Financial Analyst IV

Job Description

The Financial Analyst IV (FA4) reports to the Director of Procurement Financial Services within the Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS) Division and performs highly advanced (senior-level) financial analysis work related to various Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) projects, including financial, cost, and budgetary analysis for various projects and complex procurements.

The Financial Analyst develops and evaluates cost proposals (CP) and oversees the preparation of financial capacity reports (FCR); performs cost evaluations, responds to inquiries, and recommends appropriate action to resolve financial, procurement, and regulatory issues.

• Develops and assists in the development of major procurement exhibits while navigating financial policies and provisions for major HHS procurements and contracts, considering existing or enacting state and federal laws, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
• Develops and implements effective techniques for forecasting future state costs related to various HHSC projects.
• Coordinates the inspections and reviews of financial information related to various procurements to determine compliance with state and federal policies, regulations, and HHSC procurement provisions.
• Assists with and may lead financial negotiations, including negotiating financial elements of various types of procurements, final contract pricing development of financial payment terms, related financial provisions and financial settlement agreements.
• Provides guidance to staff in the development and integration of new cost accounting methods and procedures.
• Provides advice to programs executive management and other key staff on all aspects of procurement and contract financial terms and conditions.
• Provides guidance to third-party vendors, program staff, legal counsel, and management on financial technical questions as well as on regulatory compliance with applicable federal and state laws, statutes, regulations, provisions, and rules.
• Reviews and uses enacted legislation, both federal and state, as well as agency and state contract and procurement guidelines and regulations in the day-to-day decision making on current solicitations or contracts.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on agency workgroups to coordinate and develop HHS policy initiatives related to major procurements.
• Assists HHS agencies during legislative sessions, applying specialized knowledge to complex issues.
• Makes fiscal notes on legislation affecting HHSC for the Legislative Budget Board, ensuring that HHSC’s assumptions and fiscal estimates regarding proposed legislation are made available to the Texas Legislature.

Essential Job Functions

• Formulates and administers financial models, processes, and systems related to various HHSC projects and procurements that comply with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies and procedures.
• Oversees the development and implementation of effective techniques for evaluating programs and various high-profile procurements; such techniques are, but not limited to, CP, cost analysis, cost evaluations, FCR, financial evaluation tools, financial solvency tools, and financial requirements.
• Covers inspections and reviews of financial information related to various procurements to determine compliance with state and federal policies, regulations, and HHSC procurement provisions.
• Coordinates the preparation of administrative reports, studies, specialized financial analysis, completion of financial reports and recommended changes, and the development and coordination of financial requirements for audits of third-party and final negotiated recoupments and/or payments.
• Assists with and may lead financial negotiations, including negotiating financial elements of various types of procurements, final contract pricing development of financial payment terms, related financial provisions and financial settlement agreements.
• Provides guidance to staff in the development and integration of new cost accounting methods and procedures.
• Provides advice to programs executive management and other key staff on all aspects of procurement and contract financial terms and conditions.
• Provides guidance to third-party vendors, program staff, legal counsel, and management on financial technical questions as well as on regulatory compliance with applicable federal and state laws, statutes, regulations, provisions, and rules.
• Establishes and maintains excellent partnerships with all stakeholders, internal and external.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on agency workgroups to coordinate and develop HHS policy initiatives related to major procurements.
• Monitors activities in legislative committees to keep executive staff apprised of legislative activities pertaining to health and human services.
• Prepares fiscal notes on legislation affecting HHSC for the Legislative Budget Board, ensuring that HHSC’s assumptions and fiscal estimates regarding proposed legislation are made available to the Texas Legislature.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of state government organization, administration, management, and intergovernmental relations.
• Thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program areas and of the principles and practices of public administration, procurements, financial management, and management.
• Thorough knowledge of health and human services programs, services, and procedures.
• Skill in analyzing legislation and general understanding of the legislative process.
• Skill in policy analysis, interpretation, and development.
• Skill in project management or leading work groups related to special assignments.
• Skill in financial planning and scheduling.
• Advanced MS Excel skills such as data modeling, creating and maintaining Excel models using complex formulas, pivot tables, dashboards, and charts creation.
• Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing with all levels of staff.
• Ability to establish program goals and objectives that support the coordinated biennial operating plan.
• Ability to organize tasks and projects and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to quickly analyze complex policy issues, identify problems, and to develop strategies to remove barriers.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups and entities.
• Ability to use computer-based word-processing software, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Ability to conduct thorough, independent peer reviews on assignments, documents, and processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to HHSC standards.

Registration or Licensure Requirements

Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) (formerly Certified Texas Procurement Manager) certification must be obtained within 3 months of hire.

Initial Selection Criteria

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, auditing, accounting, public administration, or a closely related field of study. Experience in financial analysis, financial monitoring, auditing, procurement, and contract administration. Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year-by-year basis.