District Court - Deputy Court Administrator (21-13)

Description

This senior management position is responsible for organizing and coordinating the financial activities of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (“FJD”). The position requires exceptional relationship management skills along with the ability to think and act independently, exercise good judgment, learn on the fly and think on your feet. Strong presentation skills and experience using higher level applications of Spreadsheet and other data analytics tools are necessary. Work performed is with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the FJD's Administrative Governing Board (“AGB”) and District Court Administrator (“DCA”).

Primary Duties

• Develops, plans, and implements all Financial Services Unit procedures and budget-related activities, including day-to-day operations, through subordinate administrators and supervisors, scheduling work priorities in accordance with the needs of the Department, at the AGB’s and DCA’s direction.
• Directs all areas of administrative operations including fiscal management, budget analysis and preparation, and policy development.
• Allocate and monitor divisional operating budgets consistent with the goals and objectives of each Appointing Authority.
• Allocate and implement available financial resources consistent with FJD organizational structure, including ensuring dedicated funds are kept separate and their use is limited for intended purposes.
• Oversee professional financial and accounts payable team.
• Gather, analyze, and present data for the preparation of budgetary reports.
• Conduct quarterly budget reviews and present to divisional leadership.
• Prepare, negotiate, submit, and present the Court’s budget to its funding authority.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of the court’s case management and information systems, including and not limited to, Human Resources, Procurement, the Common Pleas Criminal Case Management System (“CPCMS”), and other third-party accounting software.
• Translate program mandates into program budgets.
• Provide budgetary and cost-impact analysis of proposed legislation.
• Provide impact analysis of positions vacancies on budget forecasts and/or implications of cutback budgeting.
• Transfer multi-part budgeting process into a single comprehensive automated budgeting process.
• Track expenditures through all expenditure classes, at both current and historical position levels, with ability to identify trends and variances.
• Gather, analyze, and then provide data through monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue and expenditure reports, identifying potential anomalies.
• Respond to requests for ad-hoc and annual expenditure information for reimbursement to funding authority.
• Understand controls of revenues from receipt to disbursement and allocate revenue receipts to funding authorities to offset expenses.
• Manage end-of-year processes, including the closing of the current year and opening of new fiscal years.
• Create custom reports (e.g., informational, financial, and analytical) and use pre-existing reports to document and present financial information to various users.
• Updates, when necessary, the organizations chart of accounts to ensure account structure and definitions meet both external and internal reporting requirements.
• Reviews, recommends, and implements policies and procedures to improve the overall effectiveness of financial management.
• Represent the Court in both oral and written responses to financial questions and audits, including official responses to reports for the District.
• Maintain files on all matters pertaining to audit and financial activity of the Court.
• Directs personnel activities for the Department and maintains a liaison with the Human Resources Department.
• Mediates, remedies, and/or escalates internal disputes and conflicts.
• Administers disciplinary procedures as warranted.
• Maintains liaison with Court Administrators, Judiciary, all departments and functional areas, and justice partners.
• Serves as requested by the State Court Administrator, Administrative/ Supervisory Judges, FJD Court Administrator, or other authority, to represent the FJD and/or its Financial Department.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or closely related field; AND
• Five years of experience in court management or eight years of varied office management work including experience in budgeting, procurement, and human resources management.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training may be considered.

Additional Requirements/Preferences

• MBA, FP&A, or CPA preferred.
• Prior experience as a senior-level financial controller preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of the Court system and its administration, including management principles, standards, and goals required.
• Strong understanding of Court functions and the corresponding budgetary and financial implications required.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles of procedures analysis, work simplification, and forms and records control required.
• Extensive knowledge and technical understanding of government and fund accounting required.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing required.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships required.
• Ability to problem solve and find creative solutions required.
• Ability to learn within a reasonable period of time, the functions, policies, procedures, and operations of the Court and Department to which assigned required.
• Ability to represent the Financial Services Unit in conferences and meetings with public and private officials required.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions required.
• Satisfactory criminal background check required.

Additional Information

Unified Judicial System Hiring Policy

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania recruits, employs, and promotes the most qualified applicants without regard to their political affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or other non-merit facts or considerations. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities as may be necessary to ensure that all applicants are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete for all employment positions. Applicants who need accommodation for an interview should request so in advance. UJS hiring and employment policies and procedures are intended to conform to all applicable state and federal laws governing fair and non-discriminatory hiring and employment practices and are subject to change as necessary to remain in compliance with such laws.

Applicants requiring accommodation, for any part of the application and/or interview process, should contact Human Resources at (717) 231-3309 or human.resources@pacourts.us.