Financial Specialist III

Salary : $77,640.16 - $129,399.50 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ27), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 25-00717
Department: Neighborhood & Community Svcs
Opening Date: 03/22/2025
Closing Date: 4/4/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S27
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

The Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is part of the Fairfax County Health and Human Services System and provides a wide variety of critical programs and supportive services to county residents of all ages. This position is a great opportunity to make an impact in the local community and help NCS programs provide critical goods and services to county residents and families. NCS serves residents in Fairfax County through a variety of programs including transportation, recreation, community capacity building, educational and developmental opportunities, early childhood supports and services, and connecting residents to a wide spectrum of resources to meet their needs. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a passion for public service and a desire to support a wide range of financial operations within a large agency.

Under the general supervision of a Financial Specialist IV in NCS, performs a variety of complex finance and budget functions supporting various programs in the department as part of the department's Finance and Procurement Team. Acts as the team lead in the management of a complex division budget and supervision of a small budget team. Oversees federal and state grant funding, including reporting requirements, as well as General Fund resources. Ensures compliance with applicable state, federal, and local requirements, regulations, and financial policies. Establishes and maintains supportive partnerships with program staff in utilization of the agency's financial resources. Responsible for the supervision, professional development, and performance of a small team of professional-level financial staff, directing the team in the development and preparation of budgets, grants, audit response, invoicing, reporting, drawing down funds, and accounts management. Monitors and reports expenditures, revenues, and balances for assigned budgets. Directs and provides guidance on annual budget development, and multiple components of state and federal applications for funding as well as annual grant submissions. Provides projections and recommendations associated with the financial impact of legislative and programmatic changes affecting NCS programs. Other responsibilities include specialized analysis, project coordination, monthly and other required reconciliations, monthly drawdowns, and preparing and making presentations to county program managers, contract partners, and the Department of Management and Budget. Works collaboratively with county corporate partners, the department's procurement staff, and other members of the financial team to ensure that finance and budget matters are handled timely, accurately, and in accordance with program needs to maintain continuity of operations and services for county residents.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Participates in the formulation and documentation of agency fiscal policies and procedures;
Maintains numerous fund/subfund accounts;
Reviews long range revenue and expenditures estimates to ensure availability of funds;
Prepares and/or oversees the preparation of large agency budget;
Applies budget, procurement, and payment procedures in accordance with established county policies, accounting principles (GAAP and GASB), and local and state policies and procedures;
Researches budget, finance and procurement requirements, analyzes impact on current operations and recommends means of implementation.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Considerable knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of governmental budgeting and fiscal management and the ability to apply them to complex governmental systems;
Considerable knowledge of federal, state and county policies, procedures, regulations and legislation impacting the maintenance of financial records;
Ability to effectively supervise and coordinate the activities of staff;
Ability to develop and implement fiscal policies and procedures.
Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with either a bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, public policy or related field; plus, three years of professional-level experience in finance, business administration, budgeting, or contract management, a master's degree in a related field or CPA may substitute for 1 year of experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services Registry check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in public administration, public policy, finance, government, business administration or a related field.
• Experience within local or state government, preferably in a human services agency or system.
• Considerable knowledge of, and three (3) years of experience with governmental budgeting, to include forecasting, revenue analysis, grants management, financial auditing, and managing multiple funding streams.
• Experience with quantitative analysis.
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with co-workers and stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work with and review details, and ability to effectively synthesize information for appropriate audiences.
• Experience with researching, preparing, and presenting reports to senior managers, and/or various committees, boards, and commissions.
• Experience with Pivot tables, Microsoft Office Suite applications, including high-level proficiency with Microsoft Excel to analyze and manipulate data.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is generally sedentary in nature; however, incumbent may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-LD1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Flexible Spending Program
• Deferred Compensation

Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Accounting
• Finance
• Business administration
• Public administration
• Public policy
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

03

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you or you do not possess a degree, enter "N/A".
04

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

05

Do you currently possess a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have in finance, business administration, budgeting, or contract management?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working with governmental budgeting and forecasting of expenditures and revenue?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have managing grants?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

09

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with financial audits?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five
• Five or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with quantitative analysis?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Five or more years

11

How many years of full-time equivalent supervisory experience do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working within or with a human services agency or system?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

13

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have researching, preparing, and presenting reports to senior managers?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

14

Please indicate your level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

• Beginner (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents)
• Intermediate (Knowledge of inserting and modifying graphic objects in a worksheet; customizing and enhancing workbooks; analyzing data using Pivot Tables, Slicers, and Pivot Charts)
• Advanced (Extensive knowledge of increasing productivity and improving efficiency by streamlining workflow; collaborating with others using workbooks; auditing worksheets; analyzing data; working with multiple workbooks; importing and exporting data, using Excel with the web)
• No experience

Required Question