Ascender Support Specialist (Business Services)

Ascender Support Specialist (Business Services)

Provide direct support to the Region 11 client local education agencies (LEAs) in all areas of business administrative services provided.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education/Certification

• Associate degree or equivalent experience
• TASBO certification, preferred

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Software knowledge of: ASCENDER, PEIMS/State Reporting, MS Office Suite
• Proficient in daily business operations
• Team-oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff and LEA personnel
• Excellent knowledge of school district central office administrative functions such as finance and payroll
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent knowledge of FAR and TRS guidelines
• Excellent knowledge of PEIMS Data Standards
• Basic understanding of governmental accounting principles

Experience

• Four years experience at a Regional Service Center or in a school district in a business office environment working with business accounting software. An accounting degree may be substituted for two years of experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Actively participate in and/or provide leadership for inter-departmental teams to help improve student performance in the region, to improve the ESC/s internal operations, and to meet the established goals and objectives for the ESC.
• Is responsive as the first point of contact to all stakeholders in the education community.
• Participate in Business Team projects
• Provide telephone support
• Provide workshop training
• Provide on-site visits
• Assist with PEIMS
• Learn new software features
• Attends regional and statewide ASCENDER business training
• Makes documentation recommendations
• Makes software enhancement recommendations
• Provides suggestions for planning and scheduling client training
• Implements new applications
• Supports clients with basic accounting functions
• Other duties as assigned

Supervisory Duties

None

Equipment/Specialized Software Used

Computers, projection devices, control panels in meeting rooms, printers, productivity software, software specific to the job assignment, network resources, internet resources, and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently including; ASCENDER Business, MS Office Suite, and TRSReporting/RE Portal.

Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors)

Mental: Public relations and people skills are always required, work with frequent interruptions, and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress.

Physical: Occasional prolonged and irregular hours, ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Frequent region and state-wide travel.

Environmental: Open cubicles/workstations

Evaluation

Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance, need, and funding

Benefits at ESC Region 11

• $645 monthly contribution for Medical Insurance
• Competitive Pay and Growth Opportunities
• Retirement Account Matching Program
• HSA, FSA, Dental, Vision, Life, Cancer Insurance Offered
• 10 Local Sick Paid Days provided Annually (Per School Year)
• 5 State Personal Paid Leave Days provided Annually (Per School Year)