Financial & Procurement Specialist

Job Details for Financial & Procurement Specialist

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is now accepting applications for up to two Financial and Procurement Specialists. Consideration will only be given to those who apply through the court's online applicant tracking system, submit a cover letter, resume, and two professional references.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is currently seeking applicants for a Financial and Procurement Specialist. This hybrid position provides a wide variety of administrative support services for the clerk’s office. This position is located in the Office of the Clerk of the Court in Chicago, Illinois.

• Review Criminal Justice Act (CJA) vouchers for accuracy and completeness. Conduct procedural compliance audit of vouchers submitted for payment and compliance review of authorization requests including justifications when necessary. Instruct attorneys on CJA guidelines and system requirements.
• Prepare and review a variety of vouchers and orders for accuracy and adherence to judicial regulations related to various expenses incurred by the court and clerk’s office for appropriateness of payment.
• Interpret court orders and process the appropriate financial transactions.
• Create and maintain case ledgers in an automated database.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with judges, court staff, other judicial agencies, attorneys, and the public responding to questions and inquiries on financial matters dealing with the district court.
• Verify daily checks and cash received by the clerk’s office and deposit in appropriate account; perform bookkeeper functions.
• Maintain and analyze accounting records consisting of a cash receipts journal, registry fund, deposit fund, and subsidiary ledgers for allotments and other fiscal records.
• Prepare and analyze daily, monthly, quarterly, bi‑annual, and annual financial statements for the clerk’s office, Administrative Offices, and various outside agencies.
• Comply with guidelines, procedures, and policies established by the Administrative Office and the court units.
• Assist with the formulation, evaluation, and implementation of policies, procedures, and protocols related to financial operations.
• Procure supplies, equipment, services, and furnishings from government/non‑government sources through new contracts, competitive bids, or existing government contracts.
• Review, evaluate, verify, and process invoices and prepare payment requests.
• Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production, and distribution capabilities as well as their reputation and history. Prepare specifications, solicitations, and requests for qualifications/proposals; research products and equipment; prepare product/equipment specifications.
• Obtain and review competitive bids, quotes, and proposals from vendors and contractors; discuss evaluations and review with requesters and subject matter experts.
• Assess requests for goods and services by ensuring that they are allowable under limitations, restrictions, and policies, as well as determining availability of funds.
• Review accounting records of each functional allotment and reconcile accounts.
• Ensure that accounts have funds available for items being purchased.
• Prepare spreadsheets and maintain databases to track certain expenditures.
• Audit and prepare payment vouchers for the financial, jury, procurement, interpreter, and the court reporter departments. Ensure compliance with the Judiciary policy and procedures.
• Prepare vouchers in the court’s financial accounting system (JIFMS). Generate standard reports from databases and computerized systems.
• Identify and maintain lists of vendors and sources of supply for goods and services.
• Adhere to the Guide to Judiciary Policy, and Judiciary procurement program procedures on procurement procedures.
• Adhere to court unit’s internal control procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

A successful candidate must have the ability to apply a body of rules and regulations to complete financial…