Fiscal Analyst

About the role

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a Fiscal Analyst to serve as our principal analyst on state and federal fiscal issues. In this role, you'll dive deep into state budgets across the country to expose waste and identify efficiency opportunities, push back on misleading fiscal notes, and help shape the fiscal strategy behind the FGA Florida Project. You're a fiscal-minded problem solver who sees patterns in the numbers others miss. A 500-page state budget doesn't intimidate you—it energizes you. You care about results, move fast, and aren't afraid to challenge bureaucratic doublespeak with harder, better data.

Culture and Fit

The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer "yes" to each of the following questions, you may be a fit:

• Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust?
• Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses?
• Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy?
• Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a work plan from a broad goal?
• Do you fully support FGA's mission and believe that lives are improved through work, not welfare, and that free markets create more freedom and opportunity than government control?

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead State and Federal Budget Analysis: Serve as FGA's principal analyst on state and federal fiscal issues, leading deep-dive investigations that expose waste, identify efficiency opportunities, and stress-test major programmatic areas of expenditure. Conduct in-depth budget analyses on demand—turning a full state budget inside out to identify patterns, flag anomalies, and arm the government affairs team with clear, concrete findings.
• Push Back on Misleading Fiscal Notes: Build FGA's capacity to counter misleading, bureaucratic fiscal estimates that protect the status quo and block meaningful reform. Draft sharp, well-documented rebuttals to fiscal notes on FGA-priority bills—especially related to welfare reform and tax reform—equipping lawmakers with the numbers they need to act.
• Aid with the Fiscal Strategy of the Florida Budget Project: Help advance FGA's Florida budget strategy as part of the broader FGA Florida Project. Craft Florida budget recommendations and supporting narrative grounded in detailed budget data, policy priorities, and input from relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in state agency budgeting, welfare program budgeting, or fiscal analysis at a high-quality think tank.
• Proven ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, remote environment with strong ownership and accountability.
• Either a budgetary or economic foundation with sharp attention to detail and the ability to see through bureaucratic doublespeak, spot patterns, and push back on bad numbers with better ones.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a particular knack for translating complex budget findings into clear, direct takeaways for lawmakers and policy staff.
• Comfort running statistical analysis in Excel; working knowledge of Python and/or Stata, and familiarity with AI tools are a plus but not required. Past microsimulation modeling experience is also a plus.
• Familiarity with FGA's issue areas—particularly welfare reform and tax reform—is ideal, but not a requirement.
• Match FGA's Core Values (described above).
• Ability to travel up to 5%.

Timing, Location, and Compensation

• FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. This position is fully remote and can be based anywhere in the U.S. Travel expectations are light—four quarterly in-person meetings and up to 10 total trips per year, inclusive of the quarterlies.
• FGA's headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of our staff work remotely from across the country. Our systems and culture are built for clarity, flexibility, and great communication.
• Key elements of our environment include:
• Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you'll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA's big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities.
• An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate.
• Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to start strong on day one.
• FGA offers a competitive salary between $90,000–$115,000, depending on experience and qualifications, along with a benefits package that includes a six percent retirement match, health benefits, and generous paid leave.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Resume
• A Cover Letter including: Three distinct reasons you are drawn to FGA's mission and how you developed those convictions

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Savannah Rupp Murphy, Project Manager, who is managing the search process: savannah@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled. While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.