets) for the purpose of ensuring expenditure/revenue accountability and contractual obligations for district billings and reimbursement processing.

• Prepare a wide variety of finance-related documents (e.g. final expenditure reports for Perkins, IDEA and Section 619 budgets) for the purpose of managing of budget revision per Board policy, documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.

• Provides technical expertise and direction to staff and administration regarding accounting issues and related financial activities for the purpose of conveying pertinent information regarding the organizations financial operations, to achieve major functions and ensure compliance with established policies, practices and regulatory requirements.

• Researches a wide variety of financial and administrative topics for the purpose of providing information and/or recommendations that impact the organization’s operations.

• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Business Manager for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

• Responds to inquiries from a wide variety of internal and external sources (e.g. staff, government agencies.) for the purpose of providing information, direction and/or appropriate referrals.

Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in job related area

Experience Required: Job related experience required

Experience Preferred: 7 years of job related experience is acceptable in lieu of degree.