Finance Special Projects Manager

The Indiana Department of Education provides innovative support to Indiana schools, teachers, students, and parents. We proactively work with educators, policymakers, business leaders, and community-based organizations to build student success. Our strategic priorities include:

• Delivering quality, purposeful educational opportunities for each student.
• Elevating and supporting Indiana’s educators.
• Increasing partnerships and delivering aligned, effective, and efficient support.

About the role

The incumbent serves as Finance's lead for special projects and internal control. Responsibilities include planning and executing complex, cross-cutting financial projects; designing, implementing, and monitoring the agency's internal control system in accordance with Financial Management Circular 6.1 to ensure financial accuracy, compliance, and protection of assets related to State and Federal funds; serving as the agency record coordinator; and acting as the contact between IDOE and external agencies during Department audits. The role also involves assisting with finance team assignments as directed by the supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Determine whether management's instructions, policies, procedures, and federal regulations are followed in a manner consistent with set objectives.
• Apply professional knowledge of accounting, auditing, governmental financing, and management principles in the performance of operational audits and special projects.
• Develop the annual audit plan based on risk and cycle audits.
• Evaluate and issue opinions on proposed policy/procedure changes, identifying policy weaknesses, vendor non-compliance issues, etc.
• Prepare audit assignments for staff auditors, providing instructions, allocating time, and coordinating travel.
• Provide direct supervision, training, guidance, and assistance to lower-level staff.
• Develop and perform audit procedures outlined in the audit program.
• Oversee daily audit progression, review staff work papers, and provide reviewer comments.
• Conduct continual risk assessment during audits to determine if additional procedures/analysis are necessary.
• Finalize work papers and prepare conclusions based on materiality (Findings, System Improvement Suggestions, and Exit Points).
• Present and prepare audit reports with applicable detail for distribution to auditees and management.
• Perform special audits as requested by Agency Leadership or where internal controls appear weak.
• Work with Internal Affairs Investigative staff, outside agencies, and/or vendors on confidential investigations.
• Collaborate with Contract Administration to negotiate and approve financial terms of contracts, including overhead rates, appropriateness of direct costs, and billing rates.
• Travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at those sites or an employee’s home. Report to the agency’s office for occasional meetings or events.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

Requirements

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License.
• Ability to travel at a minimum of 60% (40% overnight, 20% commute) throughout the state.
• Broad knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) concerns and questions to all applicable parties during the audit process.
• Ability to maintain proficiency with auditing standards, state and federal laws, and regulations.
• Ability to independently develop audit guidelines/protocols for non-routine financial and compliance audits.
• Ability to identify control points, materiality, risk factors, and other related concepts necessary in audits.
• Ability to prepare meaningful, accurate, and concise audit reports with recommendations to resolve/reduce deficiencies or non-compliance.
• Ability to handle contacts with representatives of entities undergoing review, showing confidentiality and sensitivity to the political environment.
• Able to work in a flexible environment where job assignments may change with little notice and/or perform multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Basic knowledge of computer systems to aid in various audits and systems reviews.
• Ability to supervise and train Senior and Staff auditors in a field environment.
• Ability to project future workloads and delegate staff assignments.
• Ability to perform a thorough review of completed audits.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree with a major in Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, and 3 years of relevant experience is required. Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Skills

• Supervisory experience (this role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members).

Pay

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $67,314.00.

Benefits

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees, including:

• Three medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards.
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution.
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two fully-funded pension plan options.
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies, including:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave.
  • Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off.
  • 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years.
• Education Reimbursement Program.
• Group life insurance.
• Referral Bonus program.
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits.
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Free parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.