Specialist - School Finance

Technical Assistance and Support Manager

Provide technical assistance and support to school districts in all facets of school finance, budget development and finance management. Direct and manage the district accounting services provided to school districts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting or related field.
• Proficient knowledge of the field of school finance and school district accounting.
• Three years in Texas school finance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficient knowledge and understanding of school finance, budgeting, and accounting systems
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Ability to use Internet resources
• Ability to deliver effective public presentations
• Ability to conduct onsite technical assistance
• Knowledge of policy, procedures, and data with the ability to ensure compliance
• Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to make independent decisions regarding planning, organizing, and scheduling
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently
• Flexible, with the ability to respond to unexpected changes quickly, calmly and efficiently
• Maintain professionalism and emotional control under stress

Essential Functions

• Maintain and reconcile the general ledger across all funds, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and proper financial coding
• Prepare and post journal entries, including budget transfers, and maintain organized financial records
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including supporting schedules and required reports such as the AFR, in compliance with the Texas Education Agency and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board
• Perform bank and investment reconciliations, monitor cash flow, and coordinate transfers in compliance with the Texas Public Funds Investment Act
• Manage and monitor federal, state, and local funding sources, including grant expenditures, encumbrances, and compliance with 2 CFR Part 200
• Assist with grant reporting, reimbursements, and drawdown processes
• Support budget development, amendments, and monitoring; analyze budget-to-actual variances and provide recommendations
• Conduct on-site technical assistance and training for public schools and charter schools in school finance, budget development and financial management
• Serve as a liaison between the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local districts and charter schools
• Participate in appropriate professional development activities to enhance skills and knowledge in areas of responsibility
• Assist districts in all facets of budget development and management
• Conduct revenue/cost analysis for school districts and charter schools.
• Demonstrate professional conduct and standards in all aspects of Region III ESC duties.
• Promote sensitivity and fairness in working with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Comply with federal and state laws, State Board of Education Rules, and ESC board policy and procedures.

All positions at ESC 3 are defined as security-sensitive. Security-sensitive positions are those which require employees to be entrusted with the certain types of data, whether electronic or in paper form. Those data elements, as defined by the ESC 3 Data Classification and Handling Policy may include, but not limited to:

• Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
• Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Family Educational Records (FERPA Data)
• Federal Tax Information (FTI)
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act)

It is the employees on-going responsibility to safeguard this type of data and to report any instance of lost or stolen data.