Finance Program Specialist

Job

Agency:
Social Services

Location:

Sioux Falls or Pierre, SD

Salary: $28.54 + Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: J

Closing Date: 07/02/26

• Oversee vendor and payment information within the child welfare information system, enter vendor banking details for ACH deposits, and ensure payment integrity.
• Complete payment processing audits, assist with contract development and management, resolve vendor payment discrepancies, and advise on federal and state regulations related to child welfare funding.
• Draft internal guidance and provide technical assistance on financial processes.
• Process Auxiliary Placement Program payments by verifying placement details, reviewing supporting documentation for compliance, confirming and entering service rates into FACIS, and ensuring accurate coding within FACIS and the child welfare system.
• Track expenditures, monitor trends, identify errors or inconsistencies, and work closely with program staff to resolve discrepancies and ensure adherence to federal, state, and departmental financial policies.
• Process Title IV‑E placement and payment activities for some South Dakota Tribes by reviewing tribal foster home license information, verifying placement documentation for compliance, entering approved resources and placement details into FACIS.
• Ensure accurate coding for Tribal IV‑E and Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) related data, monitor Tribal IV‑E expenditures, identify data inconsistencies, and prepare required tribal data reports for tribes and court stakeholders.
• Work closely with the ICWA Tribal Liaison Program Specialist and tribal program staff to resolve discrepancies and ensure payments, data entries, and reports comply with federal, state, and departmental guidelines.
• Review, analyze, and interpret department rules and regulations as they relate to fiscal processes and program budgets; provide technical assistance in grant preparation and administration; and provide technical assistance to program staff and other agencies to ensure programs operate within set standards and laws and that program services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
• Develop and maintain public relations with the Department of Social Services, Finance Division, and other divisions to foster working partnerships, resolve complaints, respond to public inquiries, and educate the public about program services available.

A bachelor's degree in social work, accounting, business administration, or related fields OR 2 years of experience in a related field with at least 1 year experience in supervising staff. Candidates are not required to be a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for employment. However, certification as a CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified Investments and Derivatives Auditor (CIDA) may substitute for experience.

Knowledge:

• Theories and concepts related to child welfare, culture, child development, family connections, and their influence on child safety (preferred but not required).
• Principles and practices of accounting and auditing.
• Methods and techniques of governmental accounting, statistics, and financial analysis.
• Modern office procedures.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Pertinent child welfare federal or state law, and administrative rule.
• Supervisory principles and practices.
• Techniques to gather and analyze data, identify and define problems or potential problems; and develop and implement appropriate resolutions.

Skills:

• Oversee fiscal projects within an organization, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting.
• Oversee activities related to grant funding.
• Oversee administrative accounting and general office duties as needed.
• Create project ideas, plan, and coordinate the project's execution.
• Oversee budgets and monitor spending related to state and federal funding.
• Communicate a program's eligibility requirements to management and ensure employees meet the program eligibility.
• Hire and train administrative employees.
• Record data and financial…