Finance Analyst

Finance Analyst

Durham Public Schools Financial Services

Job Description Finance Analyst

JOB TITLE: Finance Analyst

REPORTS TO: Assistant Finance Officer

SALARY: NC10

STATUS: Permanent, 12 months, Classified, Non-Exempt

SUMMARY: This position is responsible for monitoring purchasing card activity and coordinating the financial administration and reporting of grants, donations, and crowdfunding activities. Reviews transactions for compliance with applicable policies, documentation, approvals, and account coding; identifies and communicates potential exceptions or noncompliance; maintains centralized records and tracking systems; supports Internal Audit by providing requested documentation while preserving appropriate functional independence; and prepares monthly grant and donation reports for Superintendent and Board review and approval.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

1. Review purchasing card transactions for appropriate business purposes, supporting receipts/invoices, required approvals, account coding, and other required documentation.

2. Identify prohibited, questionable, unusual, or potentially noncompliant purchasing card transactions and communicate exceptions to the supervisor and Internal Audit, as appropriate.

3. Monitor purchasing card activity for recurring compliance issues, unusual spending patterns, split transactions, missing documentation, and other indicators requiring additional review.

4. Assist with the development, implementation, and communication of purchasing card procedures, internal controls, and financial compliance requirements.

5. Maintain a centralized tracking system for grants, donations, crowdfunding requests, awards, approvals, and related financial activity.

6. Review grant, donation, and crowdfunding documentation for completeness, appropriate approvals, funding restrictions, and compliance with applicable Board policies and administrative procedures.

7. Monitor grant and donation activity to ensure funds are properly recorded, appropriately coded, and used in accordance with applicable restrictions and approved purposes.

8. Prepare monthly grant and donation reports for submission to the Superintendent for Board review and approval.

9. Assist schools and departments with questions regarding appropriate account coding, allowable expenditures, documentation requirements, and financial procedures.

10. Review financial documentation for completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorization, and compliance with established policies and procedures.

11. Track identified financial exceptions and corrective actions to ensure issues are appropriately resolved and documented.

12. Assist Finance leadership in responding to requests for financial information from auditors, governmental agencies, schools, departments, and other authorized stakeholders.

13. Support external audit and year-end financial reporting activities by preparing schedules, gathering supporting documentation, and researching transactions as assigned.

14. Provide training and technical assistance to school and departmental staff regarding purchasing cards, grants, donations, financial documentation, and other assigned Finance processes.

15. Maintain organized financial records and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable records-retention requirements.

16. Coordinate with Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Budget, Grants, Payroll, and other Finance functions to research and resolve financial discrepancies and compliance concerns.

17. Perform special financial analyses, compliance reviews, reconciliations, and other projects at the direction of Finance leadership.

18. Maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate professional judgment when handling sensitive financial, personnel, vendor, and compliance information.

19. Stay informed of changes to applicable financial policies, procedures, regulations, and accounting requirements and assist with implementing necessary process changes.

20. Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned consistent with the position's financial analysis, monitoring, reporting, and compliance functions.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS: Minimum education; high school diploma or the equivalent supplemented by coursework in accounting. Minimum experience; 3 years in bookkeeping, recordkeeping, or accounting related work; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

1. Special requirements; basic accounting knowledge.

2. Knowledge; identified work areas, local government accounting, technical accounting principles, modern office practices and procedures, various accounting documents and their uses in the accounting system, local accounting transaction practices and procedures and related laws and regulations, and mathematics skills.

3. Skills; data processing, strong attention to detail, calculator use, ability to multitask.

4. Abilities; maintain lines of communication with all school operations, resolve problems and answer questions pertaining to identified work areas, maintain complex accounting records, operate office equipment, compute complex arithmetic rapidly and accurately and establish and maintain effective working relationships.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be physically able to operate a variety of office machines including computer, calculator, printer, check stuffer, check sealer. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.

DISCLAIMER: The statements of the job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this category. The description does not contain an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills and other requirements necessary of employees to perform in this position. Signature Date DPS FS Rev. September 2026