Pre-K Payments Specialist

Closing date: September 20, 2024

Job Code: GST122

Pay Grade: H

Salary: $35,618.70-$46,245.72 – Commensurate with education and experience.

Location: Remote (home-based) – While this position is remote, occasional travel to the Atlanta office (2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) and some statewide travel may be required.

Job Description:

The Payments Specialist supports the Georgia’s Pre-K grant payment process to ensure accurate and timely processing of payments for Pre-K grantees. The position ensures that grantee financial documents are accurate and up-to date.

This position reports to the Pre-K Payments Coordinator.

Job Responsibilities:

The Pre-K Payments Specialist will:

·         Support the Pre-K grant payments process to ensure timely and accurate monthly and one-time special adjustment payments to Pre-K grantees. This includes:

o   Reviewing financial information and documents submitted by Pre-K grantees to ensure they meet requirements and providing follow-up as needed.

o   Conducting reviews of financial documents periodically to ensure documents are kept up to date.

o   Loading the payment file for transferring to the payment vendor.

·         Implement the Pre-K Change of Ownership process.  This includes:

o   Communicating with Pre-K grantees in the process.

o   Supporting grantees with providing required documentation including financial paperwork, Verification of Lawful Presence, and other relevant documents.

o   Maintaining Pre-K Change of Ownership log.

·         Works with Pre-K grantees to resolve payment related issues. This includes:

o   Providing general customer service support to Pre-K grantees via phone and email.

o   Responding to Help Ticket submissions.

o   Reviewing Pre-K Payment Advice with Pre-K grantees as needed to aid in their understanding.

·         Support the process for development and updates to Pre-K policy and payment related resources. This includes:

o   Identifying opportunities for payment-related updates for the Pre-K Providers’ Operating Guidelines as needed.

o   Assisting in the development of payment related resources for Pre-K grantees.

o   Assisting with payments related training.

·         Support GAPre-K IT Platform enhancements. This includes:

o   Participating in the UAT process.

o   Making recommendations for improving the grant payment process.

·         Provide payment related reports to Pre-K Payments Manager upon request.

      Support DECAL initiatives by serving on agency committees, work groups, statewide

       projects or    divisional projects as assigned High school diploma/GED and three (3)

       years of experience communicating information in a

·         Manage special projects for the Division as requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma/GED and three (3) years of experience communicating information in a

customer service setting; or two (2) years of experience required at the lower level Customer Svc

Rep 2 (GST121).

DECAL Preferred Qualifications:

·         Experience working with data systems and acting as a liaison between business users and technical staff.·         Experience with Georgia’s Pre-K Program including the Pre-K Providers’ Operating Guidelines, teacher credentials, roster reporting, Pre-K payments and the Pre-K Year End Reconciliation Report.·         Experience coordinating and delivering regional training for Pre-K providers.·         Experience working directly with Pre-K project directors and site directors including providing guidance in meeting the Pre-K Providers’ Operating Guidelines and interacting with the PANDA system.·         Experience developing written resources.·         Experience coordinating multiple complex projects simultaneously.·         Experience looking at data to inform decision making.·         Knowledge of or experience with Pre-K Application and Database Access (PANDA) and PM client.

Physical Requirements:

·         Work is typically performed in an office environment with intermittent sitting, standing, or walking in various settings.

·         The ability to speak clearly, to hear and understand at a normal conversational level, and to receive detailed information through verbal communication.

·         Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.

·         Full range of hand and finger motion for data entry purposes.

 Technical Competencies:

• Understanding of the needs and processes necessary when automating processes.
• A comprehensive understanding of child development based on education, training, and experience working directly with children in a high-quality early learning setting.
• Competent to answer Pre-K quality related questions quickly and accurately.
• Working knowledge of the Operating Guidelines for Georgia’s Pre-K, business processes, and operating systems.
• Working knowledge of guideline and policy development.
• Ability to manage own time, set priorities, work without direct supervision, and contribute to team atmosphere and goals.
• Ability to develop trusting relationships with early care and education personnel through active listening, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of business user needs and ability to translate those needs to technical staff that are responsible for the coding and development of the Pre-K technical systems.
• Ability to effectively manage several work projects at one time.
• Ability to develop tracking systems and review processes for work of unit and division.
• Ability to develop and implement appropriate training for early care and education providers and Pre-K staff.
• Intermediate or advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Intermediate skills in SharePoint.
• Ability to execute high quality customer service by anticipating customer needs, providing services accurately, in a respectful and timely manner, and establishing and maintaining effective contact and follow through with customers.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive work relationships.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively as a team member.

·         Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and organizational skills.

·         Ability to organize and evaluate data to drive decision making.

·         Ability to multi-task, prioritize and work independently as well as in team environments.

 Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer, offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package, to include healthcare, retirement, 401-k match, and elective options for dental, vision, AD&D, short and long-term disability, and life insurance.  Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer and drug-free workplace.  A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any or all of the following: criminal and employment histories, credit history (as applicable to the position), education credentials, and motor vehicle driving records.

 If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 404-879-2993.  Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview.  The job posting may be subject to being closed at any time without notice.  Only those qualified candidates who are selected for an interview shall receive notification upon the filling of this vacancy.

High school diploma/GED and three (3) years of experience communicating information in a customer service setting; or two (2) years of experience required at the lower level Customer Svc Rep 2 (GST121).