COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE - AUDIT GRANT ANALYST

Audit Grant Analyst

The Audit Grant Analyst, under general supervision, performs a variety of diverse accounting functions requiring technical and analytical knowledge, the exercise of independent judgement to perform difficult and complex accounting and auditing work. Assists the senior level audit grant analysts to establish, audit, revise and maintain controls on fiscal record-keeping functions of County grants to include auditing of payroll grant transactions and the monitoring of subrecipients, expenditures and programmatic compliance. This position must understand all accounting operations of the Auditor's office to include grants, budgeting, treasury, financial reporting, payroll, accounts payable, and receivables.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Experience and Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Accounting, or closely related field from an accredited college or university and three (3) years of public sector related, grant management experience in an administrator, financial, analytical, or consulting role in a large multifunctional organization; Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Certificates, Licenses, and other Requirements

Must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso. In order to access the County's network and systems, a personal mobile smart device is required by the hire start date.

Typical Duties

Essential Duties

Reviews policies, procedures, and financial operations of all grants and various subrecipient local agencies to ensure compliance with grant awards, subrecipient contracts, plus federal or state grant guidelines in deterring theft, fraud and/or misuse of grant funds; Sets up general ledger account and project ledger strings in the financial system; Audits all revenues, expenditures, travel advances and budgets to be entered into the financial system to ensure they are budgeted, appropriately authorized and in compliance with County policies, and statutory or grant requirements as well as established internal controls; Audits budgets and budget adjustments and posts them to the financial system ensuring budgets are allowable and consistent with policies established by the Commissioners Court, Texas Local Government Codes and grant award requirements; composes annual budgets grant accounts; Audits and monitors purchase requisitions, purchase orders and invoices tied to requisitions for grant accounts; analyze purchases made by County departments using grant accounts; audits vendor suspension and debarment prior to payments; maintain and update vendor files for grant accounts; Audits on site grant inventories and conducts cash counts; Audits payroll administration, reviews approval of timecards; tracks payroll expenses for reimbursement from granting agencies with allowable employees; audits and codes new employee data, including employee benefit changes and enrollments; prepares insurance reconciliations, prepares and maintains grants staffing reports, audits and submits payroll reporting and codes grants deposits; Audits and closes grants; reconciles accounts and balances; finalizes billings and reporting; Performs inter-departmental audits and assists with maintaining a system of internal controls; gathers, organizes, and summarizes information for grants budgets and expenditures; monitors and verifies the status of budget and projects and ensures all parties are kept appraised on all matters and projects are completed on time; works on a wide variety of financial, administrative, professional, management and community issues and problems of medium to high complexity; Develops non-standard reports and statements, such as detailed cost and financial analysis, forecasts, trend analysis and projections; completes a variety of special accounting studies, monitors revenue and expense accounts; analyzes and interprets financial data, trends, and performance measures, identifies problem areas; recommends actions to solve problems; Prepares financial statements to include Annual Financial and Compliance Reports, and the Management letters and related responses; develops various financial and budgetary statements/reports and provides regular quarterly (monthly if warranted) reports to Commissioners Court, County Administrator, granting agencies, and/or the Public; Assists with monitoring and ensuring compliance of policies & procedures, Local Government Codes, and Federal and State Laws; Makes recommendations to improve the County Auditor's office efficacy, efficiency, accuracy, internal controls, customer service and work environment; Evaluates performance measures and procedures, and master plans with both short and long-term goals and objectives; provides quality service and work product as a part of the overall departmental and Countywide strategic direction; Establishes and maintains working relationships with County and external personnel; diplomatically interacts with department heads, elected officials, external auditors, agency officials and others using considerable explanation and persuasion leading to decision, agreement or rejection on complex issues, problem-solving discussions regarding responsibilities, finance, workflow, or how to facilitate service; Participates in evaluation and design of workflow, processes, various operations systems, etc. among departments and granting agencies; Participates in the preparation of the County budget; which includes but is not limited to: meets with and compiles budget information from departments and granting agencies, makes current year recommendations, creates, modifies, and updates new calculation scenarios, gathers and reviews performance measurement data, makes future year recommendations, resolves budget issues, reviews amended budgetary and/or staffing requests and ensures the correct budget is reflected and that all supporting documentation is included; Participates in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); which involves but is not limited to: applies new guidelines, compiles, researches, and analyzes projects related to the departmental goals, objectives, measures, strategic plans, strategic maps, and mission statement, including policy issues, business methods, service levels, analytic models, financial reports and organizational effectiveness; Assists departments and provides work guidance regarding programmatic or financial reporting, or requests for funds inquiries, or other documentation required to be submitted, includes but is not limited to, solving issues through analysis, reviewing requests, ensures policies are being explained and followed; Creates and maintains positive working relationships with all levels of County and granting agency directors, managers and employees; As directed, may act as a representative for executive management and serve as a liaison to other professional organizations and governmental entities; Monitors issues and potential regulations locally and Countywide; As assigned may perform project management responsibilities on an occasional basis for certain functions, units or programs; Compiles and analyzes data, produces information and interprets results; Completes special projects as assigned, working on a wide variety of financial, administrative, professional, management and community issues and problems of medium to high complexity; Gathers information and articulates recommendations; Handles highly confidential information; Responds to correspondence, open records requests for information, financial surveys, questionnaires, etc. as assigned by manager or designee; Identifies resource needs; formulates and develops needs assessment with appropriate management staff; Provides information to potential consultants, contractors, developers, legal counsel and other external entities as warranted; Prepares and completes required grant information, documents, drafts and amendments and enters information into software system and prepares correspondence for approval; Develops standardized forms for the collection and distribution of department information and/or other documents; Performs grant administration, prepares budget amendments, reviews and updates grant summaries and synopsis; Investigates and makes recommendations for addressing grant compliance issues of medium to high complexity and/or sensitivity; Provides guidance to County personnel regarding the grants management process and ensures compliance; Meets with Auditor executive management to identify and resolve problems; Assists with monitoring and ensuring compliance of policies & procedures; Analyzes and processes department's expenses; Ensures accounting transactions have been posted accurately; Creates and maintains division activity deadlines, schedules, rate sheets, and correspondence as necessary; Performs subrecipient risk assessments which include the evaluation of policies and procedures and the adequacy of internal controls, review of annual financial reports, review of previous single audit findings and recommendations and the search for federal and state suspension and debarment; Reviews and analyzes data submitted from subrecipients to determine allowability to the Code of Federal Regulations, subrecipient contracts and other county policies and procedures in order to authorize reimbursements; Reviews, analyzes, verifies deposits, disbursements; ensures reconciliation of accounts to the subrecipient's corresponding financial systems that may include bank accounts and records; recommends adjustments for errors in accordance with accounting principles; Maintains contact with subrecipient personnel to request additional data that may include canceled checks, general ledger accounts, inventory reports, etc.; Analyzes data on a regular basis to assess programmatic compliance as written in contracts; Reviews subrecipient's contracts and payments to subcontractors; Writes audit reports to include audit findings and recommendations; Substitutes, if assigned, for coworkers during temporary absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity of normal operations; Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions; Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field including new accounting and audit techniques; Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and Creates a high-quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Other Important Duties*

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned; Work extended hours and weekends as a key employee reporting to the County Auditor; Out-of-town travel for professional conferences and meetings; Performs delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity or normal operation in the work area; Maintains a safe and healthy workplace environment; and As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Responses system, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor.

Additional Information

Organizational Relationships

Reports to