Finance Associate

Feel good about where you work and what you do!

We are Aspire Living & Learning, a non-profit human services agency making a meaningful difference in the lives of adults and children with autism and other disabilities.

Are you passionate about improving systems and making a meaningful impact? Aspire Living & Learning is on the lookout for a dynamic Finance Associate to join our team.  The Finance Associate at Aspire Living & Learning plays a vital role on the finance team managing personal funds and benefits for individuals served by Aspire, in accordance with financial management best practices.

Rate of Pay: $19-21 per hour

Shift:  Monday-Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm 

Key Responsibilities:

• Accurately and efficiently performs a wide variety of finance duties
• Ensures the accurate and timely entry of financial transactions
• Gathers, tracks and analyzes financial data
• Maintains supporting files and schedules for financial data
• Prepares account reconciliations
• Prepares and maintains documentation of procedures and policies
• Assists with the preparation, maintenance and review of files and supporting documentation for various audits
• Works closely with finance and other personnel throughout the organization’s various state offices
• Participates in efficiency planning and implementation
• Performs research on various accounting topics upon request, presents findings and makes recommendations
• Maintain positive and productive working relationships
• completing benefits as Rep-payee for individuals with disabilities
• Training as required
• Other duties and projects as assigned

FOCUS AREAS

• Individual Funds
  • Oversees and manages Representative Payee funds and benefits for individuals served by Aspire (examples include: Social Security income, Food Stamp Assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, Waiver Eligibility, etc.)
  • Monitors the receipt and distribution of supported individuals’ personal funds
  • Ensures accurate and timely processing, reporting and reconciliation of all individual funds transactions
  • Acts as liaison between Aspire and parents/guardians on personal funds matters
  • Processes weekly accounts payable for all individual accounts (including 3^rd party debit card program transactions)
  • Performs audits of individual funds transactions to ensure appropriateness of spend and sufficiency of supporting documentation
  • Tracks all disability income payments and notifies the Central Office of any changes to room and board calculations and agreements; tracks all public assistance awards and notifies managers of any award changes
  • Monitors and maintains eligibility for all benefits; completes benefit re-determination forms, applies for benefits as necessary, and resolves any issues with suspended or closed cases (requires travel to local and federal government offices to complete in-person interviews and/or submit documentation as requested)
  • Prepares and submits any required Social Security Representative Payee reports
  • Researches public assistance programs and medical insurance coverage, ensuring that individuals receive maximum and complete benefits that are entitled to them
  • Adheres to policies and procedures and ensures compliance with all regulations and guidelines established by various government and benefit agencies
  • Provides funds management training to new and existing employees handling funds
  • Ensures data is kept up to date in various software and document filing systems; maneuvers through various applications such as state systems and banking portals
  • Assists with the collection of various supporting financial documents to satisfy internal and external audit requirements

Qualifications:

• A solid understanding of financial management; demonstrated competency of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word skills; demonstrated competency of payroll processing systems.
• Detail oriented; strong analytical, organization and time management skills; strong verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; ability to work as a team member; ability to prioritize and work independently.
• Thinking analytically; analyzing and interpreting data; organizing and coordinating; problem solving; communicating verbally; creating written communication; effectively manage stress levels and emotional responses within the work environment.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a finance role required. Experience with financial software and systems required.
• Minimum of an Associate’s degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics required, Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation. This is necessary for travel to various locations, including group homes, Social Security offices, and Department of Human Services (DHS) offices.

Working Conditions:

• This position operates in a professional office environment.
• Some infrequent day and/or overnight travel possible.
• Some holiday work required to meet scheduled payday processing deadlines.
• These physical and mental demands are representative of the physical and mental requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the finance position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.
• Lift/carry up to 10 pounds; speaking; standing; sitting for long periods of time; reaching; bending; walking; reaching with arms and hands, balancing; using fingers to handle or feel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• This position requires the routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, fax machines, audio/visual equipment, etc.

Aspire Living & Learning believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.