Financial Specialist

**Duties**:
The incumbent serves as roving Financial Management Specialist for the Bureau of Africa and is responsible for providing expert advice, assistance and audit of all phases of budget and financial programs relating to overseas posts financial operations. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all 46 overseas posts within the African Bureau. She/he reports directly to the supervisory Financial Management Specialist for African Regional Budget Office (ARBO). The incumbent travels frequently to difficult countries, approximately 40 % of the year.

**Management of International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS)**:
Serves as a senior expert consultant/advisor relating to the Department 's reimbursement program called ICASS. Audits financial statements to best evaluate cost of doing business by location and type of service. Evaluates impact of costs to all agencies and recommends cost reductions without reducing services.

Recommendations are presented to the Post ICASS Council comprised of senior officials from all agencies at post and also works directly with the Post Working Group to develop and present complex methodology to improve current business practices at post. In the absence of statements that reflect the cost of doing business and cost to each agency, incumbent develops the ICASS budget and impact statements during visits. In the case of post opening/closing and/or agency buildup or withdrawal, incumbent will advise and assist senior post management with negotiating and developing financial impact of change in personnel staffing and administrative support.

**Budget and Financial Planning**

AF Financial Management Specialist is responsible for the audit and review of projected initial and mid-year budget and financial plans, both direct and reimbursed resources. Ensures that actual and projected costs reflect true resource requirements and financial statements have been properly endorsed by all agencies, in the case of the ICASS program. In the absence of a budget and/or financial plan, develops and formulates the post plan and discusses results with senior post managers including the DCM and Chief of Mission. The incumbent will attend budget workshops in Africa to formulate and review budget and financial plans and expedite the submission process to post management and Department offices and Agencies receiving administrative support for the Department of State.

**Funds Management**

Responsible for the audit and review of financial resources allocated to all AF posts to ensure maximum utilization and timely recording of accounting information to CGFS and AF/EX. During periodic visits and special audits requested by AF/EX, performs comprehensive audit of transactions to ensure programs are charged correctly, particularly ICASS program information that is critical to the successful implementation of this program. Follows sound accounting practice and produces random sample reports to measure funding trends between cost centers from one period to the next.

Incumbent is a true expert/consultant and advisor to senior management at post and will recommend solutions to improve the management and use of resource by drafting SOPs and Post Policies. Activities that warrant special attention, e.g., overdrafts and underutilization of resources are brought to the attention of the senior AF/EX rover.

**Cash Management**

Audits and reviews Class B cashiers and sub-cashier cash advances during scheduled and unscheduled visits to oversee posts. Disbursements and collections are verified for validity to ensure that transactions are applied to authorized programs. Reconciliation reports are audited to ensure that post records agree with official records maintained in CGFS and FSTO. Incumbent verifies that transactions are properly recorded, and adequate checks and balances are in place to avoid waste, fraud and mismanagement. As a AF/EX rover, incumbent is called upon to audit the most difficult fiscal irregularities in the event fiscal malfeasances occur. Actions and findings are coordinated with the senior AF/EX rover, CGFS-USDO and AF/EX. Reviews adequacy of cash advances and recommends change in cash balances based upon cash flow and post requirements. Monthly review of all the Class B Cashiers unannounced cash counts while in Paris.

**Sundry items**:
Substitutes for American Financial Management Officers in the event of gaps. Duties include Authority for all financial transactions. As AF/EX rover expert/consultant, is responsible for training FMOs, MOs and LE employees regarding financial and budget procedures during periodic visits. Field reports prepared by the incumbent will incorporate his/her recommendations. Incumbent takes part as SME (Subject Matter Expert) in the development and enhancement of financial software. Certification of all Cashier transactions for certain posts.

**Qualifications and Evaluations**:

- Requirements:
EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 5 years of prog