Fiscal/Administrative Officer

The State of Conecticut, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), is a unique state agency in Connecticut that helps families with young children achieve better life outcomes. We are recruiting for a full-time Fiscal/Administrative Officer position.  This position will play a critical role in the development of this new agency, showing that a family-centered, data-smart approach to service delivery drives measurable better results for children.  Responsibilities of this position include the monitoring of agency grants, contracts and overall expenditure plans, compilation and analysis of data for agency fiscal reporting and written and verbal communications regarding such monitoring and reporting.  This position is located at 450 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, with operating hours of 8:00 - 4:30, Monday - Friday. 

A new state agency, OEC is called on in its enabling statute to be data-driven, human-centered, and result-focused.  We touch the lives of over 200,000 young children, parents, and caregivers annually through our integrated focus on early care and education programs and safety supports, our home visiting programs, and other critical early childhood services.  By scale of funding, OEC is one of the largest departments of Connecticut state government, deploying and leveraging approximately half a billion dollars each year in service of vulnerable families and communities. 

Connecticut is a leader in the coordination of early childhood programs throughout the country.  Whereas early childhood programming in most states is fragmented across multiple programs which families must navigate, only a handful of states have created agencies dedicated to integrating the supports families with young children require – an only Connecticut’s has  clear data-driven mandate.  New parenthood and early childhood are extremely important moments in a person’s life and nurturing or harmful experiences during this time can have significant and long lasting impacts.  OEC acts on the overwhelming evidence that intervention early in life, is the most promising way to break the cycle of poverty.   Your work here will have an impact on the economic security, health, safety, and resilience of families with young children. You will help make childcare safer, more accessible and of higher quality; you will provide families with the support they need to help prevent child abuse, neglect, and trauma; you will help families gain greater economic stability; you will support families with young children who have developmental delays. 

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has permanent state status* and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period.  For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.  Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.  For all other inquiries, please contact Ellen Morris at ellen.morris@ct.gov; 860-713-6670.

In a state agency, facility or institution this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in professional level fiscal and administrative functions.

 

Performs a variety of professional fiscal and administrative functions; assists head of fiscal/administrative operations, division head or agency head in budget preparation by compiling and consolidating data and projecting expenditures; maintains budget control by reviewing and authorizing expenditures and monitoring expenditures against appropriations and allotments; prepares budget reports; prepares various financial statements and statistical or narrative fiscal/administrative reports; assists in planning and implementation of financial aspects of EDP systems; utilizes EDP systems for financial records, reports and analyses; prepares or reviews grant budgets and other fiscal portions of grant applications; provides technical assistance to grantees regarding accounting procedures; reviews various contracts, financial documents and financial reports to ensure compliance with grant requirements; exercises functional supervision over a variety of clerical fiscal/administrative activities such as maintenance of accounting records, payroll preparation, preparation and processing of purchase requisitions, grant and contract record keeping; performs technical purchasing tasks such as soliciting bids and recommending contract awards; assists in formulation of policies and procedures relating to area(s) of responsibility and implementation of such policies and procedures; acts as liaison with agency central fiscal and administrative office(s) and/or central state agencies; may supervise support services such as stores, inventory, mailroom, security or maintenance; may perform human resource tasks such as conducting screening interviews and job audits; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration with special reference to governmental budget management and governmental accounting; knowledge of grants and contracts preparation and administration; knowledge of purchasing principles and procedures; some knowledge of human resources and payroll practices and procedures; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to prepare and analyze financial documents and reports; ability to interpret and apply statutes, regulations and administrative policies; ability to utilize EDP systems for financial management.

Six (6) years of experience in a combination of fiscal/administrative functions (e.g., accounting, accounts examining, budget management, grant administration, human resources, payroll, purchasing) at least one of which must be an accounting or budgeting function.*

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the paraprofessional level, requiring the exercise of some independent judgment in the application of basic principles and procedures in accounting, budgeting, human resources, purchasing or related fiscal administration functions. Connecticut Careers Trainee experience (target Fiscal/Administrative Officer or closely related class) is at the professional training level and above the paraprofessional level.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (l5) semester hours equalling one-half (l/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in public administration, business administration or accounting may be substituted for one (l) year of the Special Experience.

3. For state employees two (2) years as a Fiscal/Administrative Assistant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

4. For state employees two (2) years as a Purchasing Assistant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

*Descriptions of these fiscal/administrative functions are attached

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:

• Condiderable ability to utilize CORE-CT - including experience with the application of Excel and Pivot Tables in utilizting CORE related data.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with others in a complex organizational structure.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex fiscal issues with agency program staff and management.

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.