Education Program Consultant (Special Education Finance)

Salary : $68,057.60 - $105,206.40 Annually
Location : Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-01176
Agency: 282 Iowa Department of Education
Opening Date: 10/23/2026
Closing Date: 11/23/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:
To Apply: To ensure full consideration for this position, all requested materials must be completed and uploaded through the NEOGOV online application process.

Job Description
The Education Program Consultant (Special Education Finance) will be an integral member of the Bureau of School Business Operations, providing technical assistance and guidance to school districts regarding multiple aspects of school finance, specifically within the special education program

Your Responsibilities:

As the Education Program Consultant (Special Education Finance), you will guide, support, and work with your co-workers to:

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to school districts on State and Federal law/regulations, allowable uses of funds, and regulatory reporting related to special education finance.
• Maintain professional competency through review of publications, professional development, and staying current with statutory and industry changes.
• Participate in professional activities of Bureau, Division, Department, and national and state organizations. This work includes regular participation in bureau and division meetings, school business operations activities, assigned work teams, and other duties as assigned.

A successful candidate will bring, or have the ability and desire to learn:

• Passion for pursuing common goals in pursuit of public service
• Creation and manipulation of spreadsheets including experience with formulas and functions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic and analytical mindset
• Collect, analyze, and review fiscal data
• Ability to work in complex situations and meet deadlines
• Ability to interpret and break down highly technical and regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner
• Ability to manage self in relation to prioritization and time management
• Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
• Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with special education finance
• Experience with special education programs
• Experience with special education applications, including special education supplement and special educating billing
• Experience reviewing audit findings of the special education program
• Strong communication, mathematical, and analytical skills.
• Preference will also be given to candidates with proficiency in spreadsheets, governmental accounting experience, or experience interpreting code and regulation

If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
• Collaborative, positive work environment
• Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
• Competitive salary and benefits package:

Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:

a. Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;

b. Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;

c. Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;

d. Professional experience in a major technical program area housed within the Iowa Department of Education;

e. Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience;

f. Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism; or

g. Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience.
2) A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience.
3) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution.
4) Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements.
For additional information, please click on this
01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. a7611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. a7611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. a7611 et seq

03

Have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree, or Higher? IF YES, how many years do you have of full-time postgraduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:a. Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;b. Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;c. Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;d. Professional experience in a major technical program area housed within the Iowa Department of Education;e. Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience;f. Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism; org. Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience.

• Not applicable - I do not have a Bachelor's Degree or higher with the identified areas
• No experience in the identified areas
• Less than two years of experience in the identified areas
• Two years to less than four years of experience in the identified areas.
• Four to less than five years of experience in the identified areas.
• Five or more years of experience in the identified areas

04

How many years do you have of a combination of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one, a-g), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience

• Not applicable - I do not have a post-graduate education with the experience in the identified areas.
• No post-graduate education or experience in the identified area
• Less than two years of post-graduate education and/or experience in the identified areas
• Two years to less than four years of post-graduate education and/or experience in the identified areas.
• Four years to less than five years of post-graduate education and/or experience in the identified areas.
• Five or more years of post-graduate education and/or experience in the identified areas

05

Have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree, or higher and have a valid possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate? IF YES, how many years do you have of full-time teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution?

• No experience in the identified areas
• Less than one year of experience in the identified areas
• One years to less than Three years of experience in the identified areas.
• Three or more years of experience in the identified areas

06

Do you have possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements?

• Yes - I have the possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and have the seven years of professional work identified
• No - I do not have the possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the seven years of professional work identified

07

Do you have, or have had, a BoEE License?

• Yes
• No

08

Has there been probable cause, suspension, revocation or disciplinary action taken against you?

• Yes
• No

09

If any of the above apply to you, please describe:
Required Question