Fiscal/Administrative Officer

Are you a dedicated fiscal professional looking to take the next step in your career?  If so, we encourage you to apply today!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter.

We have an opening for a Fiscal Administrative Officer. This position is responsible for acting as DCF's representative payee for children in foster care who receive SSI/Social Security benefits.  This position is responsible for the receipt and maintenance of social security distributions as it applies to the care and custody of a child under DCF care.

The Fiscal Administrative Officer will serve as a unit of one (1) with a potential future expansion to a unit of two (2).  This position will report directly to the Fiscal Administrative Supervisor in the Revenue Enhancement Division (RED).  RED is primarily responsible for ensuring continued medical benefits for children entering DCF care, through the Medical Assistance Unit, determining initial and on-going federal Title IV-E eligibility of all children entering DCF care, through the Eligibility Unit, preparing and processing DCF's quarterly Title IV-E claim to the federal government, through the Claiming Unit, and managing the agency’s Social Security Representative Payee responsibilities for beneficiaries that are in care. RED is directly responsible for federal reimbursement of approximately 50% of the annual DCF budget.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to; communication and coordination with the (6) regional Social Security Liaisons within DCF, communication and coordination with external parties at the Federal Social Security Administration, maintenance of Social Security benefits for 500-600 youth in care per Fiscal Year, bank account reconciliations, and the distribution of mail from the Social Security Administration.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have strong organizational skills accompanied with the ability to multi-task in a face-paced setting;
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills;
• Have a demonstrated experience maintaining activity ledgers and client detail for individual accounts;
• Have the ability to interpret federal legislation and impact on state representative payee responsibilities;
• Be self-motivated, flexible, and improvises work plan to respond to immediate needs.  

As a Fiscal Administrative Officer we can offer you:

• Leading Comprehensive Benefit Offerings:
• Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage; 
• Comprehensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings; 
• Paid time off; 
• Professional growth and development opportunities; 
• A healthy work life balance to all employees.  

You will discover the opportunity to:  

• Engage is a rewarding career;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting fast paced environment;
• Make a difference in the public sector;  

Position Highlights:

• Monday – Friday schedule on first shift
• Full Time – 40 hours per week
• Hybrid position (telework and in office)
• Position located at our Central Office in Hartford, CT

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make an impact by serving your state!

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.  

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.   

Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

#INDLP

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; 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 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, 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, 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

• Experience working in a social and human services agency.  
• Experience working with MS Access and MS Excel; using intermediate to advanced level formulas.      
• Experience working with federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and interpreting and applying federal and state regulations.  
• Experience with reconciling accounts.  

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.