Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyEducation Department, State

TitleEducation Finance Specialist 1, Education Finance Specialist Trainee 1 (NY HELPS), Box CFO-811/04209

Occupational CategoryNo Preference

Salary Grade18

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $85138 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Albany

Street Address Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Office of Grants Finance

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12234

Job Specifics

Duties Description The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Operations and Management Services (OMS) is seeking candidates for two Education Finance Specialist 1, SG-18 (PEF) positions, in the Grants Finance Office. Duties for these positions will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work in a team-based environment to model school aid projections;
• Model and analyze school aid proposals and formulas relative to the financing of P-12 education;
• Analyze school district trends in revenues, expenditures, student counts and wealth measures;
• Research, provide analysis, and assist in the production of publications regarding issues in school finance;
• Check data tables for accuracy and perform validation and quality checks on fiscal data, and track information across multiple systems to resolve problems;
• Review quarterly databases to serve as the basis for aid projections;
• Use the State Aid Management System checking aid calculations, and in support of modeling and research tasks;
• Provide technical assistance and support to school districts for ESSA/SLFS Financial Transparency Report submissions as well as State Aid projections and inquiries;
• Collaborate with other units to support implementation of aid calculations, for database quality and validity checking, maintenance and rollover of database, mainframe model, and other data collection forms;
• Work with Department partners in Office of Early Learning and State Aid to review, post, track, and report on annual preliminary and final Universal Pre-K allocations;
• Track annual allocation against the approved budget and approved amendments to ensure that LEAs are maximizing the funds allotted to them;
• Provide fund accounting activities to monitor and track expenditures for Universal Pre-K grants to ensure compliance with parameters around related funding from the General Support for Public Schools (GSPS) appropriations;
• Oversee the work of support staff and provide additional fiscal oversight of Universal PreK grant projects;
• Provide staff with additional guidance and oversight by performing a Tier 2 review;
• Work with the program office and/or the LEA to resolve any issues or make recommendations on how to resolve the issue(s);
• Be the primary point of contact for LEAs that have fiscal related questions or need technical assistance; and
• Respond to inquiries from LEAs and internal program staff regarding payment status and fiscal requirements, providing guidance on grant reimbursement procedures and document submission standards.

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: Four years of experience calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing or reviewing fiscal transactions, monitoring and overseeing financial activity, or analyzing financial data in an educational entity regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations. An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.
• Appointment to Education Finance Specialist Trainee 2: Five years of experience calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing or reviewing fiscal transactions, monitoring and overseeing financial activity, or analyzing financial data in an educational entity regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations. An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.
• Appointment to Education Finance Specialist 1: Six years of experience calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing or reviewing fiscal transactions, monitoring and overseeing financial activity, or analyzing financial data in an educational entity regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations. An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of 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:

• Six years of experience calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing or reviewing fiscal transactions, monitoring and overseeing financial activity, or analyzing financial data in an educational entity regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations. An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

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:

• Four years of experience calculating financial support, reviewing criteria and authorizing payments, auditing or reviewing fiscal transactions, monitoring and overseeing financial activity, or analyzing financial data in an educational entity regulated under federal or New York State education laws, rules, or regulations. An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

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 This will be a permanent competitive appointment or 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. Filling of this position is contingent upon Division of the Budget and Fiscal approval.

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.

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.

How to Apply

Name Office of Human Resources Management

Telephone (518) 474-5215

Fax (518) 486-5631

Email Address OMSJobs@nysed.gov

Address

Street NYS Education Department

89 Washington Avenue, OHRM Room 528EB

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12234

 

Notes on ApplyingAPPLICATION: Qualified candidates should send a resume and letter of interest by August 17, 2026, to OMSJobs@nysed.gov (email submissions are preferred). Your resume must clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. You must include the Box number (CFO-811/04209) 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.