Accounting Technical Specialist

Title: Accounting Technical Specialist (Benefits)
Department: Varies
Reports To: Administrative Superior
The School District of Philadelphia is the cornerstone provider of public education in Philadelphia. For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound. Over 131,000 students entrusted to the District arrive at school every day with an extraordinary range of needs and aspirations. We are committed to delivering on their right to an excellent public school education, and we are particularly focused on ensuring every student has access to exceptional educational opportunities. Equity is our mandate. Will you join us?
Job Summary
Performs a variety of technical accounting duties and assists in the preparation of a variety of financial reports. Provides technical assistance to the administrator in responding to and resolving accounting problems and performs a variety of technical accounting duties. Assists in the preparation of a variety of financial reports and ensures adherence to established policies and procedures. Oversees assigned modules and provides technical assistance to the administrator in responding to and resolving accounting problems. For the Benefits specialty, manages the reconciliation, auditing and payment activities for the District's Health, Dental, Life, Unemployment insurances, Health and Welfare Funds, Legal Funds, Voluntary Benefits and the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) Employee and Employer Retirement Contributions. Prepares reports, which provide analyses of premiums and financial accruals for all Benefits/Retirement/Unemployment offices. Serves as a liaison with other District offices, external vendors, multiple Health and Welfare Funds and city, state, and federal agencies. Tracks trends and works with the Benefits Consultants and carriers to resolve disputes/discrepancies and to limit the District's liability in all aspects of health benefits,
Essential Functions
Establishes schedules and methods for providing technical accounting services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff and allocates resources accordingly.
Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; implements approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
Coordinates payment processes with District departments; reviews processed invoices; researches and reconciles discrepancies; runs and audits payment proposals.
Oversees and participates in processing travel payments to employees and outside agencies; oversee travel reconciliation process.
Prepares and/or audit bank reconciliations; process related journal entries.
Oversees, reviews and prepares a variety of monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations; maintains necessary records and logs.
Title: Accounting Technical Specialist (Benefits)
Provides technical support to end users; responds to end user requests for information on system use; investigates, troubleshoots and resolves end user problems.
Benefits Specialty
Designs reports and develops spreadsheets and dashboards to provide management with timely updates on the financial aspects of employee benefits management.
Performs advanced accounting functions related to insurance payments, refunds, discounts and rebates and forwards accounting entries to the appropriate offices who maintain the general ledger.
Work with Accounting to replace Fund and Balance models with plan specific Self Insurance Accounts to provide detailed cost information for analysis; accurately posts monthly medical payments to the new Self Insurance codes.
Leads responses to internal and external auditors to ensure the integrity of financial information reported to unions, city, state, and federal agencies.
Designs and tests accounting components of Payroll/Finance/HR system as currently functioning and to transition to new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), QITE.
Develops and implements processes to facilitate efficient workflow between the Benefits, Office of Management and Budget, Accounting and Treasury.
Works with the Payroll office and the Systems Administration Unit to provide an annual deduction frequency plan for each fiscal year.
Monitors union contracts, memorandum of understanding (MOUs) and vendor contracts to ensure updates are made for changes effective during the school year.
Compiles pay records of PFT employee terminations and processes adjustments of 10 pay 12 Health and Welfare payments per the PFT contract; provides auditable data to the Union's consultant.
Manages employee data updates for Local 1201/32BJ employees on the national union's Employer Self Service (ESS) site; reconciles monthly medical insurance premiums via New Hire/Medical/Eligibility reporting; act as the SDP representative for all 1201/32BJ Benefits matters.
Manages projects to improve processes to streamline processing and ensure accuracy of all financial transactions.
Provides financial review of insurance packages and premiums for reporting and to support Requests for Proposals.
Monitors financial accruals and proactively identifies variations and provides projections, analysis, and information for annual budgets, contract negotiations, city audits, and the year-end closing of the SDP financial statements.
Responds with efficiency and effectiveness to internal queries regarding financial aspects of employee benefits and related areas.
Prepares and reviews invoicing and ensures compliance with District policies and procedures.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Three years of full-time, paid, technical accounting experience which has included reviewing and interpreting accounting transactions and records and preparing financial reports.
Title: Accounting Technical Specialist (Benefits)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge of:
o generally accepted accounting principles, practices and procedures.
o the principles, practices and procedures of an operational accounting function.
o financial record keeping and work flow practices.
o the principles and practices of methods and procedural analysis.
Demonstrated ability to:
o interpret financial data and perform financial analyses to assess operational performance.
o interpret and explain departmental polices and procedures.
o perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
o independently identify, analyze and resolve accounting problems.
o analyze organizational and procedural problems and to make recommendations for improvements.
o prepare clear and concise financial reports.
o use EXCEL, Access and other Microsoft Word applications.
o operate a personal computer.
o analyze complex accounts and report results
o communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Talent Use Only
Title Code
1250
Salary Grade
4024
Bargaining Unit
Non-Represented
Date of Spec Establishment
12/11
Date of Spec Revision
4/19
Status
Exempt
Analyst
JAG