Fiscal Analyst II, Strategy and Student Success, Grants

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

DESCRIPTION

Two Fiscal Analyst II postings are open concurrently in two different departments (Division of Academics and Strategy and Student Success). Since both roles share the same minimum qualifications, candidates are encouraged to review the two unique roles and preferred qualifications and are welcome to apply to one or both positions based on their experience. This posting will be used to fill two vacancies for this new role.

Under the direction of the Executive Officer, Strategy and Student Success, the Fiscal Analyst II provides high-level and technical financial expertise to support the financial management of HCPSS’ grants. This position plays a key role in shaping resource decisions by analyzing complex financial and operational data, building and maintaining financial models, and presenting findings in clear, actionable ways. The Fiscal Analyst II collaborates with program leaders, central office staff, and external partners to ensure funds are managed responsibly and aligned with district priorities. By contributing accurate analysis and strategic recommendations, this role directly supports the system’s mission to maximize resources for students and schools.

The ideal candidate for this role will possess dedicated grant management experience and specializes in tracking state and federal grant spenddowns, navigating grant submission workflows, performing cost-to-complete analyses, and ensuring full compliance with grantors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in finance, accounting, economics, public administration, business administration, or a related field.

Experience:

• Four years of experience in budget development, budget analysis, forecasting, accounting, auditing, or finance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, finance, or a related field.

• Governmental budgeting experience for a school system, federal, state, or local government.

• Experience managing state and/or federal grants.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams or supporting multiple program managers within PreK-12 financial management.
• Experience working with enterprise resource platforms (e.g., Workday) as they relate to data processing, database structure and digital reporting.
• Highly proficient in using Excel pivot tables and advanced formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, SUMIF) to integrate, analyze, and interpret large and complex datasets.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

• Develops and manages annual budgets for assigned grants in collaboration with Program Managers; reviews grant budget requests and amendments for accuracy, completeness, and justification; analyzes expenditure trends and changes; and recommends appropriate funding levels for grants and operating budgets consistent with organizational priorities and approved budget authority. 
• Monitors and analyzes budget-to-actual performance, staffing trends and changes, expenditures, and contract activity for assigned programs and grants using enterprise resource planning, procurement, and financial systems. Communicates financial status, emerging trends, variances, and key issues to Program Managers and other stakeholders to support decision-making; supports timely resolution of identified issues.
• Assists in coordinating and preparing monthly, semi-annual, and annual reports for management and maintenance of HCPSS grant budgets within required timelines to support management decision-making and county, state, and other accountability requirements. Provides financial and analytical support for grant applications and required grant reporting.
• Monitors performance/spending against budget and proactively drives analysis to understand, evaluate, challenge, and improve performance to ensure achievement of grant goals and objects and complete spenddown of all grant funds; identifies and researches any projected to actual issues and sees them through resolution; monitors and manages related contracts.
• Manages budget-related data systems for HCPSS grants, including provision of grant budget information to the Budget Office and to the Board of Education through the Grant Approval process.
• Performs financial and operational analysis using spreadsheets, databases, and other analytical tools to evaluate fiscal performance, identifies trends and risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend actions to improve resource utilization and financial outcomes.
• Prepares periodic forecasts for programs and coordinates the cost-to-complete exercise for assigned programs and grants in collaboration with Program Managers. Analyzes projected-to-actual variances, researches discrepancies, initiates corrective actions, and recommends budget reallocations or modifications as needed.
• Develops, implements, and maintains internal controls, financial procedures, and standard operating procedures to strengthen fiscal oversight, improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and prevent and identify errors or discrepancies.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

Knowledge

• Maryland legal regulations related to school funding, budgeting, and grants (including Part B & C requirements).
• Current issues in public education and their impact on funding and budgeting.
• Budgeting processes across multiple programs or business units.

Skills

• Proficient use of Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas) and Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
• Interpreting, analyzing, and reconciling financial data, reports, and transactions to inform decision-making and ensure compliance.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving applied to financial analysis and budget management.
• Strong attention to detail with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and data integrity.
• Preparing reports, presenting complex financial data clearly, and advising stakeholders.
• Documentation and organization to support audit readiness and efficient record-keeping.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication, with the ability to clearly convey complex financial information and collaborate with diverse stakeholders through in-person, email, virtual, and other communication channels.

Abilities

• Build strong partnerships across offices and organizations, fostering collaboration, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Work independently, self-direct tasks, and proactively manage multiple priorities.
• Adapt quickly to new systems, tools, and processes.
• Collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Uphold high ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Working Hours

The duty day for this position is eight hours including a one-hour duty-free lunch.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
 
Supplemental Application Questions

This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.

1) Describe any governmental budgeting experience you possess. In your response, include the position(s) and employers with which you gained this experience, the size of the budget(s), and the components of the annual budget process in which you participated.

2) Describe any experience you possess managing state and/or federal grants. In your response, include the specific grant(s) and total funds managed.

3) Please describe any financial management experience you possess working with cross-functional teams or supporting multiple program managers. Highlight any experience you possess specifically with PreK-12 school settings.

4) Describe your experience working with enterprise resource platforms (e.g., Workday) as they relate to data processing, database structure, and digital reporting. In your response, identify the specific platforms with which you have experience, the position(s) in which you used each, and one example that highlights your expertise.

5) Please describe up to two examples that best highlight your experience and proficiency using pivot tables and formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, SUMIF) to integrate and analyze large sets of data. In your response, please also identify the applications used (e.g., Excel, Sheets), the size of the data sets, and the frequency with which you use these features in your work.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

Applicants may be required to complete a skills assessment prior to or during the interview process.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade 26 on the Technical Central Office and School Based salary scale, $104,417 - $157,345. Actual step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA-ESP Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.  

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at sandy_saval@hcpss.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.