Budget Analyst IV

About the role

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR), Fiscal Notes, Monthly Financial Report (MFR), Operating Budgets, and the Annual Operating Plans for programs.
• Assists with the preparation and coordination of budget briefings to the Budget Manager, Budget Director, Chief Financial Office, and Program Management.
• Develops, monitors, tracks, and reports on key performance measures.
• Prepares management reports, analyses, correspondence, and related materials to keep management informed and responds to issues/problems.

Organizational Budget Analysis

• Participates in the preparation and development of the annual operating budget process.
• Works with program budget analysts to ensure funding sources are allocated and budgeted correctly.
• Uses Microsoft Excel and Access to set up operating budgets and prepare for load into CAPPS/Cognos.
• Monitors, reviews, and analyzes operating budgets to ensure alignment with appropriated amounts and appropriate use of funds.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes financial reports related to general revenue, federal funds, reimbursements, fees, appropriated receipts, and other fund areas as assigned.
• Analyzes trends and variances, tests for reasonableness, and identifies unusual financial activity.
• Researches, analyzes, and prepares charts and reports related to internal/external non-routine requests as required.

Strategy and Appropriation Budget Analysis

• Coordinates the preparation and development of legislative appropriation requests (LAR).
• Compiles draft appropriation requests; makes necessary revisions for accuracy and conformance with instructions; and assembles into five-year budgetary schedules including Strategy Requests, Sub-strategy Requests, Exceptional Item Requests, Federal Funds Supporting Schedules, and Revenue Collections Supporting Schedules.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes cost estimates and fiscal notes for proposed legislation using past expenditures to project potential costs/revenues of implementation.
• Measures the impact of existing and proposed state and federal legislation on HHSC programs.
• Responds to budgetary inquiries from the legislature, Governor's Office, state and federal agencies, and the Legislative Budget Board.
• Assists with the preparation, review, and reporting of performance measures.

Execution of Financial Actions

• Certifies fund availability for budget certification forms and procurement requests.
• Reviews and completes budget certification forms including calculation/processing of offsetting journals, as required.
• Provides speed chart and/or chart field elements on various financial documents to ensure appropriate and correct use of funds.
• Assists with the monthly compilation of federal funds report for HHSC programs and leadership.
• Utilizes CAPPS/Cognos to run trial balances and/or accounting details.

Financial Point of Contact

• Serves as a resource for department staff and provides guidance/technical assistance related to budgetary matters.
• Prepares ad hoc reports requested by management, department staff, the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, the State Comptroller, the State Auditor's Office and the Health and Human Services Commission.
• Participates in training program staff on financial policies and procedures.
• Coordinates budgeting procedures, preparation, and reporting.
• Participates in budget policy and procedure development.

Other Duties

• Assists management with review of financial reports and analyses prepared by Program Budget Analysts.
• May participate in agency-wide workgroups to develop and establish financial policies and procedures.
• Performs other financial duties as assigned.
• Flexibility in work hours, including overtime and/or extended hours, may be required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of accounting, budgetary, and management principles, practices, and procedures; and of legal restrictions governing allocation of funds.
• Skill in managing multiple competing assignments, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines while working within a large organization and producing high quality work.
• Skill in understanding and solving complex organizational problems.
• Skills in written and oral communication, time-management, planning/coordination, and attention to detail.
• Ability to monitor and report, to analyze financial data and identify potential problems and develop and present alternative solutions.
• Ability to perform complex operations in MS Office such as advanced Excel, Word, Access databases, SharePoint, and internet search engines.
• Ability to develop and maintain ongoing productive and cooperative professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including tailoring communication to a wide variety of audiences to achieve desired results.

Requirements

Preferred graduate from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, business, or finance is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.