Specialist, Head Start Finance & Operations

Position Title: Specialist, Head Start Finance & Operations
Employee Type: Full-time Regular 
Supervisor Title: Managing Director, Finance and Operations
Division: Head Start, U.S. Programs  

Save the Children 

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share. 

The Role 

The Specialist, Head Start Finance and Operations, will act as a program financial point person and fiscal advisor to the Program Director. In this role you will report to the Managing Director, Finance and Operations and manage program finances and processes at a local level and ensure responsible stewardship of Head Start funding throughout the life of the award. The Specialist, Head Start Finance and Operation will work with both local and national level staff.

As a frontline representative of Save the Children, you are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that you come in contact with and adhere to the agency's values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)*
*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change. 

Program & Budget Holder Support (35%)

• Financial point of contact to the Program Director and sits on Head Start Finance team
• Develop spending projections and plans to ensure timely spending of funds and meeting programmatic goals
• Prepare monthly financial information and report financial results in monthly meetings and to Policy Council
• Support program on all coding related questions and adjusting entries for the assigned Head Start program portfolio, including timesheet coding
• Develop and deliver trainings on financial and operational policies and procedures to field-based staff
• Responsible for staying abreast of federal regulations, Head Start financial reporting standards, Save the Children policies and procedures and ensuring effective implementation and compliance within the Head Start program

Financial Management (55%)

• Stay abreast of financial and administrative policies and procedures to include inventory control, non-federal share, risk management and procurement oversight
• Lead development of all program applications for funding, including state and federal funding as well as private funding
• Manage the Award Management Systems for all assigned areas of financial oversight
• Prepare financial reports for federal grants
• Monitor spending against the program and fiscal year budgets as well as tracking against meeting non-federal match requirements and other required financial metrics
• Monitor, review and approve timely submission of expenses, employee advances, credit card reconciliations and vendor invoices for payment
• Maintain ongoing budget verses actual expenses
• Review donor billing and reimbursement requests for state and private funds
• Monitor timesheet completion and provides monthly labor distribution files for local Human Resources to review
• Complete financial approval for personnel requisitions, ensuring adequate budget availability
• Perform necessary accounting and financial analysis/reporting tasks as needed and assigned
• Prepare Gift In Kind entries for accounting
• Participate in monitoring reviews and audits including self-assessments, OHS reviews, external audit reviews and internal monitoring, as needed and where applicable.
• Review local non-federal share documentation for accuracy, ensuring compliance with Head Start regulations and Save the Children policies on non-federal share
• Share best practices and knowledge while supporting the procurement and invoicing activities of the program

Operations Support (10%)

• Provide support to Facilities and Operations staff on engaging vendors, site logistics and deliveries, and inventory.
• Works closely with Facilities and Operations staff on the solicitation and review of bids related to facility projects, ensuring that bids are in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years’ finance or operations experience.
• High School diploma or equivalent relevant ex