Lead Finance Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position assists the Finance Department in the overall administration and management of the Finance Department functions for Health and Human Services and the Nursing Home/Health Center. Work functions include financial analysis, reporting, auditing, and budgeting 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Interprets and applies established collections policies, regulations, methods and techniques as standard practice. Posts receipts into database, analyzes and adjusts balances, initiates and administers payment agreements for outstanding balances.
• Prepares monthly financials, conduct analysis of trend, and assists with quarterly projections.
• Tracks expenses and revenues for Grant reporting and submit monthly reimbursement claims through GEARS, SPARC or other method. 
• Participates with annual budget and audit process.
• Prepare a journal entry each pay date reallocating admin payroll expenses to the appropriate program and making journal entry corrections as needed. 
• Acts as backup to fiscal manager to discuss the financials for monthly department meetings and committee meetings. 
• Prepares and monitors purchase of service contracts per organization purchasing policy. Creates purchase agreement and purchase orders for upcoming fiscal year.
• Manages updates to Electronic Health Record Software, proactively troubleshoots, initiates, and implements updates and improvements, ensures training of appropriate staff on updates.
• Manages facility certification, authorizations and electronic user connections to Medicare for Health Center Campus, Health and Human Services and Public Health.
• Provides leadership and guidance to billing staff. Acts as a backup for billing Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, and Private Pay.
• Conducts intensive interviews with clients and families to assure completeness and accuracy of benefit applications. Documents are analyzed to have all pertinent information.
• Provides information and guidance related to eligibility for public benefits and services. Stays current on changes in federal and state regulations.
• Reconciles invoices and prepares them for proper payment.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and year-end reports for a variety of departments.  Provides financial reporting.  
• Reconciles all revenue, expense and donation accounts for audit, Medicaid, and Medicare Cost Reports.
• Performs and manages automatic electronic withdrawals from client’s personal accounts.  
• Uses judgment to analyze risk of future collections and initiates appropriate interventions which include notifying management. 
• Makes recommendations for methods and techniques to improve department efficiency and productivity.
• Manages client trust account deposits and withdrawals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES  

• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and auditing principles (including GASB rules and GAAP standards) and methods in their application to a government accounting system.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting methods, procedures, and financial practices.
• Knowledge of County programs, funding sources, and specific regulations governing expenditures and revenues.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of public administration, with particular reference to governmental budget and finance administration.
• Ability to prepare and maintain complex and accurate financial documents and reports.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to maintain accurate and legible notes.
• Knowledge of County policies, procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of local government organization and its departmental operating requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other.
• Ability to analyze and prepare organizational and functional reports from research data.
• Ability to type and key entry accurately at a reasonable rate of speed.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and perform word processing and/or data entry.
• General knowledge of current office practices and procedures.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

• Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the staff, supervisor, and the public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal form.
• Must be proficient in workplace English and spelling.
• Ability to read County policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; MSDS sheets, safety manuals, maps, etc.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to calculate mathematical calculations.
• Ability to comprehend complex financial records.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to respond to complaints and grievances posed by the public.
• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to develop, interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Ability to define problems and deal with a variety of situations.
• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of open records law and other applicable State and Federal Statutes and Regulations.
• Organizational and time management skills needed to meet deadlines.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Ability to use good judgement and effectively solve problems.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work has no exposure to environmental conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
• Vaccinations and testing as required by local, state, or federal regulations and/or other regulating entities (Health Care Campus position only).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is primarily in an office setting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Associate degree in accounting, finance, business, management or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in an accounting/bookkeeping position.
• Equivalent combination of education, skills, knowledge and abilities may be substituted for above listed requirements.
• Previous experience in public accounting preferred for Services Center Vacancy.
• Previous experience with accounting/billing in a Nursing Home preferred for Nursing Home vacancy.
• Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

St. Croix County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination.  We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to an individual’s race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.