Money Follows the Person Finance Specialist

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional Title: Money Follows the Person Finance Specialist

Job Title: Program Specialist VI

Agency: Health & Human Services Comm

Department: Transitional Supp Team AdmCY26

Posting Number: 20851

Closing Date: 03/02/2027

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Business and Financial Operations

Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $6,500.00

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23

Shift: Day

Additional Shift:

Telework: Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 10%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Facility Location:

Job Location City: AUSTIN

Job Location Address: 701 W 51ST ST

Other Locations:

MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS

Brief Job Description

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance financial work for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) federal grant award within Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Services & Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Fiscal & Systems Support (FSS). Work involves providing specialized program financial oversight, monitoring expenditures, and coordinating contract deliverables to ensure absolute compliance with federal award terms, state laws, and agency regulations. Coordinates, updates, and maintains complex financial models and tracks the operational lifecycle of high-volume contracts. Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares highly accurate materials in response to programmatic and fiscal inquiries. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Serves as a lead financial contact, providing coordination and technical guidance to staff and external stakeholders.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

Budget Oversight & Financial Modeling [35%]: Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates grant-specific financial data, performing comprehensive budget monitoring, projections, and analytical work per the IDD MFP Performance Contract. Coordinates, updates, and maintains the specialized MFP expenditure tracking process through its entire financial lifecycle. Compiles routine management reports and specialized ad-hoc research documents for agency leadership. Develops, scales, and monitors technical data models to evaluate collected programmatic data, documents underlying fiscal assumptions, and formulates strategic recommendations based on analytical findings. Appropriately escalates systemic variances and offers practical process improvement solutions. May assist with broad Local Intellectual & Developmental Disability Authorities (LIDDA) contract deliverables (Report III) processing to establish work cross-functionality if needed.

Regulatory Compliance & Policy Interpretation [20%]: Provides specialized advice and interpretations on complex legislative statutes, funding rules, and cost allowability regulations under Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS), General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and 2 CFR Part 200. Analyzes legislative trends, rule adjustments, and program applications to develop action plans for improving, expanding, or safely adjusting grant operations. Synthesizes voluminous, highly complex information gathered from divergent sources (such as multi-disciplinary staff meetings, the LIDDA Handbook, federal grant mandates, and statutory reports) to determine their real-time impact on operational budgets, personnel assignments, and financial projections. Proactively recommends and coordinates tactical administrative adjustments to produce a more legally robust program.

Payment Processing & Accounts Payable Reconciliation [15%]: Processes complex contract payments and performs structured financial compliance reconciliations for the Money Follows the Person award. Monitors, reviews, and audits specialized funding transactions processed by Accounts Payable to ensure absolute data consistency with the Central Accounting and Patient Personnel System (CAPPS) Financials framework. Identifies, researches, and resolves transactional processing variances, unmatched expenditure balances, and billing errors. Serves as the primary backup resource for processing primary programmatic payment cycles, guaranteeing continuity of fiscal operations and compliance with prompt-pay guidelines.

Administrative Reporting & Quality Control [15%]: Completes, monitors, and audits required administrative documents, performance metrics, and information requests to ensure complete transparency and operational precision. Gathers, assembles, correlates, and analyzes complex factual records to identify underlying operational data anomalies. Performs thorough quality control assessments on outgoing financial correspondence, statutory summaries, and federal reporting sheets, making adjustments as needed to resolve data discrepancies. Establishes and monitors formal internal evaluation workflows to measure the accuracy, timeliness, and structural consistency of public-facing materials and official agency disclosures.

Programmatic Evaluation & Technical Consultation [10%]: Develops, refines, and implements customized techniques for evaluating assigned program operations, ensuring unified alignment with overarching agency goals and federal milestones. Translates complex fiscal metrics into clear, structured narratives designed to inform strategic decision-making. Consults with external public authorities, community organizations, and department staff to resolve process defects, identify emerging programmatic training needs, and discuss overall grant administration effectiveness. Conducts specialized training, coordinates technical assistance, and distributes instructional user manuals to build professional capacity and improve resource optimization across internal division lines.

Other Duties as Assigned [5%]: Performs related work as assigned, including providing support to specialized agency projects, participating in cross-functional workgroups, and preparing administrative materials to support division priorities during legislative intervals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to program management, contract administration, and federal grant frameworks.
• Knowledge of public administration techniques, statistical analysis processes, and governmental budget cycles.
• Knowledge of Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and uniform grant guidance (2 CFR 200).
• Skill in identifying strategic measures or indicators of program performance to gauge compliance and efficacy.
• Skill in the use of a computer, advanced accounting/data software, and robust financial data modeling techniques.
• Skill in advanced Excel methodologies (such as Power Query, SQL integrations, data manipulation, macros, and logical formulas).
• Skill in analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing financial and management records for absolute accuracy and conformance to procedures.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze complex facts; to devise results-driven solutions to business process defects; and to interpret complex statutes.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, and interpret administrative policies, operational procedures, and training manuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, translating complex fiscal and regulatory topics into accessible information for different audiences.
• Ability to provide guidance, lead, assign, and/or prioritize the work of others as a senior team member.

Initial Screening Criteria:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelors degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a closely related field.
• Experience in state governmental program administration, financial analysis, or contract management work may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience conducting consultative services, financial evaluations, or contract monitoring inside a public sector framework or corporate compliance setting preferred.
• Experience utilizing enterprise resource planning systems (such as PeopleSoft CAPPS Financials) or managing federal grants preferred.

Additional Information:

N/A

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Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor's Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditors Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.