Financial Advisory Services Officer

DEFINITION

Under administrative direction, coordinates, directs, and supervises the work of professional, technical and clerical staff responsible for providing financial management services to school districts, charter schools, Regional Occupational Centers/Programs (ROC/Ps), and Joint Powers Authorities (JPAs), with primary emphasis in the areas of revenue, cash flow and budget to ensure financial solvency and compliance with federal, state and local fiscal mandates; and assist financially insolvent local education agencies (LEAs) in the implementation of recovery plans and monitor district adherence to the plan.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This classification is distinguished from the classifications of Business Services Consultant, Financial Operations Consultant, and Business Advisory Services Manager, in the following ways: The Business Services Consultant and Financial Operations Consultant classifications perform analytical and technical work in support of the fiscal and compliance responsibilities of the organization and identified external agencies. The Business Advisory Services Manager coordinates financial reporting activities of external clients. These classifications focus on specific agencies, issues and/or processes, whereas the Financial Advisory Services Officer is responsible for direct supervision of the aforementioned classifications and as such, is responsible for maintaining a broader awareness and understanding of politically challenging issues within the organization and across external agencies, and may serve as a fiscal advisor to districts, charter schools, ROC/P's, and JPA's to ensure fiscal solvency. In addition, the Financial Advisory Services Officer has responsibility for development of the programs and tools used by both internal staff and external clients to assist them in the performance of fiscal solvency analyses. Financial Advisory Services Officer is further distinguished from Business Advisory Services Coordinator in that the former is primarily responsible for providing financial management services and oversees, supervises, and reviews the work of professional/consultant level classifications that ensure fiscal solvency for school districts, charter schools, ROC/Ps and JPAs, and the latter is responsible for managing various business services, operations, and programs for school districts on a joint or cooperative basis and oversees, supervises, and reviews the work of professional/analytical level classifications that support such joint ventures.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Administrative direction is provided by the Assistant Director, Business Advisory Services. Responsibilities include direct and indirect supervision of lower level professional, technical, and clerical personnel.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

The classification specification provides a summary of the typical job duties performed, along with the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this classification. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develops, manages, and implements comprehensive financial analysis and information reporting programs for school districts', charter schools, ROC/Ps' and JPAs' financial report review

• Coordinates the review and analysis of annual budgets, including local control and accountability plans (LCAP), interim and unaudited actual financial reports, cash flow, and makes determination of fiscal solvency status of school districts, charter schools, ROC/Ps and JPAs

• Provides consulting services and guidance regarding fiscal solvency to school districts, charter schools, ROC/Ps, and JPAs

• Analyzes current and proposed legislation impacting school district, charter schools, ROC/Ps and JPAs finance, and communicates findings and makes recommendations to client administrators regarding budget development and multi-year projections

• Provides administrative oversight of the Solvency Monitoring and Revenue Targeting (SMART) - school district budget monitoring system

• Develops and modifies procedures and processes regarding financial reporting and revenue apportionment to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements

• Participates with the administration of the Los Angeles County Schools Pooled Finance Program, including issuance of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes and Certificates of Participation

• Develops training and workshop materials, coordinates workshop activities, and makes presentations for internal and external administration and staff

• Selects, trains, and manages the performance of professional, technical and support staff

• Composes complex reports, bulletins, and correspondence related to assigned areas of responsibility

• Attends, testifies, defends, recommends LACOE's position at meetings, including LEA board meetings, county, regional and state meetings and workshops, and participates on various committees for assigned areas of responsibility

• Facilities elections include county committee, SMAA bulletins from coordinator rewrite

• Performs related duties as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge:

• Principles and techniques of organization, administration, and personnel management, and supervision

• Principles and techniques of financial management, budget administration

• Principles and practices of accounting and auditing

• Principles and practices of financial forecasting, financial statement analysis, and working capital management

• Federal, state, and local laws relating to California school finance, budgeting, and financial reporting

• Applicable sections of Federal laws, the California Education Code, Government Code, California Code of Regulations, and policies, rules and regulations of the Los Angeles County Office of Education

• Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other financial applications

Core Competencies:

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data

• Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative and qualitative data

• Relationship Building

• Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships

• Decision Making

• Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner

• Writing

• Communicating effectively in writing

• Legal & Regulatory Navigation

• Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations

• Professional & Technical Expertise

• Applying technical subject matter to the job

• Oral Communication

• Engaging effectively in dialogue

• Presentation Skill

• Formally delivering information to groups

• Customer Focus

• Attending to the needs and expectation of customers

• Professional Impact

• Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization

• Group Facilitation

• Enabling constructive and productive group interaction

• Managing Performance

• Ensuring superior individual and group performance

• Allocating Resources

• Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness

• Leveraging Technology

• Applying technology for improvements in organizational efficiency and effectiveness

• Political and Organizational Savvy

• Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries

• Project Management

• Planning and tracking projects to ensure they are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives

• Cultural Proficiency

• Modeling communication and interaction that respect and include all individuals and their languages, abilities, religions, and cultures

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

This summary provides examples of the typical physical demands and work environment of this classification.

Physical Demands:

Work is sedentary.

• Remains in a stationary position to perform desk work

• Lifts items such as binders and documents weighing less than 10 pounds without assistance

• Carries items such as binders and documents weighing less than 10 pounds without assistance

• Uses hands, wrists, and fingers repetitively to type and operate office equipment

• Rotates the head right or left from a neutral position to review work materials

• Exchanges information with co-workers and customers regarding work-related matters

• Uses near visual acuity at 20 inches or less to operate desktop or laptop computer

Work Environment:

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.

• Works in an indoor, climate-control environment

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Five years of experience in financial management, budget administration or professional accounting, including three years of supervisory experience.

OR

Five years of LACOE fiscal consultant management-level experience.

Education: A Bachelor's degree with major coursework in business administration, public administration, accounting, or other fields closely related to the job requirements of this classification from an institution of higher learning recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Foreign degrees and credit units require translation and equivalency established by an agency recognized by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Additional Requirements/Information:

A valid California Driver's license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between sites is required.

Requirements / Qualifications

Requirements / Qualifications