What does a fiscal specialist do?
Fiscal specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real fiscal specialist resumes:
- Manage PO tracker in SharePoint adding the information including vendor name, PO number, amount and special instructions.
- Perform monthly account reconciliations, journal entries and monitor general ledger transactions.
- Facilitate the purchase of goods, equipment, including credit card reconciliations and council researchers in personnel management.
- Follow all accounting procedures as required by GAAP.
- Evaluate patient's financial circumstances to see if he/she qualify for Medicaid.
- Compile and submit quarterly Medicaid expenditure reports.
- Apply quality assurance/control, project management, and leadership expertise to ensure assign manufacturing technicians comply with FDA and ISO guidelines.
- Maintain ledger of all expenses (QuickBooks).
- Work with various insurance companies including PPO's, HMO's, Medicare and Medi-Cal to bill and resolve unpaid claims.
- Process 1099-MISC reporting to IRS, and serve as back up receptionist.
- Enter restitution information into FMIS.
Fiscal specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Fiscal Specialists are proficient in Purchase Orders, Technical Assistance, and Fiscal Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Integrity, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Fiscal Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Purchase Orders, 9%
Processed reimbursements, payment applications, purchase orders and purchase requisitions according to procurement rules and regulations.
- Technical Assistance, 6%
Provide fiscal technical assistance to EARN Maryland program grantees, partners and stakeholders and EARN program staff.
- Fiscal Management, 6%
Received UW Professional & Organizational Development Fiscal Management Certification.
- Federal Regulations, 6%
Maintain an understanding of the Federal Regulations that govern Wire Transfer transactions to minimize/eliminate potential loss to the credit union.
- Payroll Processing, 6%
Assist in various payroll processing functions; receive and verify time sheets, honorariums and consultant invoices for processing.
- Financial Data, 5%
Determine eligibility for federal and state reimbursement programs including gathering and reviewing child and family financial data.
Common skills that a fiscal specialist uses to do their job include "purchase orders," "technical assistance," and "fiscal management." You can find details on the most important fiscal specialist responsibilities below.
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a fiscal specialist to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Fiscal specialists often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "balanced manual ledgers and logs against computer printouts. "
Integrity. Another essential skill to perform fiscal specialist duties is integrity. Fiscal specialists responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential." Fiscal specialists also use integrity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "performed fund, receipt, and obligation reconciliations assisted and prepared governmental gaap packages confirmed retention trust bank balances"
Detail oriented. fiscal specialists are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to fiscal specialist responsibilities, because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." A fiscal specialist resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "prepared bar (budget activity report detail reports, using microsoft access for library administrators. "
Math skills. For certain fiscal specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a fiscal specialist rely on this skill, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what fiscal specialists do: "recorded patients' medical history, vital statistics and test results in medical records. "
The three companies that hire the most fiscal specialists are:
- University of Washington27 fiscal specialists jobs
- Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania4 fiscal specialists jobs
- Seattle Children's Healthcare System2 fiscal specialists jobs
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Compare different fiscal specialists
Fiscal specialist vs. Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a fiscal specialist are more likely to require skills like "technical assistance," "fiscal management," "provide technical assistance," and "federal regulations." On the other hand, a job as a bookkeeper requires skills like "payroll tax returns," "customer service," "data entry," and "general ledger accounts." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Bookkeepers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,063. Comparatively, fiscal specialists tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $46,872.On average, bookkeepers reach similar levels of education than fiscal specialists. Bookkeepers are 4.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Fiscal specialist vs. Accounting internship
An accounting internship is a trainee who reports to an organization's accountant in order to learn about the accounting field, complete financial projects and files taxes, and financial reports. An intern should be a graduate of a Bachelor's or Master's in Accounting and should have an aptitude for mathematics and proficiency with computers. In order to prepare financial reports, an intern should possess knowledge with bookkeeping software. An intern must also know how to handle sensitive information with honesty and integrity.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that fiscal specialist responsibilities requires skills like "technical assistance," "fiscal management," "provide technical assistance," and "federal regulations." But an accounting internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "data entry," "payroll," "first hand," and "work ethic."
On average, accounting interns earn a lower salary than fiscal specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, accounting interns earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $34,961. Whereas fiscal specialists have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $46,872.accounting interns earn similar levels of education than fiscal specialists in general. They're 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Fiscal specialist vs. Accounting clerk
Accounting clerks are employees assigned to manage administrative and clerical tasks in the accounting department. Accounting clerks handle office accounting records and ensure that files are properly labeled and stored. They validate records and check whether these are updated. They also sort through documents to ensure that they are in their proper storage bins. Aside from document handling, they also help with creating and validating financial statements and bookkeeping. As such, accounting clerks should have a strong background in accounting to manage their tasks better.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from fiscal specialist resumes include skills like "technical assistance," "fiscal management," "provide technical assistance," and "federal regulations," whereas an accounting clerk is more likely to list skills in "data entry," "customer service," "vendor invoices," and "general ledger accounts. "
Accounting clerks earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $40,064. Comparatively, fiscal specialists have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $46,872.When it comes to education, accounting clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to fiscal specialists. In fact, they're 4.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Fiscal specialist vs. Account technician
Account technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for gathering data and preparing financial statements and reports from the account records they have maintained. These technicians are required to settle accounts with insurance companies and maximize benefits payments received from those companies. They must maintain a client management system for multiple accounts and coordinate marketing outreach for potential and existing clients. Account technicians must also monitor and compile all documents of the department, such as invoices, checks, and financial records.
Types of fiscal specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
