PURCHASING CARE SPECIALIST

Department of General Services, Central Procurement Office

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary range: $47,496 - $71,400

Closing Date: 03/29/2023

This is a hybrid position. For more information, visit the link below:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/generalservices/documents/jobposting/CPO_Purchasing_Card_Program_Specialist_Job%20Description.pdf

Who we are and what we do:

The Department of General Services makes Tennessee State Government work! Literally.

State troopers, and social workers, are a few State employees who couldn’t do their jobs without the vehicles we purchase and maintain. The Department of Transportation relies on us to purchase salt to treat icy roads. When you visit the

State Capitol or other State buildings across Tennessee, our department has had a hand in it. We are responsible for operating, managing, and maintaining real estate assets owned by the State. Even the governor relies on our team to document his appearances and various State events through photography.

Selected as one of the Tennessean’s Top Workplaces in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Department of General Services’ mission is to serve as a trusted partner to deliver mission-focused general services to support Tennessee State government. Our vision is to create a culture of excellence that produces consistent strategic and innovative support solutions for our State. We do this with a commitment to four core values: thorough, engaged, accountable, and motivated.

Commissioner Christi Branscom leads this incredible team of hard-working professionals. Check out the link at the end of this post to hear what she has to say about working for the Department of General Services.

Job Overview:

The Purchasing Card Program Specialist is a valued member of the Central Procurement Office’s P-card team. In this role, you will support the Central Procurement Office in coordinating, implementing, and administering the State’s purchasing card program. The position serves as the interface between agency users and vendors regarding the use, policies, changes in technology, and any card issues. The Purchasing Card Program Specialist is ultimately responsible for supporting the State’s commercial

card program, which includes the Travel Card, P-Card, and Virtual Card. It requires the highest level of customer service, excellent communication, and independent judgment. The position has a hybrid work schedule with three days working from home and two days working in the office, which is located in downtown Nashville on the ground floor of the Tennessee Tower near Capitol Hill. This position has a monthly starting salary of $3,958 - $5,950 (determined by experience). The State of Tennessee offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 401K, free parking, hybrid remote schedules, insurance, paid time off, and paid sick time. More information regarding benefits can be found at www.tn.gov/hr/employees1/benefits.html. Qualified candidates should submit a resume and letter of interest to DGS.Recruiting@tn.gov. The position will be posted until filled.

How you make a difference in this role:

You are comfortable and knowledgeable in the field of accounting

You have experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) procurement systems. You have basic knowledge of accounting, general ledger, and AP vouchering processes. You are proficient in using Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel (Pivot tables/V look-up).

You are a customer-focused, diplomatic relationship builder

You are committed to providing top-quality customer service to those you interact with. You act with the customer in mind and seek to establish and maintain effective relationships with them to gain their trust and respect. However, you are not afraid to confront problems but do so with great diplomacy and respect. You enjoy building and maintaining positive relationships with people as you seek to achieve work-related goals.

You’re self-motivated and highly organized

You think strategically, and you’re not afraid to take the initiative. You are results-driven and skilled at managing projects while adhering to timelines. You take a proactive approach to tasks or projects assigned to you. You can handle multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail.

You possess superior problem-solving skills and are an excellent communicator

You think on your feet. You have the courage to speak up, clearly express expectations, and ask hard questions. You know how to use logic and imagination to make sense of situations and develop intelligent solutions. You demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with high competence. You will possess excellent presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensures maximum volume and dollar rebates for agency P-Card usage; completes monthly reconciliations for all agency invoices/statements expediently to support timely payment to the bank provider; ensures compliance with policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provides oversight of state agency P-Card accounts; monitors transactions; sets up and closes State agency P-Card accounts; increases or reduces account dollar limits as needed.
• Manages fraudulent and unauthorized P-Card transactions; controls the usage of approved Merchant Category Codes (MCC); reviews requests from agencies to unblock MCC codes for specific products and services; analyzes the justification to determine if the request is sufficiently supported; makes a recommendation to the director for final approval; provides to the issuing bank an updated list of MCCs that Purchasing Card Program Specialist/CPO Revised 3/8/2023 have been blocked or unblocked for an agency’s use; identifies areas for process and communication improvement.
• Facilitates training to agency personnel on the proper use of the p-card, policy information, and changes to procedures; designs and delivers training.
• Prepares and balances accounting workbooks and vouchers for approximately forty-nine (49) State agencies and departments that include in excess of 10,000 transactions per month.

Required Experience / Skills:

• Completion of an associate degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration or Accounting and one (1) year of experience in bank credit card program/services or accounts payable
• Knowledge of accounting, general ledger, AP vouchering
• Basic knowledge of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) procurement system
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel (Pivot tables/V look-up); Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint
• Excellent customer service skills
• Superior organizational skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal relationship skills
  

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State’s policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.