People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Budget Specialist

  • Title: Budget Specialist
  • Class: Academic Professional
  • Exempt Status: Exempt
  • Level: 4

Job Summary

The Budget Specialist performs complex accounting activities in support of Budget Office activities. Maintains comprehensive and complex accounts and funds requiring the analysis of accounting transactions and the establishment or maintenance of internal controls. Develops, installs and modifies accounting systems, records, methods, and procedures. Recommends and evaluates changes or enhancements to financial management systems and policies. Assists in assuring that Budget Office records and processes are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. Coordinates accounting matters with other departments, divisions and campuses. Develops and/or recommends accounting methods and procedures as needed.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Develops and maintains the Supplemental Budget. Compiles excel spreadsheets, performs reconciliation, and drafts notice publication. Submits approved documents to state and local tax assessors and clerks. Responds to inquiries and defends accounting practices when appropriate.
  2. Drafts and maintains Adopted Budget and related documentation. Ensures accuracy and compliance with internal and external procedures and rules for all College funds.
  3. Interprets, translates, and drafts Proposed and Adopted Budgets into bound publication. Drafts narrative and composes tables and charts. Works with Print Center to ensure appropriate presentation.
  4. Performs research and analysis for assigned funds. Reviews and verifies the accuracy of journal entries and accounting classifications.
  5. Works with managers to address fund balance issues. Assists college administrators and staff in solving complex problems regarding tracking and evaluation of revenues, expenditures and encumbrances.
  6. Performs Budget and Journal Entry transfer processing, to include running feed and reconciliation.
  7. Performs position changes and budget control.
  8. Conducts Budget Analysis and identifies areas of concern.
  9. Determines revenues and expenses for added funds, including Bond Office.
  10. Researches and verifies compliance with all levels of ethics and budget law applicable to the College. Reviews policies and procedures and recommends corrective action.
  11. Reconcile and maintain base budgets of campus general fund and college contingency funds.
  12. Acts as point person to increase functionality of Budget Office related reporting. Designs and produces ad-hoc reports and financial models.
  13. Leads or supports project work as assigned.
  14. Acts as a technical resource to other Financial Services personnel.
  15. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is typically performed in an office environment or at various college locations. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required depending on project requirements. Occasional lifting, guiding and/or carrying of files and other work materials when working at various college locations. May sit for extended periods of time at a desk or working at a computer.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field. Experience performing the duties described may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Three years of experience working in governmental, municipal, or fund accounting to include working with computerized accounting systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Generally accepted accounting principles;
  • Governmental or fund accounting including source of funds, segregation and display of expenditures and revenues, budgetary accounting;
  • Statistical analysis and financial forecasting;
  • Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission rules;
  • Federal and state regulations pertaining to area of assignment, including Oregon Budget Law, the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular 133 and OMB Circular A-21.
Skills in:
  • Communicating technical information to a non-technical audience;
  • Operating a computer and various supporting software packages, including advanced skills in spreadsheet applications;
  • Providing guidance and technical expertise;
  • Project coordination.
Ability to:
  • Work effectively with diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of students and staff;
  • Work collaboratively;
  • Work independently and be self-directed;
  • Coordinate multiple projects and deadlines;
  • Effectively communicate in oral and written form;
  • Operate a variety of office equipment.