Financial Analyst III

Job Description:
Performs (Advanced level) financial support services and technical assistance work for the Finance and Contacts Group Manager under the Operations Unit of the HIV/STD Section (HSS) within the Infectious Disease Prevention (IDP) Division of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Works under limited direction of the HIV STD Section Grants and Finance Manager with extensive latitude for exercising initiative and independent judgment. Performs advanced financial monitoring of technical and program-related projects and procurements that support expenditure forecast, budget, and operational impact. Work involves investigation and review of HIV STD Section budget and accounting records, financial approvals, and monitoring federal and state funds to ensure compliance with federal and state laws as well as DSHS policies and regulations. Prepares financial and expenditure progress reports. Assists with planning and coordination related to program areas procurements and budgets. Interprets agency policies; creates and documents processes and procedures; and recommends, implements, and evaluates process improvements related to procurement and budget. Analyzes and interprets budget data and creates reports for management. Creates, assigns, and responds to section and program budget assignments, and federal budgets and ensures their timely and accurate submission. Work involves providing recommendations and technical assistance to staff in all matters relating to financial compliance and best practices. Informs Section Finance Manager of financial risks or changes. Coordinates across the Division with other staff who have financial resource-related duties. Builds cooperative relationships that support good internal and external customer services. Essential Job Functions:
(30%) Responsible for budgeting, reconciling, and tracking funding and expenditures on State appropriated funds, including budgets and multiple federal funds, and reporting on available funds for projects and procurement. Prepare and review financial reports, for all budget assignments, including budget load, task profiles, and other budget and miscellaneous assignments related to operations. Reviews budgets and grants for financial completeness. Develops budget expenditure reports to monitor, track, forecast, and analyze expenditures for internal management. Provide financial recommendations to the finance manager on financial resources to meet the program's objectives and utilize funds most efficiently. Develops plans, policies, and procedures for the allocation of funds and best practices for accounting for all types of funds. Assesses trends and spending utilization in support of HIV STD Section programs and agency goals and priorities. Develops and maintains productive relationships with the Section Finance Group, Section Leadership, Program Managers, Budget Office, Contract Management, and federal Funds Coordination and Management staff to resolve issues.
(25%) Provides advanced financial and technical assistance in the review of federal grant applications, including preparing the Finance Group budget detail roster, and reviewing and assisting with the Federal budget template. Assists and works closely with program leadership and HIV STD Finance Manager on all grant application budget reviews. Responsible for approving requisitions for purchases and tracking federal expenditures by funding source. Responsible for the communication of budget details to the Finance Group Manager. Escalates and coordinates the resolution of financial risks as necessary with the HIV STD Finance Group Manager. Works with staff from across the HIV STD Section who have budget and resource-related duties to ensure coordination of spending resources. Responds to the Section Finance Group Manager on agency and section assignments. Timely prepares spreadsheets, resource documents, update logs, reports, and documents as needed for program managers and key staff or in response to assignments.
(25%) Assists as a financial liaison on budget, and procurement issues to other parts of the agency, including the Division Finance Section, the HIV STD Section Leadership, Contract Management Section (CMS), the Division Accounts Payable Section, the Budget Office Coordination and Management
Section, Information Technology Section, and the HHSC Procurement and Contracting Services (PCS). Liaison responsibilities include sharing the necessary information, resolving issues, coordinating to achieve accurate budget loads and movement of funds as needed, and responsible for communicating with the HIV STD Section Finance Group Manager. Maintains the budget roster by coding relevant financial information from budgets and financial activities. Maintains source documents and tracking logs, the budget roster by coding relevant financial information from budgets and financial activities. May train operation staff on processes and procedures. Produces reports from CAPPS financials as needed. Builds cooperative relationships that support good customer service.
(15%) Provides leadership on procurement, requisition, and purchase order activities for HIV STD Section. Reviews and approves requisitions as directed in CAPPS Financial. Provides guidance and technical assistance to admin staff on procurement issues, and CAPPS Financial, and ensures the use of an efficient system to document and track purchases within HIV STD Section. Maintains backup information on all financial reports and transactions. Interprets agency, federal, and state policies related to procurement. Monitor fund availability to ensure that funding is properly budgeted or recommend transfers as needed for successful procurement and contracting. Tracks recurring purchases and timelines to initiate renewals on time. Assists in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures.
(5%) Performs other duties as assigned, serving as a backup to the HIV STD Section Finance Manager in their absence and including but not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of financial analyses and examination procedures for regulated entities, of financial and industry terminology and practices, and of financial analysis. Knowledge of Budgeting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), purchasing and contracting processes.
Knowledge of the Texas Legislative Appropriations, state budget cycle, and requirements.
Skill in managing multiple sets of data and projects at one time.
Skill in Microsoft Office products, superior skills in Excel and/or other database programs.
Skill in responding to customer inquiries and tactfully handling difficult customers.
Skill in organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines for simultaneous tasks.
Ability to take direction and relay constructive criticism in a team environment.
Ability to gather and analyze data and facts, and to devise solutions to problems.
Ability to communicate processes and procedures clearly and effectively to others.
Ability to use independent judgment and to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments to meet deadlines.
Ability to handle and safeguard sensitive and confidential information. Ability to administer financial processes and systems.
Ability to perform and interpret numerical analyses.
Ability to analyze, evaluate, and summarize financial and management records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules, and regulations.
Ability to prepare reports and correspondence regarding findings.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to work independently and to exercise judgment in making administrative and technical decisions.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
Ability to work overtime as necessary.
Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
Ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise and implement solutions to problems; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; and to plan, and assign the work of others.
Ability to achieve goals/objectives, action items, timelines, and strategies.
Ability to handle multiple tasks in stressful times.

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