Associate Fiscal/Administrative Officer

Introduction

Looking to advance in your career with the State of Connecticut? Check out this opportunity!

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is recruiting for an Associate Fiscal/Administrative Officer to work in the Fiscal Services Business Unit in Middletown.

POSITION DETAILS
This is a full-time, 40 hour per week position on first shift. Schedule is Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm, with hybrid work opportunities available.

The selected candidate will be responsible for:

• Approving vouchers/routine expenditures;
• Leading, supervising and directing workflow in the Business unit;
• Assisting in planning, development and implementation of office procedures, including maintaining and updating office procedures as needed etc.;
• Other duties assigned.

ABOUT US

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence • Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data • Challenging the "that's the way it's always been done" construct—i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve • Constantly seeking better results

2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility • Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources • Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests • Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges

3. Ethics and Accountability • Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies • Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement • Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments • Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview:Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION:

Candidates selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:

State Employees:

• Two (2) most recent performance evaluations
• Completed CT-HR-13

Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation. Any pending disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records are also considered in this selection process.

Click here to complete the Criminal Convictions addendum (CT-HR-13). The CT-HR-13 can also be found on the DAS website by typing in "CT-HR-13" into the "Search Department of Administrative Services" search field.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency, facility or institution this class is accountable for performing the most complex fiscal tasks within a variety of fiscal and administrative functions or acting as a working supervisor over a variety of fiscal and administrative functions, including payroll oversight.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs the most complex fiscal and administrative tasks within a unit that clearly exceeds the norm and includes a concentration of highly advanced functions as defined by leadership;
• Plans office workflow and determines priorities;
• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
• Establishes and maintains office procedures;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and other officials regarding policies and procedures;
• Prepares and analyzes complex financial statements and reports and budget requests;
• Projects expenditures and assists in financial planning;
• Maintains fiscal controls by authorizing non-routine expenditures;
• Manages various phases of budget process;
• Makes recommendations on policies and standards;
• Oversees maintenance of accounting records;
• Utilizes EDP systems for financial records, reports, and analyses;
• May oversee implementation and analysis of financial and administrative EDP applications;
• May oversee grant and contract administration;
• May oversee payroll;
• May perform complex purchasing tasks such as preparing specifications, soliciting bids and recommending contract awards;
• May oversee leasing functions including negotiating contracts and space requirements;
• May supervise support services such as stores, inventory, security, mailroom, food service or maintenance;
• May supervise payroll, purchasing and/or other fiscal and administrative functions;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration with special reference to governmental budget management, governmental accounting, and payroll;
• Knowledge of
  • grants and contracts preparation and administration;
  • purchasing principles and procedures;
  • payroll practices and procedures;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability in preparation and analysis of financial and statistical reports;
• Ability to
  • understand and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • utilize EDP systems for financial management;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of experience in a combination of fiscal administrative functions (e.g., accounting, accounts examining, budget management, grants administration, payroll, purchasing) at least one of which must be an accounting, budgeting, or payroll function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the professional working level of Fiscal/Administrative Officer, Accountant, or Payroll Officer 2.

NOTE: Connecticut Careers Trainee experience (target Fiscal/Administrative Officer or closely related class) is at the professional training level and is below the professional working level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• 
  College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  
• 
  A Master's degree in public administration, business administration or accounting may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
  
• 
  For state employees experience at the level of a Purchasing Services Officer 1 substitutes for the General and Special Experience on a year for year basis.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance;
• Experience with CORE-CT accounts payable or purchasing modules;
• Experience supervising professional and paraprofessional staff in a financial setting;
• Experience interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, and administrative policies;
• Experience interacting with internal and external stakeholders;
• Experience streamlining and implementing accounting process improvements.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.