Budget Analyst (Budget Analyst 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Ecology is hiring an expert-level Budget Analyst in the Central Budget Office within its Financial Services Division. The position supports budget managers for the agency’s environmental programs in managing operating and capital budgets through analysis, research, allotments, expenditure and revenue monitoring, payables and receivables coordination, and development of budget proposals and fiscal notes. The analyst also supports agencywide budget processes and works with the Central Budget Office, Fiscal Office, program staff, and agency budget and program teams. The position is based at the Headquarters Office in Lacey, Washington. Employees must live within a commutable distance of the duty station. Telework and flexible schedule options are available, with at least one office day per week; schedules depend on position needs and may change. The role is part of the Washington Federation of State Employees bargaining unit. Ecology may use this recruitment to fill other positions of the same classification across the agency.

Requirements

Nine years of experience and/or education related to budgeting, management, or program analysis, meeting one of the listed education-and-experience combinations.
Demonstrated ability to clearly explain financial information and recommendations to support informed decisions.
Experience organizing and reviewing agency-wide budget assignments, including fiscal notes, revenue estimates, and allotment updates.
Proficiency using statewide budget and financial systems to enter, analyze, and report financial data.
Ability to use Microsoft Office and SharePoint to produce clear financial reports and documentation.
Ability to interpret and evaluate budget information and provide accurate analysis and recommendations.
Experience preparing clear, accurate, and timely financial reports for program and agency decision-making.
Ability to test and support new financial processes and systems.
Ability to adapt to changing systems, priorities, and deadlines.
Education involving a major study in business, public administration, accounting, economics, or statistics.

Responsibilities

Report, track, and project program staffing plans; use the State Salary Projection System to estimate salary, benefits, and FTE utilization in operating and capital budgets; reconcile projections with vacancy reports, organization charts, and the e-Time database; and research and resolve discrepancies.
Support budget managers in developing operating and capital budget proposals through research, analysis, and review of program budget requests.
Coordinate fund balance sheet updates and analysis with budget managers and the Central Budget Office, identifying issues and recommendations.
Prepare and analyze monthly cash balance projections for budget managers, identifying issues and recommendations.
Participate on agency budget and program teams as assigned, supporting budget development, systems, monitoring, and analysis.
Coordinate assignment and tracking of fiscal notes across agency programs; operate the OFM fiscal note system, SharePoint, and Ecology fiscal note tools; and provide technical assistance on fiscal note systems, procedures, and instructions.
Implement procedures and instructions for preparing allotments and provide technical support to program staff on allotment processes, procedures, and systems.
Prepare budget reports for budget managers and management, including monthly and quarterly agency revenue and expenditure reports, the quarterly budget review packet and presentation, budget-version reports from VABS, federal reporting data, and monthly FTE and vacancy data.