Principal Budget and Financial Analyst

About the role

Serves as a division head within the Finance Department or large city department; participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities; analyzes, recommends, develops, and administers policies and procedures to meet departmental administrative needs as well as governmental and accepted accounting reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes, recommends, develops, and administers policies and procedures to meet departmental administrative needs as well as governmental and accepted accounting reporting requirements.
• Assists the department director by performing a wide range of complex professional-level general cost accounting, financial analysis, auditing, and financial reporting work.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of the City’s operating and capital improvement budgets city-wide or at the department level; quantifies impact of budget on the City’s financial performance; submits budget recommendations; and monitors expenditures.
• Performs complex administrative and financial analyses, including problem identification, selection of methodology, and evaluation of alternative solutions and presentation of findings.
• Analyzes past and present financial operations and expenditures and estimates future revenues to use in preparation of the annual budget and long-range financial forecasts.
• Captures debt issuance, regulatory disclosure compliance and debt administration.
• Establishes financial controls and reviews expenditures for conformance with approved budgets; prepares and reviews reports and statements; develops operating and other statistics used for budgeting purchase and costs.
• Maintains financial records and control of capital projects in coordination with departments or Finance (depending on assignment).
• Prepares analytical and statistical reports on operations and activities including policies, procedures, methods and proposals to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness and quality of operations.
• Develops financial analysis models; conducts financial analyses and financial management audits and participates in rate studies and development of fee schedules.
• Initiates changes and leads the design, control, operation, and enhancement of computerized financial systems including budget control, general ledger control, contracts, accounts payable, revenue, billing, payroll, project construction accounting, and fixed assets.
• Serves as the departmental liaison to all internal work groups in recommending and administering City-wide and/or departmental accounting/administration policies and procedures; answers administrative and financial related questions from staff, public agencies, and others.
• Serves as the department head in his/her absence, as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge Of Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, evaluation, and project management. Principles and practices of public agency financing and budget development, implementation and administration. General, cost and municipal government accounting principles, practices, and procedures. Automated accounting systems and information at an advanced level, particularly as related to sophisticated statistical analysis, modeling, data management and manipulation. Financial, statistical, investment and comparative analysis techniques and formulae. Principles, practices and methods of administrative, organizational, economic and procedural analysis at an advanced level. City policies, procedures and practices regarding investments and financial management. Applicable state, federal and local laws, rules, regulations and procedures affecting public utilities and special districts budgeting, financing, and reporting including GASB, GAAP and FASB principles applicable to public entities. Rate-making principles, concepts, and issues. Analytical principles and practices used in evaluating, verifying, interpreting, and forecasting financial data. Budgeting procedures and techniques. Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management. Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly. Sound business communications. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence. City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols. Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed. The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff. Ability to: Plan, organize, schedule, monitor, and supervise work of the Finance Division to meet schedules and timelines; set priorities for, train, evaluate, select, and recommend advancement/discipline of subordinates. Understand, interpret, explain, and apply City policies, and state and federal laws regulating financial accounting, budgeting, reporting and recordkeeping. Evaluate financial and organizational programs and make sound recommendations under intensive deadlines. Exercise sound judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs. Represent the City effectively in dealings with the financial community and other agencies. Present proposals and recommendations, clearly, logically and persuasively. Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Understand and carry out oral and written instructions, communicate clearly and concisely. Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, provide quality customer service. Read, understand, interpret, apply, and communicate accounting principles, policies, procedures, contracts, grants, rules, and regulations. Prepare, verify, and present concise financial reports and statements. Perform responsible and complex professional-level accounting, budgetary and financial analysis work. Operate a personal computer accurately and efficiently; use a variety of computer software programs at an advanced level. Devise and implement efficient accounting and record keeping procedures. Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of departmental goals.

Qualifications

• Knowledge Of Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, evaluation, and project management.
• Principles and practices of public agency financing and budget development, implementation and administration.
• General, cost and municipal government accounting principles, practices, and procedures.
• Automated accounting systems and information at an advanced level, particularly as related to sophisticated statistical analysis, modeling, data management and manipulation.
• Financial, statistical, investment and comparative analysis techniques and formulae.
• Principles, practices and methods of administrative, organizational, economic and procedural analysis at an advanced level.
• City policies, procedures and practices regarding investments and financial management.
• Applicable state, federal and local laws, rules, regulations and procedures affecting public utilities and special districts budgeting, financing, and reporting including GASB, GAAP and FASB principles applicable to public entities.
• Rate-making principles, concepts, and issues.
• Analytical principles and practices used in evaluating, verifying, interpreting, and forecasting financial data.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Sound business communications.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Techinques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• Ability to: Plan, organize, schedule, monitor, and supervise work of the Finance Division to meet schedules and timelines; set priorities for, train, evaluate, select, and recommend advancement/discipline of subordinates.
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply City policies, and state and federal laws regulating financial accounting, budgeting, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Evaluate financial and organizational programs and make sound recommendations under intensive deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Represent the City effectively in dealings with the financial community and other agencies.
• Present proposals and recommendations, clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions, communicate clearly and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, provide quality customer service.
• Read, understand, interpret, apply, and communicate accounting principles, policies, procedures, contracts, grants, rules, and regulations.
• Prepare, verify, and present concise financial reports and statements.
• Perform responsible and complex professional-level accounting, budgetary and financial analysis work.
• Operate a personal computer accurately and efficiently; use a variety of computer software programs at an advanced level.
• Devise and implement efficient accounting and record keeping procedures.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of departmental goals.