Senior Finance Analyst

About the role

The Senior Finance Analyst consolidates and analyzes Authority-wide data to provide an overview of the financial status of the organization. This role performs work related to the preparation and administration of PFA’s annual operating budget, capital improvement plans, and annual financial audit process. The Senior Finance Analyst is managed by the Finance Division Director and is additionally externally accountable to the PFA Board of Directors and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Responsibilities

• Prepares and maintains operating and capital budgets for programs or divisions based on actual performance, previous budget figures, estimated revenue, expense reports, and other factors.
• Stays current with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) updates and other regulatory and advisory guidance, applying financial management practices consistent with industry standards.
• Oversees expenditures from requisitioning programs or divisions to ensure conformance to budget and financial philosophy/strategy.
• Serves as liaison to Division leadership on budget development and related issues, ensuring long-term sustainability and alignment with organizational priorities, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains records of expenses, capital assets, and budget balances.
• Assists in the installation of internal financial control systems and helps ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Coordinates the development of key financial documents and analyses, including the annual budget report, annual comprehensive financial report, monthly financial reports, and revenue forecasts, in alignment with Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) best practices.
• Responds to questions; provides training to employees on financial systems, policies, and procedures.
• Leads preparation of statements and financial data of the annual budget; provides research and analysis for budget development and for the management of funds.
• Contributes to budget versus actual variance analysis and narrative assessment reports; leads investigations of variance root causes and recommends corrective actions, communicating impacts and results through the chain of command to senior leadership and/or program managers.
• Data mines and compiles data from various sources and systems to support the analysis of business issues, concerns, and opportunities (e.g., analysis of enhancement spending, year-over-year budget comparisons, annual underspend analysis); develops recommendations on business decisions based on financial analysis.
• Participates in financial ad hoc projects and reporting with Authority-wide impacts.
• Processes accounting journal entries in accordance with documented policies and procedures; performs account reconciliations and validates data integrity in alignment with established financial controls, strategy, and accounting principles; participates in year-end accrual and capital spending review.
• May participate in, or lead, financial research projects depending on complexity.
• Identifies issues and opportunities to make recommendations for improvement; works with program managers to identify corrective actions or adjustments.
• Supports Fire Chief and PFA Board of Directors with monthly financial reports and advises on resolutions and agenda item summaries for financially relevant items.
• Partners with program managers and City of Fort Collins Finance department to facilitate communications and expectations to remain briefed on financial matters or training as relevant.
• Instrumental in the compilation and context of financial data and production of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in compliance with Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards.
• Instrumental in the compilation and context of financial data and production of the annual Budget Report in compliance with GFOA standards.
• Coordinates and guides the accounts receivable and accounts payable process to provide support to team members.
• Collaborates with Financial Analyst/Grant Administrator for necessary planning regarding grant awards.
• Provides backup support for compiling all personnel data, records, and expense receipts relating to Wildland and Urban Search and Rescue deployments to create and submit detailed reimbursement billing packets for review and approval by state partners.
• Utilizes computer to input, retrieve, or display financial information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position is not responsible for the supervision of Authority employee(s). Provides leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group. May act as a lead or first-level supervisor.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field from an accredited college or university.
• 4 years of experience in finance or accounting; CPA preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Obtain Heartsaver CPR certification within 6 months of hire.

Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of municipal government accounting principles; ability to understand financial statements like balance sheets and income statements.
• Critical thinking, analytical thought processes, and business acumen.
• Ability to autonomously or with minimal guidance, effectively manage multiple projects of varied prioritization.
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office software such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; experience learning new software.
• Intermediate critical thinking in approach to problem solving, issue resolution, and solution development, drawing upon business acumen and perspective gained from experience; desire to understand the ‘big picture.’
• Ability to summarize and communicate financial issues both orally and in writing to supervisors.
• Intermediate data query and extraction skills. Proficient at incorporating and utilizing data in a variety of reporting tools and financial software packages.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff including peers and management.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and applicable laws.
• Knowledge of various financial software and their applications.
• Working knowledge of investment programs, debt management, sales and use tax, property tax, and budget management.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or listen.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to maneuver or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee would encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a normal office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.