Budget Analyst

About the role

This position is the entry point to the Finance Department's Budget Division. The purpose of this classification is to prepare, submit, and monitor budgets for assigned departments.

Responsibilities

• Assists in development, recommendation and publication of county's biennial budget process: reviews existing plans; reviews departmental operating budget requests; makes recommendations regarding funding levels; analyzes and estimates revenue and expense trends; identifies and recommends alternatives; assists with publishing budget documents for assigned departments; organizes and writes assigned sections; and assists with budget presentations.
• Maintains budgetary compliance: conducts monthly reviews comparing budget to department reports; ensures compliance with approved budget; identifies potential problems and informs supervisor, department heads, and program administrators; recommends solutions; and compiles related reports.
• Develops, designs, and conducts fiscal studies and research: develops analytical approaches and related reports; participates in field research projects; prepares financial information; assists departments with programs and procedures related to financial policies; analyzes budget submission and funds request processes; makes recommendations to increase efficiency and accuracy; and monitors new or changing legislation for budgetary implications.
• Conducts site visits to departments to assess operations and analyze latest expenditures for purposes of forecasting total year-end projections: develops and submits written forecast reports accordingly; works with department heads, program administrators and staff to develop and refine statements of departmental objectives; performs periodic reviews of progress on objectives; and utilizes data obtained in the review process to update budget as necessary.
• Conducts operational research, productivity analysis and management studies as assigned, to assist in the management of departmental operations, programs, and services: compiles and/or monitors various administrative and statistical data pertaining to divisional operations; researches information pertinent to task or project; analyzes data and identifies trends; makes recommendations for changes in policies and procedures to improve operations, provide more responsive service, and/or optimize the use of resources; and prepares or generates related reports.
• Affords assistance in strategic and long-range planning for departmental operations; participates in planning efforts at the local and regional level; keeps department heads and program administrators apprised of developments at the state and federal level that impact the department; monitors pending legislation for impact on operations; and ensures compliance with new legislation.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, expenditure trends and projections, budget allocations, variance analysis, operational reports, or other documents within designated timeframes and per established procedures: compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.
• Affords assistance in preparation of agenda items for budget transactions authorized by the Board of Commissioners: reviews assigned department's submitted agenda for accuracy, clarity, grammar, format, required information and available funding; initiates corrective actions; creates funding statements; and creates Financial System files to process approved budget transfers.
• Reviews and approves departmental purchases: checks the worklist to ensure that purchasing documents (DO, PD RQS, etc.) are approved, reviews for accuracy in funding, and correctness of object codes.
• Standard Reserve Entry: processes monthly standard reserve transactions.
• Fund Balancing: on a biweekly basis, ensures funds are in balance through an ESUM-RSUM reconciliation.
• Updates Account Dictionary and Revenue Manual, as needed.
• Creates ad hoc reports in response to open record requests, as needed.
• Sets up new units, departments, object codes, revenue sources, programs, subunits, functions, or activities, as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, or related field required; supplemented by two years of experience in budget preparation; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Physical Abilities: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.