0729 CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION FINANCIAL ANALYST GENERAL DESCRIPTION Provides complex technical support to the organization in the area of governmental accounting, grants and contracts with sub-recipient providers and vendors. Performs financial research, planning and analysis within an assigned functional area of responsibility. This class specification reflects the general concept and intent of the classification and should not be construed as a detailed statement of all the work requirements that may be inherent in a position. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Oversees various accounting functions and related financial reports, and serves as a key team member in the development of financial information systems. Reviews, analyzes, develops and recommends new or improved efficiencies, policies, procedures and accounting standards and coordinates their implementation. Provides financial analysis for assigned projects and funds. Researches, develops and recommends financial processes, strategies, and methods. Interprets complex financial cost information and budget reports for management. Reviews the work of accounting staff and when assigned, may review the work of accounting staff within other County departments. Oversees accounting activities to assure that they are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles as well as federal, state and County financial accounting procedures. Analyzes and recommends changes to departmental accounting procedures and approves adjustments to department accounting and financial records. Provides training as needed. Creates monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting in assigned functional area. Creates financial publications, documents, and other reporting projects as needed. Serves as central contact for public requests involving financial information. Leads, trains, and motivates the work of subordinates and, when delegated, supervises the work of assigned employees. Plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments, reviews progress, and adjusts priorities as needed to assure work is performed efficiently. Establishes work rules, performance standards and measurements. Conducts and/or provides input on performance evaluations. Analyzes and resolves the most complex problems that arise, and provides on-going technical expertise.
Page 2 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (cont.) Interprets federal and state guidelines and ensures the County 's compliance with federal, state, County and other applicable accounting rules and regulations. May serve as a liaison with other governmental agencies. Provides a broad range of consulting services to various parties, including the Board of County Commissioners. Researches and responds to technical accounting questions, interprets financial, cost and budget reports, creates management and summary level reports as required. Serves as a lead or department representative on various interdepartmental and intergovernmental accounting task teams, as needed. Assists in the coordination, preparation and monitoring of multi-fund budgets and/or grant budgets; projects staffing costs, revenue availability and any new fiscal requirements applicable to funds/grants; monitors the expenditures of various grants; and review trends. Maintains obligational control of grant revenues. Maintains fiscal compliance for a variety of federal and state grants and contracts. Recommends and implements approved policies and procedures to assure effective functioning of the accounting activities of an assigned area and assures compliance with accounting standards and requirements. Develops contract compensation and invoicing language. Monitors compliance and provides regulatory oversight with financial application such as fund source utilization. Performs coordination of benefits monitoring to ensure third party payor reconciliation. Coordinates with providers for any compensation reconciliation and adjustment. Conducts periodic internal audit of accounting programs, expenditures, and activities to assure compliance with state and federal requirements and with any applicable grant or contract requirements. Prepares and maintains full accrual accounting of grant funds, preparing necessary journal entries, posting, reconciling and balancing of all subsidiary ledgers and the general ledger. Prepares financial reports and statements required by granting authorities for grant funds; compiles data from all accounting records and verifies accuracy to record balance, revenues and expenditures for statements. Develops and maintains records management systems to provide for proper evaluation, control and documentation of assigned programs. Evaluates contract requirements submitted to ensure requirements are met, monitors quality of deliverables, tracks performance, which may include some financial and program audits.
Page 3 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (cont.) May coordinate the planning and development of the program s annual county budget, including the participation from appropriate community organizations. Analyzes complex local, state and federal standards related to grant management; budget development and allocations, allowable costs, direct and indirect costs and approval of expenditures. Responsibilities may include compliance evaluations related to local, state, and federal auditing requirements. In addition to the duties listed above, this position may be assigned duties in the following: ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AUDITOR S OFFICE Lead responsibility for preparation of revenue and expenditure transactions and modifications to County-wide budget. Instrumental in preparation of the annual financial statements and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Serves as central County grant manager responsible for research, preparation, monitoring, and compliance in federal, state and local grants. Assists county offices and departments in the identification and reporting of federal and state grant dollars. Tracks revenue and expenditure budget adjustments for County departments and local taxing districts; prepares budget adjustment requests to County Administrator and Commissioners; and prepares analysis for need and appropriate action. Prepares and provides financial information to assist other departments in the development of their budget. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Monitors the RSN inpatient utilization at Western State Hospital, local community psychiatric hospital and Evaluation & Treatment Center. Ensures program is in compliance with state and federal guidelines and regulations. Facilitates hospital authorization requests and calculates anticipated liability based on authorization. Audits hospital invoices for accuracy, authorization and disputes any discrepancies. Monitors and develops reports on cost efficiency and effectiveness.
Page 4 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (cont.) Develops and compiles financial data using source documents from budgets through contracts, invoices, warrants and reimbursements from state and federal funding sources for a variety of cost centers and revenue funds. Participates in utilization management (i.e. tracks over and under utilization) Coordinates with contractor fiscal staff to ensure accuracy of financial data and compliance; participates in RSN encounter audits; performs sub-recipient monitoring. Reviews contractor audit reports and financial statements for compliance and follow-up where necessary. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES The Financial Analyst position is distinguished from the Accounting Assistant series by the higher-level responsibility to plan, perform and oversee advanced technical accounting functions and perform financial analysis. This may include responsibility for governmental financial reporting, budgeting, analytical review, auditing and forecasting. The Financial Analyst is the lead or first-line supervisor to accounting staff within their area of responsibility, and may oversee or advise on the work of accounting staff throughout the organization. WORKING CONDITIONS Work is generally performed indoors in an office environment. Moving of records and reports may be required, usually not in excess of 50 pounds. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or closely related field. Education must include a minimum of 20 college-level credits in Accounting. No substitution is allowed for accounting credits. Additional relevant experience may substitute for up to two years of education. Minimum three years of increasingly responsible governmental accounting experience including budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, grants and contracts, general ledger, and fixed assets and one year of supervisory experience. Ability to utilize a personal computer and related software packages to perform word processing, analysis, information retrieval and tracking.
Page 5 QUALIFICATIONS (cont.) Knowledge of federal and state grant regulations as well as cost accounting standards is required. Must have knowledge of the State of Washington's Budgeting Accounting Reporting System (BARS) regulations governing local governments. Current Washington State Driver's License of have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation. Admin. Change 4/15/13 (Qualifications revised) Revised 3/9/10 Revised 12/15/09 Reclassified 11/16/2005 7/3/01 Union/Non Union/Nonexempt