Education Finance Specialist 1, Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1 (NY HELPS), Box CFO-781/40160

The salary grade for this vacancy. Salaries are determined by salary grade and bargaining unit.Salary Grade18

The minimum and maximum of the salary range for this vacancy.Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $85138 Annually

The duties that the incumbent of the vacancy will be expected to perform. Duties Description The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of the Chief Financial Officer is seeking candidates for an Education Finance Specialist 1 position in the Office of Grants Finance. This office works with NYSED to administer State and federal grant programs. This Office is also responsible for the financial management of grants and ensuring that grant-funded activities are planned and implemented appropriately. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist with the financial processing of grants and grant contract transactions in the Statewide Financial System (SFS).
• Process fiscal transactions in Department’s grant payment system (CAFÉ) including but not limited to; voucher payments, journal voucher transfers, overpayment recoveries, and accounting adjustments.
• Conduct monthly reconciliation between CAFÉ (NYSED’s payment system) and the Statewide Financial System. Ensure that discrepancies are identified and resolved.
• Manage new and existing grants and grant-funded activities through the approval and payment process.
• Collaborate with the Office of Information Technology Services on routine maintenance of the CAFÉ system and reports, compile statistics regarding office workload to the unit manager.
• Assist with the assembly and maintenance of control documents for each funded program including appropriations, period of availability, and lapse/liquidation dates.
• Assist with meeting federal reporting requirements on grants and grant-funded activities, as required, under the Federal Funding and Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA); provide technical assistance to Department and local agency staff by using available resources.
• Monitor workflow of processing areas and make adjustments where necessary. Identify and communicate office priorities to staff.
• Supervise a team of Office Assistants.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The minimum qualifications required for this vacancy. Minimum Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

NY HELPS

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:

• Appointment to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Appointment to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 2: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher AND one year of professional work experience in an educational agency or facility regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations performing one or more of the following activities: calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing/reviewing fiscal transaction.*
• Appointment to Education Finance Specialist 1: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher AND two years of professional work experience in an educational agency or facility regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations performing one or more of the following activities: calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing/reviewing fiscal transaction.*
• Substitution – A Juris Doctor, master’s or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

All candidates that have taken and passed the most recent Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) exam are encouraged to apply.

COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Reassignment: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service as an Education Finance Specialist 1.

Eligible List Appointment: Candidates who are reachable on the New York State Education Department’s Public Administration Trainee Transition (PATT) eligible list or the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) or the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) Select Titles eligible list may be considered for appointment. If you are on the Civil Service eligible list for this title, you may receive a canvass letter. You must complete and return it as instructed on the letter. For a description of the minimum qualifications that candidates must possess to be appointed from the PCO Select Education Finance Specialist 1 eligible list, please visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/pco/pco-title-details/title-info.cfm?jobcode=0213100.

Section 70.1 Transfer to Education Finance Specialist 1: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-16 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Section 70.1 Transfer to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-12 or above deemed eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Section 70.4 Transfer to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1: Candidates may be eligible for nomination for transfer under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1 if they are a current NYS employee with one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-12 or higher AND have standing on the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) eligible list or the Public Administration Traineeship Transition (PATT) eligible list AND possess a Bachelor’s degree.

Section 70.4 Transfer to Education Finance Specialist 1: Candidates may be eligible for nomination for transfer under Section 70.4 of the Civil Service Law to Education Finance Specialist 1 if they are a current NYS employee with one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title SG-18 or higher AND have standing on the Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) eligible list or the Public Administration Traineeship Transition (PATT) eligible list AND possess a Bachelor’s degree.

Section 52.6 Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in a title allocated SG-18 or higher eligible to transfer under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law.

For information regarding the transfer options of your current title, please visit the Civil Service Career Mobility Office Website. https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/title-search/index.cfm.

55b/c Appointment Education Finance Specialist 1: This position is eligible for 55b/c designation and are subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Candidates must possess a current 55b/c eligibility letter and the following minimum qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher AND two years of professional work experience in an educational agency or facility regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations performing one or more of the following activities: calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing/reviewing fiscal transaction.

55b/c Appointment Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1: This position is eligible for 55b/c designation and are subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Candidates must possess a current 55b/c eligibility letter and the following minimum qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires the incumbent to be comfortable in an environment where accuracy and attention to detail are critical. Proficiency with Excel is preferred. Candidates must be willing to learn new computer programs/applications.

Additional comments regarding the vacancy. Additional Comments CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This will be a contingent permanent competitive appointment or contingent permanent non-competitive appointment. For a 55b/c appointment, candidates must possess the minimum qualifications, a current 55b/c eligibility letter and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Promotions and transfers may change appointees’ negotiating unit. Candidates should be aware that changes in negotiating units may affect their salary, insurance, and other benefits. This position allows for the opportunity to telecommute up to 30% each bi-weekly pay period and is granted at the discretion of the supervisor and the appointing office.

This position may be filled as traineeship. The starting salaries for this position are outlined below. For current New York State employees, salary is based on the candidate’s salary at the time of hire. Candidates appointed at the trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the full performance level title and salary.

• $53,764 (Trainee 1- NS equated to SG-14)
• $59,994 (Trainee 2- NS equated to SG-16)
• $66,951 (Full Performance level SG-18)

This position leads to a maximum salary of $85,138 based on annual performance advances and traineeship advances. For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts

APPLICATION: Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to omsjobs@nysed.gov (email submissions are preferred) by February 16 2026. Your resume must clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. You must include the job title (CFO-781/40160) of the position in the subject line of your email and cover letter to ensure receipt of your application. Links to application materials will not be accepted (i.e., Google Docs). Your social security number may be required to confirm your eligibility.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity, prior conviction records, prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications, or sealed records.

Interested in a job with New York State, but don’t know where to start?

Visit these links for information on working for New York State:

• https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/
• https://www.cs.ny.gov/pio/publications/gettingajob.pdf

Generous benefits of working for New York State, including, but not limited to, the following:

Holiday & Paid Time Off

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave in year one, increasing to 20+ days with additional years of service.
• Five (5) days of paid personal leave annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave annually for PEF/CSEA and eight (8) days paid sick leave annually for M/C.
• Annual professional leave and educational leave opportunities for eligible staff.

Health Care Benefits

• Eligible employees and dependents can choose from a variety of affordable and generous health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits

• Enrollment in the New York State pension system which has earned the distinction of being one of the best-managed and best-funded plans in the nation OR Optional Retirement Defined Contribution Plan with 8% salary match (eligibility requirements apply).
• NYS Deferred Compensation and an exclusive 403(b) Optional Retirement Savings Plan.
• Paid Parental Leave for all employees and Paid Family Leave (M/C Only).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Opportunities for telecommuting.
• Eligibility for various life insurance options.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Read Full Description