The Special Programs Finance & Billing Analyst provides financial oversight and operational support for special education, community education, third-party reimbursement, transportation billing, and other assigned programs. The position supports budget development, monitors revenues and expenditures, coordinates billing and reimbursement activities, reconciles financial records, and prepares required reports. The specialist applies federal, state, and local requirements to help the District use program resources accurately, responsibly, and in support of equitable student access. This position reports and takes direction from the Superintendent. The work is directed by the Superintendent and will also support the Superintendent in other tasks as assigned.
The essential functions of this job include, but are not limited to, the following fundamental job duties:
Program Budget Oversight
Supports development, administration, and monitoring of special education and community education budgets, including revenue and expenditure projections, staffing costs, allocations, and budget-to-actual analysis.
Reviews account coding, transactions, payroll allocations, purchase activity, and budget transfers for accuracy, allowability, and alignment with approved program plans.
Prepares regular financial updates and identifies variances, funding risks, corrective actions, and budget adjustments for Finance and program leaders.
Compiles and analyzes salaries, benefits, contracted services, supplies, and other expenses charged to state, federal, Medical Assistance, Alternative Delivery, Title, community education, special education, transportation, diversity, and other assigned funding sources.
Maintains checks and balances across assigned programs and reconciles program records to the District's general ledger and supporting systems.
Third-Party Billing and Reimbursement
Coordinates third-party billing for eligible services, including Medical Assistance and Medicaid reimbursement activities, in accordance with program rules and District procedures.
Reviews service documentation, provider qualifications, consent records, claims, remittance information, denials, and adjustments to support complete and accurate reimbursement.
Monitors and reconciles third-party billing revenues and receivables; researches discrepancies and coordinates corrections with staff, vendors, and agencies.
Develops and maintains service documentation and billing forms for tuition, care and treatment, outside agency agreements, and other reimbursable services.
Provides training, guidance, and follow-up to staff responsible for service documentation and billing inputs.
Transportation Contracts and Billing
Reviews transportation contracts, rate schedules, invoices, mileage, routes, student eligibility, service dates, and supporting records for fiscal accuracy and contract compliance.
Coordinates transportation billing and reimbursement processes, including special education, homeless, foster care, interdistrict, tuition, and other eligible services as assigned.
Reconciles transportation invoices and billings to student, route, vendor, and financial records; investigates duplicate, missing, or unsupported charges and credits.
Maintains documentation needed for state reporting, reimbursement requests, audit support, and allocation of transportation costs to the correct UFARS dimensions.
Works with Transportation, Special Education, Enrollment, schools, vendors, and outside agencies to resolve service and billing discrepancies.
Compliance, Reporting, and Financial Operations
Interprets legislative updates, funding guidance, reimbursement rules, and procedural changes and communicates their financial impact to District leaders and program staff.
Implements and coordinates assigned accounting functions in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, Minnesota statutes, MDE guidance, UFARS requirements, board policy, contracts, and grant or program rules.
Prepares and supports required reports, submissions, reconciliations, expenditure documentation, reimbursement requests, audit schedules, and monitoring responses using systems such as UFARS, SEDRA, SERVS/MEGS, MARSS, and other applicable platforms.
Supports management of federal funds by collecting time-and-effort documentation, preparing Local Collaborative Time Study reports, and recalculating expenditure allocations based on documented activity.
Maintains complete, organized, and confidential records and responds to requests from auditors, MDE, DHS, intermediaries, consultants, and other authorized parties.
Develops written procedures, internal controls, calendars, and tracking tools for assigned financial and billing processes.
Collaborates with Finance, Special Education, Community Education, Transportation, Human Resources, Payroll, schools, vendors, and partner agencies to resolve issues and meet deadlines.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field; a comparable combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
Five years of experience in accounting, finance, billing, reimbursement, or business services, preferably in a school district, public education, government, or other regulated setting.
Experience supporting budgets, reconciliations, financial reporting, audits, or compliance processes.
Experience interpreting and applying financial policies, procedures, contracts, and regulations.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Minnesota school finance, special education finance, community education finance, transportation billing, or third-party Medical Assistance/Medicaid billing.
Experience with UFARS, SEDRA, SERVS/MEGS, MARSS, MDE reporting systems, or comparable financial and student information systems.
Experience with public-sector grants, federal and state funding compliance, time-and-effort reporting, or reimbursement programs.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of accounting principles, budgeting, internal controls, billing, reimbursement, and financial reconciliation.
Ability to interpret complex statutes, regulations, contracts, funding guidance, and reporting requirements and apply them to daily work.
Strong spreadsheet and data-analysis skills, including the ability to organize, compare, reconcile, and explain detailed financial information.
Ability to identify errors, research root causes, recommend corrections, and document decisions.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, timely, and complete work.
Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to explain financial requirements to staff with varied roles and experience.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, recurring deadlines, confidential information, and detailed records.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate across departments and with outside partners.
Cultural competence and the ability to apply an equity lens to financial processes, resource decisions, and access to District programs and services.
PHYSICAL FACTORS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, reach for objects, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, and use hands to grasp and feel. The employed must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, occasionally being required to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Diversity: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Fridley Public Schools recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting our academic mission. Fridley Public Schools is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Fridley Public Schools ISD 14 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer. Fridley Public Schools ISD 14 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Fridley Public Schools is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District's Equal Opportunity Employment . Veteran's Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application. Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at HRdepartment@isd14.org or call 763-502-5006. Background Check Upon Conditional Offer: Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check. A passing background is required. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
