State of Maryland

An Employee Benefits Financial Associate I DBM is the entry level of work ensuring proper recording and reporting of unique and complex fiscal functions of the Maryland Department of Budget and management (DBM), Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, within the Employee Benefits Division (EBD).  Employees in this classification examine, analyze, and interpret financial data related to Statewide employee benefits and wellness programs.  Employees in this classification perform and apply general accounting and analysis principles and practices to work that involves reconciling EBD accounting systems to fiscal control systems, developing automated spreadsheets, ledgers and reports, identifying trends, and recommending fiscal realignments.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Fiscal Services Administrator or other designated administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Employee Benefits Financial Associate I DBM, Employee Benefits Financial Associate II DBM, and Employee Benefits Financial Associate III are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Employee Benefits Financial Associate I DBM learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Employee Benefits Financial Associate II DBM performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Employee Benefits Financial Associate III DBM performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to ensure proper recording and reporting of unique and complex fiscal functions of the EBD by examining, analyzing, and interpreting financial data related to Statewide employee benefits and wellness programs;

Learns to examine financial data to identify interrelationships and trends and devises procedures to increase the reliability and usefulness of the data;

Learns to post, maintain, and verify large volume of transmittals, check and wire deposits, and journal entries to the accounting ledgers of the State’s non-budgeted Employees and Retirees Health Insurance Programs where the balances of Statewide dental, prescription (Rx), and health programs are maintained and monitored;

Learns to post satellite payments in Benefits Administration System (BAS);

Learns to verify the daily lockbox and wire/credit card deposits of direct pay enrollees for accurate and proper identification into BAS and other health insurance accounts;

Learns to prepare and maintain end to end daily deposit process for Lockbox and wired/credit card transactions;

Learns to process refunds of health, dental, and prescription premium deductions when appropriate into the Financial Management Information System (FMIS-R*Stars);

Learns to research discrepancies using BAS, Workday, and informational resources within the division;

Learns to update and maintain vendor check log summary;

Learns to enter approved batches into fiscal ledger;

Meets with division professional accounting staff and Fiscal Administrator to discuss and resolve accounting discrepancies and other issues;

Interacts and has contacts with health insurance vendors and representatives and auditors concerning employee benefits’ data and reports;

Learns to provide assistance during audits by gathering and compiling fiscal and financial data;

May design report formats and summarizes financial data in periodic and special reports;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of bookkeeping;

Knowledge of the organization of journal and ledger books of accounts and the process of monitoring financial records;

Skill in researching discrepancies in accounting and budgetary data and making necessary adjustments;

Skill in setting up and maintaining spreadsheets and ledgers;

Ability to develop report formats and prepare financial reports;

Ability to use computerized financial analysis and modeling applications and software including but not limited to spreadsheet software and database applications;

Ability to effectively organize and manage work assignments and meet deadlines efficiently;

Ability to use a computer to access, input and extract data;

Ability to understand complex computations and conduct presentations;

Ability to post and balance accounts and calculate percentages;

Ability to examine financial data and identify interrelationship and trends and devises procedures to increase the reliability and usefulness of the data;

Ability to interpret and apply State and federal laws, policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to employee benefits and wellness financial and budgeting operations;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, payroll personnel, vendors and representatives from fiscal control agencies including auditors, and the general public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience examining, analyzing, and reporting on employee benefits and wellness programs’ financial data and transactions, or one year of experience reviewing, verifying, recording, adjusting and balancing financial transactions.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute experience calculating and recording financial, statistical, or other numerical data on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute six credit hours in accounting from an accredited college or university for six months of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience in Financial Clerical/Finance Technicians classifications or specialty codes in the financial field of work at a rate of one year of military experience for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.