The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is seeking an Assistant Chief Accountant/Procurement Officer in the Fiscal Operations Unit, which reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

This is a covered position under the State Universities Civil Service System.

The Assistant Chief Accountant/Procurement Officer is responsible for performing a variety of complex and professional accounting, analysis, and auditing functions including but not limited to preparing journal entries, serving as lead on all fiscal compliance reporting, including maintaining records and serving as point of contact for compliance audits, performing complex analysis of agency financial data for ad hoc reports, including for audits, and serving as Asset Accountant, maintaining accurate and up-to-date asset inventory and all reporting, including annual physical inventory. Additionally, this position serves as the Agency’s Procurement Officer and BEP Compliance Officer, ensuring compliance with State of IL procurement and preferred vendor selection processes (including filing required reports).

The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of state Accounting and Procurement systems, extensive accounting skills, strong analytical, critical thinking and organizational skills, and commitment to attention to detail.

Major Duties & Responsibilities include:

Accounting Functions:

• Serves as lead on all fiscal compliance reporting, including maintaining records and serving as point of contact for compliance audits.

• Prepares monthly journal entries

• Performs analysis of agency financial data for ad hoc reports, including for audits

• Serves as Asset Accountant, maintaining accurate and up-to-date asset inventory and all reporting, including annual physical inventory

Procurement:

• Serves as the primary Agency contact with the state Procurement office

• Enters procurement data, as required by state law and rules, into the state procurement system (BidBuy)

• Evaluates forms and procedures to identify areas of possible problems and potential improvements

• Ensures compliance with all applicable state procurement processes

• Educates IBHE staff in procurement rules and processes

• Serves as the coordinator for ordering the agency's office supplies

• Serves as the Agency’s Procurement & BEP Compliance Officer

Agency-wide vehicle coordinator:

• schedules the use of the Agency car

• completes required mileage logs, and Agency required reports

• maintains control of the vehicle keys

• schedules routine maintenance

• works with authorized personnel for vehicle repairs in the case of an accident

• works with Agency personnel to complete all required accident reporting

Other duties as assigned, within scope of position

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent knowledge of state Accounting and Procurement systems preferred

• Extensive accounting skills

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

• Strong organizational skills

• Committed focus on accuracy and attention to detail

• Takes initiative, self-starter

• Conflict resolution skills (Ability to deal tactfully with controversial problems)

• Extremely driven, intellectually curious, and committed to continuous learning and growing.

• Supportive colleague, reinforcing a strong team-focused culture.

• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, and Power Point; working knowledge of SAMS a plus

Education and Experience:

1. Bachelor's degree with a major in accountancy or equivalent course work

2. A total of three (3) years (36 months) of accounting experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity

3. A total of two (2) years (24 months) of additional years of experience* in professional level accounting work consistent with the next lower level of this series

*An advanced degree in accountancy or registration as a Certified Public Accountant may be substituted for one year of professional experience.

Work location:

• IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. IL Residency is required.

• Travel within Illinois is expected, as required by the work.

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary commensurate with experience, not to exceed $75,000/year.

We offer the state’s competitive employee benefits package.

To Apply:

Apply online at: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job-invite/43640/

A resume is required.

Application deadline is 01/17/25

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We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and minorities to apply.

¹ IBHE is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act, state agencies must ensure that the employment process is accessible to persons with disabilities. Specifically, these laws require that the state provide reasonable accommodation upon request by individuals participating in all steps of the employment process. This includes the State of Illinois interview process.

About the position:

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is seeking a Capital Analyst, reporting to the Director of Higher Education Finance Policy.

This is a covered position under the State Universities Civil Service System.

This position provides fiscal oversight and analysis in support of the state’s higher education capital program including developing, analyzing, and monitoring capital budgets in alignment with state priorities, tracking project status; serves as the IBHE’s primary liaison for all capital matters.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred

• Knowledge of and experience with public higher education, public budgeting, and analysis and planning

• Experience with capital planning, budgeting and project management, strongly preferred

• One (1) year (12 months) of professional level progressively responsible financial work experience

• Work experience in developing financial or economic analyses, research designs, strategic plans, or data models

• Strong project management and time management skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft products including Microsoft Excel

• Knowledge and experience in preparation and analysis of financial reports

• Knowledge of federal, state and university finances preferred

• Skill in written, oral, and interpersonal communication

• Ability to prioritize tasks and functions

• Ability to work independently to accomplish goals

• Ability to design and implement solutions to complex problems

Major Duties & Responsibilities include:

• 45% Serves as the IBHE’s lead analyst on the higher education capital budget (construction, renovation of public college and university buildings, classrooms, labs, etc)

  • Collaborates with institutions to understand facility master plans, capital and deferred maintenance needs, project progress, maintains current list of institutional priorities

  • Understands and uses campus facility master plans to inform budget recommendations

  • Develops and implements a methodology for prioritizing higher education capital project budget requests across institutions/

  • Oversees the development of the IBHE’s annual capital budget recommendations and preparation of Board budget materials

  • Leads the university non-instructional capital request process and three-year capital plan

• 40% Maintains and tracks capital project status, coordinating across state agencies and institutions.

