Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

Address:  Academic Standards/Early Childhood Section
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $66,000 - $71,500 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 2/11/24

• Support the Early Childhood Education (EDE) Department and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Early Care and Education Programs relative to grant compliance, budget, and quality improvement efforts for early childhood education (birth through third grade) and facilitate collaborative relationships through a finance lens.
• Rare in-state and out-of-state travel is required.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

• Direct administrative activities of ECE grants and budgets including communication with procurement, accounting, personnel and payroll, and project management
• Plan and review the fiscal portion of projects conducted by the ECE Unit including submission, review and processing of projects, grants, Inter-governmental Service Agreements (ISAs), and Inter-governmental Agreements (IGAs) for state and/or federal assistance funding
• Designs and prepares comprehensive statistical, financial, and other reports for program accountability to funding agencies, state legislature, and other stakeholders
• Direct oversight of state and federal grant requirements
• Monitor budgeted line items at the LEA and ADE level for compliance with the Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR)

Knowledge in:
• Adult learning styles
• Fiscal management and budget preparation
• Standard accounting principals and procurement
• Experience in early childhood funding, as well as administrative experience
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating for program effectiveness
• Extensive knowledge of high-quality ECE programming, as well as implementation to provide assistance to programs with implementing the structural elements of high-quality programming
• Extensive knowledge of the specific professional development requirements of ECE grants and the statewide ECE system in Arizona
• Arizona State statutes and federal regulations relating to ECE
• Quality early childhood programs
• Bachelor's degree in the finance or accounting fields or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required
• Minimum of two years supporting finance or accounting operations in an educational or buisiness settings
• Minimum three years experience providing professional development and/or technical assistance

Skills in:
• Communication skills, both verbal and written
• Decision making and problem solving skills
• Organizational skills including planning and prioritizing
• Conducting research
• Analyzing data
• Using data to make programmatic and fiscal decisions
• Intermediate skill in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Ability to:
• Identify a goal, create plans to achieve the goal, and ensure appropriate time and effort are allocated to complete the project
• Multi-task
• Work as a member of a team
• Develop reports and written procedures
• Provide attention to detail
• Provide high quality customer service
• Provide fiscal and data technical assistance and/or professional development to early childhood education programs
• Coach and support staff

Preference will be given to those applicants with:
• Post secondary education in accounting, finance, or organizational management
• Minimum of 15 credit hours in accounting or financial management
• Experience working in programs that support children and families

Applicants must have a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card or the ability to obtain one prior to employment start date.

Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.