Lead Budget Specialist

Primary Purpose

Maintain the development, review, approval, and reporting of the annual budget for the District. Assist in the analysis and evaluation of the current budget. Uphold accountability standards, laws, regulations, and practices.

Qualifications

• Education/Certification: High school diploma/GED
• Special Knowledge/Skills:
  • Knowledge of budgetary principles and practices
  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices
  • Knowledge of State School Finance and TEA Financial Accountability System Resource Guide
  • Familiarity with automated financial systems and ability to access and utilize data from mainframe computer applications
  • Ability to use calculator (10-key by touch)
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Word
  • Strong analytical, organizational, communicational, and interpersonal skills
  • Aptitude for detailed work
  • Ability to work with staff and administration
  • Ability to handle interruptions, manage multiple deadlines
• Experience: Three years' experience working in a school district environment. Budget and/or Accounting experience preferred.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist the Budget Coordinator in the planning and implementation of the District budget.
• Establish and maintain budget management guidelines and procedures that enable users to be efficient and effective budget managers.
• Assist in the compilation and input of campus and departmental budgets and district-wide budgets.
• Monitor salary and benefits budgets for all funds to ensure that no budgets are exceeded.
• Assist to ensure all salary and benefit general ledger accounts are set up according to the FASRG and the PEIMS guidelines.
• Coordinate with Facilities Department to ensure that Bond budgets are established.
• Review, approve and post all budget change requests within applicable thresholds to ensure proper coding of revenues and expenditure for budget purposes. Ensure the appropriate workflow is established for each budget responsibility, and appropriate approvals are documented within the financial system prior to posting.
• Set up and maintain general ledger segments as well as general ledger account codes in the financial system. Ensure that all account codes are set up according to the FASRG and the PEIMS guidelines.
• Coordinate with Staff Accountants to monitor the spending timelines for each general ledger account and set each account to the appropriate status to ensure compliance with applications and local / legal policies (e.g., certain special revenue accounts, activity funds, etc.).
• Monitor all budgets to ensure that none have exceeded allocations, and report budget-to-actual comparisons at least monthly. Assist in the development of exception reporting to highlight areas of budget variance.
• Prepare materials for the Quarterly Training meetings and present training materials to the office professionals to facilitate continuous improvement regarding fiscal management and use of the district's financial system.
• Assist the Budget Coordinator with budgetary analysis as needed.
• Work with Financial Systems Analyst to recommend enhancements for the District's financial system that would lead to more efficient and effective processes.
• Assist in the preparation and publication of the Comprehensive Annual Budget Report (CABR) as it relates to areas of assignment and other information included in the CABR and related data for the Meritorious Budget Award.
• Assist with all records of the Budget Department are being maintained, stored, and disposed in accordance with federal, state and District policies and requirements.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of the Budget Department's operating processes contained in the Business Office Procedures Manual.
• Compile, prepare and transmit required fiscal reports and data to appropriate local, state, and federal agencies.
• Comply with policies established by federal and state law, and local board policy.
• Assist in the year-end closing and any budget schedules required by the outside auditors.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Budget Coordinator.

Equipment Used

Computer, printer, fax machine, ten-key calculator, file cabinet, telephone voicemail, and copier

Working Conditions

• Mental Demands: Concentration; communicating; interpretive skills; reasoning skills; understanding verbal instruction; analyzing; differentiating; memorizing; reading; coordinating; compiling; computing; instructing; maintaining emotional control; meeting deadlines
• Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Light lifting; some eye strain due to continual work on computer; sitting; balancing; stooping; kneeling; reaching; repetitive hand motions; hearing; speech; visual acuity; driving (occasional trips to the campuses/departments)