  • Remains in close contact with institutions on project status, priorities, and pressures; facilitates problem resolution

  • Serves as primary liaison with the Capital Development Board, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and institutional contacts for capital matters

• 10% Provides analysis, reporting, and fiscal impact of the state’s higher education capital program, and coordinates and collaborates with other Agency staff on special fiscal analysis

• 5% Other duties as assigned within scope of position

Position Requirements and Qualifications:

Minimum Education/Experience:

1. Any one or combination totaling four (4) years (48 months) from the categories below:

• college coursework comparable to that in a field related to financial analysis/planning such as accounting, business administration, economics, finance, statistics, or a closely related field

• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)

• Associate Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen (18) months

• 90-semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)

• Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

• Master’s Degree equals four (4) years (48 months)

• work experience in developing financial or economic analyses, research designs, strategic plans, or data models

2. One (1) year (12 months) of professional level progressively responsible financial work experience

Skills & Traits:

• Experience with capital planning, budgeting and project management, strongly preferred

• Knowledge of public higher education

• Experience with capital planning, budgeting and project management, strongly preferred

• Knowledge of public budgeting process

• Experience with fiscal analysis and planning

• Strong project management and time management skills

• Proficient in Microsoft products including Microsoft Excel

• Knowledge and experience in preparation and analysis of financial reports

• Knowledge of federal, state and university finances preferred

• Skill in written, oral, and interpersonal communication

• Ability to work independently to accomplish goals

• Ability to design and implement solutions to complex problems

Work location:

IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. IL Residency is required.

Travel within Illinois is expected, as required by the work.

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary commensurate with experience, not to exceed $75,000/year.

We offer the state’s competitive employee benefits package.

To Apply:

Apply online at: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job-invite/43639/

A resume is required.

Closing date 1/17/2025

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and minorities to apply.

IBHE is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act, state agencies must ensure that the employment process is accessible to persons with disabilities. Specifically, these laws require that the state provide reasonable accommodation upon request by individuals participating in all steps of the employment process. This includes the State of Illinois interview process.

About the position:

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is seeking a Director of Higher Education Finance Policy.

The IL Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is responsible for making annual budget recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on behalf of the state’s higher education system, including public universities, community colleges (with the Illinois Community College Board), student aid (with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission) and various other agencies, grants, and programs. Additionally, IBHE collects, analyzes, and reports on fiscal issues related to Illinois’ higher education ecosystem. The Director of Higher Education Finance Policy provides senior-level oversight of the agency’s fiscal policy analysis and policy-setting and serves as a member of the leadership team; Oversees the Fiscal Policy administrative unit; provides leadership in strategic higher education finance, qualitative research, analytics, budgeting, and reporting; Supports strategic planning and policy development with a fiscal lens.

The ideal candidate will be an expert in data analysis, synthesis, visualization and presentation with a minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited Institution in a Job Posting for Director of Higher Education Finance Policy related field, have 5+ years of progressively responsible professional, related experience with 2+ years of experience in a leadership role, have experience with Government and/or Higher education finance, have knowledge of/experience with state funding streams for higher education, and have substantial experience presenting to and advising elected officials and senior organizational leaders.

Major Duties & Responsibilities include:

• Leads the Board’s strategic higher education finance policy, fiscal data analysis and budgeting, providing vision, analysis, and execution

• Leads the development of the annual higher education operating and capital budget recommendations to the Board, Governor, and General Assembly

• Oversees review, analysis, synthesis, and presentation of institutional finances and financial risk assessments to inform Board actions, policy and practice changes

• Oversees implementation, transparency, and accountability for university funding and appropriations

• Oversees development and implementation of affordability strategies for higher education

• Oversees the development, analysis, modeling, and program implementation for capital planning, including analysis of institution capital master plans, non-instructional capital expenditures, prioritization of capital projects, and progress toward completion for public and private institutional state-funded capital

• Provides information and analysis to the Governor’s Office and General Assembly regarding budget, financial, and policy-related issues

• Leads and develops a staff team, overseeing their work, professional development, and success

• Develops and provides analytic support for other teams within the agency and collaborates to produce thoughtful agency reports

• Serves as a member of the IBHE leadership team, providing direct oversight and management of the assigned unit

• Other duties as assigned, within scope of position

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expert in data analysis, synthesis, visualization and presentation

• 40% Maintains and tracks capital project status, coordinating across state agencies and institutions.

• Strong analytical ability and familiarity with advanced financial concepts

• Demonstrated ability to provide and interpret financial management information and to communicate to non-financial audiences

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to collaborate and work well within teams

• Problem-solver and self-starter; ability to stay positive and motivated

• Strong project-management skills; excellent follow-through, and ability to organize and prioritize

• Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of constituents and stakeholders, including but not limited to Board members, senior government executives, elected officials, institutional officers, and private sector leaders.

• Commitment to higher education equity goals

• Demonstrated ability to support and develop professional staff

Education and Experience:

• Required: Master’s degree* from an accredited Institution, in a related field

  • Three+ years of professional-level, relevant experience may be substituted for a Master’s degree

• Significant experience with data analysis and modeling including with institutional, state, and/or postsecondary data

• 5+ years of progressively responsible professional, related experience (required) with at least 2 years of experience in a leadership role (preferred)

• Government and/or Higher education finance experience a plus, including understanding of state postsecondary finance policy and budgeting processes.

• Knowledge of/experience with state funding streams for higher education preferred

• Experience presenting to and advising elected officials and senior organizational leaders

• Significant experience with higher education policy, financial analysis, public budgeting

• Knowledge of state postsecondary finance policy and budgeting processes, including state funding formulas

• Understanding of public university finances

Work location:

IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion.IL Residency is required.

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary commensurate with experience, not to exceed $147,500/year.

We offer the state’s competitive employee benefits package.

To Apply:

Apply online at: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job-invite/43614/

A resume is required.

Application deadline is 01/17/25

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and minorities to apply.

IBHE is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act, state agencies must ensure that the employment process is accessible to persons with disabilities. Specifically, these laws require that the state provide reasonable accommodation upon request by individuals participating in all steps of the employment process. This includes the State of Illinois interview process.