School Finance, Payment Analyst

Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

Job Location: School Finance Section, Phoenix Location

Posting Details:

• Salary: $61,000 - $65,000
• Grade: 21
• Closing Date: 02/02/26

Job Summary:

• This position will be responsible for the calculation and validation of state expenditures.
• Rare in-state travel may be required for this position.
• The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties:

• Process monthly school district and charter payments; using SQL and Excel, analyze results from the current payment calculations to determine changes, determine and input all necessary payment adjustments, determine causes for and validate all significant changes, report findings prior to completion of payments, generate payment requisition based on calculation results and available appropriated sources, process through required approval levels
• Process and analyze ADJC, ADOC, CEC, CSF, IIF, county education payments, such as Small School, County Juvenile Detention, County Jail, and Unorganized Territory through the Payment System; utilize SQL and Excel to analyze results for accuracy, report findings prior to completion of payments, generate payment requisition based on calculation results and available appropriated sources, process through required approval levels.
• Process and analyze school district and charter 15-915s
• Provide customer service (phone calls, emails, and Help Desk) for all payment-related questions and concerns
• Manually process ADM overrides, data inputs (including, but not limited to, assessed valuations and additional state aid values), and all necessary payment adjustments
• Calculate and validate any legislatively required manual payments
• Generate payment requisition based on calculation results and available appropriated sources
• Develop, maintain, and update all payment-related standards of operating procedures documents
• Create, publish, and modify necessary external communications for data collection and transparency

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge in: Knowledge and understanding of payment and financial reporting;
  Applicants must have finance experience; A bachelor’s degree in a field appropriate to the assignment, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.
• Skills in: Proficiency in oral and written communication;
  Analytical skills and computer application (initialize and develop information systems);
  Statistical analysis procedures;
  General computer software skills required (directories, Web browsers, spreadsheets, etc.);
  Intermediate skills in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and SQL.
• Ability to: Establish priorities and meet timelines;
  Strong analytical ability;
  Highly detail oriented;
  Explain complex and sometimes confusing statutes;
  Write and interpret instructions for computer information systems;
  Ability to complete research.

Selective Preference(s):

• Preference will be given to those applicants with knowledge of Arizona school finance systems.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply:
  Driver’s License Requirements.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

• The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
  • Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
  • Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
  • Ten paid holidays per year
  • Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
  • Sick…