Associate Fiscal/Administrative Officer

Introduction

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is recruiting for two (2) Associate Fiscal Administrative Officers (AFAO) to support the agency's Business Office within the Fiscal Services Division.


The Business Office is responsible for overseeing agency purchasing, accounts payable, procurement administration, and related fiscal operations. These positions report to the Business Office Manager and supervise a team consisting of Fiscal Administrative Officers and Fiscal Administrative Assistants while supporting the daily operations of the Business Office.



WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Monday-Friday schedule (8am - 4:30pm).
• Hybrid work schedule available in accordance with agency policy.
• Supervisory roles within the Fiscal Services Division.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Supervise and direct Business Office staff responsible for purchasing, accounts payable, and procurement functions;
• Establish work priorities, assign work, and monitor operational performance;
• Oversee requisitions, purchase orders, invoice processing, and payment activities;
• Administer and monitor the agency's Purchasing Card (P-Card) program;
• Ensure compliance with State of Connecticut purchasing, fiscal, and accounting requirements;
• Develop and maintain Business Office procedures and internal controls;
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement operational efficiencies;
• Provide training, guidance, and support to Business Office staff;
• Collaborate with agency divisions, vendors, and external partners regarding purchasing and payment processes;
• Support special projects and other fiscal initiatives as assigned.

A Message from our Commissioner:


DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.



1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence

• Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data.
• Challenging the "that's the way it's always been done" construct-i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve.
• Constantly seeking better results.

2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility

• Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources.
• Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests.
• Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges.

3. Ethics and Accountability

• Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies.
• Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement.
• Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments.
• Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career. pathways

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of Connecticut employee!

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:


Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.


BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Salary Calculations : For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

• Note : The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates-such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links-please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information."
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note : This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at

• This employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:


Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brianna Linehan at View email address on click.appcast.io.


Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency, facility or institution this class is accountable for performing the most complex fiscal tasks within a variety of fiscal and administrative functions or acting as a working supervisor over a variety of fiscal and administrative functions, including payroll oversight.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs the most complex fiscal and administrative tasks within a unit that clearly exceeds the norm and includes a concentration of highly advanced functions as defined by leadership;
• Plans office workflow and determines priorities;
• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
• Establishes and maintains office procedures;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and other officials regarding policies and procedures;
• Prepares and analyzes complex financial statements and reports and budget requests;
• Projects expenditures and assists in financial planning;
• Maintains fiscal controls by authorizing non-routine expenditures;
• Manages various phases of budget process;
• Makes recommendations on policies and standards;
• Oversees maintenance of accounting records;
• Utilizes EDP systems for financial records, reports, and analyses;
• May oversee implementation and analysis of financial and administrative EDP applications;
• May oversee grant and contract administration;
• May oversee payroll;
• May perform complex purchasing tasks such as preparing specifications, soliciting bids and recommending contract awards;
• May oversee leasing functions including negotiating contracts and space requirements;
• May supervise support services such as stores, inventory, security, mailroom, food service or maintenance;
• May supervise payroll, purchasing and/or other fiscal and administrative functions;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration with special reference to governmental budget management, governmental accounting, and payroll;
• Knowledge of
  • grants and contracts preparation and administration;
  • purchasing principles and procedures;
  • payroll practices and procedures;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability in preparation and analysis of financial and statistical reports;
• Ability to
  • understand and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • utilize EDP systems for financial management;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of experience in a combination of fiscal administrative functions (e.g., accounting, accounts examining, budget management, grants administration, payroll, purchasing) at least one of which must be an accounting, budgeting, or payroll function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the professional working level of Fiscal/Administrative Officer, Accountant, or Payroll Officer 2.


NOTE: Connecticut Careers Trainee experience (target Fiscal/Administrative Officer or closely related class) is at the professional training level and is below the professional working level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in public administration, business administration or accounting may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• For state employees experience at the level of a Purchasing Services Officer 1 substitutes for the General and Special Experience on a year for year basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supervising fiscal, administrative, or business office staff, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and evaluating employee performance.
• Experience managing or supporting government procurement processes, including requisitions, purchase orders, bidding, contracting, or other purchasing activities.
• Experience utilizing financial management systems to support accounts payable operations, purchase order processing, and the verification of purchasing and payment documentation.
• Experience administering, monitoring, and overseeing Purchasing Card (P-Card) or other purchasing card programs in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Experience identifying operational inefficiencies, evaluating business processes, and implementing process change within a fiscal or administrative environment.
• Experience providing fiscal, administrative, or business office support to internal and external stakeholders, including responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and coordinating across more than one functional area.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER


The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.