Grant Financial Specialist

Grant Financial Specialist

Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA), a division of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, Salisbury, MD

The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA) envisions a community where job seekers, educational and training institutions, businesses, and non-profit institutions come together to strengthen workforce readiness programs and employ residents at livable wages in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester (which includes Ocean City, MD) Counties. LSWA-funded programs support workforce development initiatives including Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act (WIOA) programmatic funding. Residents of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland benefit from the state and federal grant-funded investment in training and jobs for the short and long term. LSWA targets historically underserved populations and areas, communities of color, women, and other groups facing labor market barriers. As we enter the post-pandemic era, funds for training initiatives, on-the-job training, and supportive services are being made available to meet the multi-industry demand for workers in this region.

Summary of Work:

The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA) Grants Financial Specialist manages the financial administration of multiple federal, state, and private grants. This role owns grant budgeting, expenditure tracking, financial reporting, and fiscal compliance across all funded programs. The Grants Financial Specialist works directly with the LSWA Director and coordinates closely with the Department of Finance to ensure grant funds are allocated, monitored, and reconciled in accordance with funder requirements and applicable federal and state regulations.

The Grants Financial Specialist prepares and submits financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, and final) to funding agencies, maintains audit-ready financial records, monitors grant spending against approved budgets, and supports the development of budgets for new and renewing grant proposals. This position requires strong financial acumen, attention to regulatory detail, and the ability to translate complex funding rules into accurate, compliant financial practice.

Specific tasks include:

Develop, monitor, and reconcile budgets for multiple concurrent federal, state, and private grants.
Track grant expenditures against approved line-item budgets and flag variances for the LSWA Director.
Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to funding agencies in the required formats.
Ensure grant spending complies with funder regulations, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and applicable state/local fiscal requirements.
Process and code grant-related invoices, drawdowns, and reimbursement requests in coordination with the Department of Finance.
Maintain organized, audit-ready financial documentation for all active and closed-out grants.
Support annual single audits and funder monitoring visits by preparing financial schedules and responding to auditor requests.
Reconcile grant ledgers against the general ledger and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
Manage indirect cost allocations, cost-sharing/match requirements, and time-and-effort reporting.
Assist in developing budgets and budget narratives for new and renewal grant proposals.
Monitor grant balances and spend-down timelines to minimize the risk of lapsed or unspent funds.
Maintain effective tracking and monitoring systems (e.g., budget-to-actual dashboards) using spreadsheet and accounting software.
Other Job Duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities. This position reports to the LSWA Director.

Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

Analytical

Synthesizes complex or diverse information
Collects and researches data
Uses intuition and experience to complement data
Designs work flows and procedures. Documents all steps in procedures.

Design

Generates creative solutions
Translates concepts & information into images
Uses feedback to modify designs
Applies design principals
Demonstrates attention to detail

Problem Solving

Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner
Gathers and analyzes information skillfully
Develops alternative solutions
Works well in group problem solving situations
Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics

Project Management

Develops project plans
Coordinates projects
Communicates changes and progress
Complete projects on time and budget
Manages project team activities

Technical Skills

Assesses own strengths and weaknesses
Pursues training and development opportunities
Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills
Shares expertise with others

Interpersonal

Customer Service

Manages difficult or emotional customer situations
Responds promptly to customer needs
Solicits customer feedback for service and assistance
Meets commitments

Interpersonal Skills

Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming
Maintains confidentiality
Listens to others without interrupting
Keeps emotions under control
Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things

Oral Communication

Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations
Listens and gets clarification
Responds well to questions
Demonstrates group presentation skills
Participates in meetings

Written Communication

Writes clearly and informatively
Edits work for spelling and grammar
Varies writing style to meet needs
Presents numerical data effectively
Able to read and interpret written information

Teamwork

Balances team and individual responsibilities
Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views
Gives and welcomes feedback
Contributes to building a positive team spirit
Puts success of team above own interest
Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives
Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed

Leadership

Visionary Leadership

Displays passion and optimism
Inspires respect and trust
Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision
Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates