DOLA Budget & Policy Analyst III

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State of Colorado and local communities, providing financial support and professional and technical services in governance, housing, and property tax administration. Its mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities. The Division of Housing (DOH) partners with local communities to create housing opportunities for Coloradans facing challenges accessing affordable, safe, and secure homes. DOH supports projects ranging from homelessness prevention to homeownership. Its Operations unit provides fiscal, contracting, data, and analysis support, and its fiscal section manages budgeting, reconciliation, and forecasting for division operations. DOH currently oversees $1.3 billion in program and administrative budgets. The Budget & Policy Analyst III serves as a senior-level analyst, providing fiscal, policy, legislative, and data analysis to support division-wide programs and services. The role works with significant autonomy and independent judgment on complex budgetary and policy issues, allocation methodologies, program performance, and legislative and regulatory changes. It also acts as a work leader for Budget Analyst II positions. The analyst advises the Budget Manager, Operations Director, and division leadership, translating complex financial and policy information into practical guidance to support efficient, equitable, and compliant programs. Applicants must be residents of Colorado.

Requirements

Seven years of experience in budget management for a government or nonprofit entity that works with any level of government; federal, state, or local grant management and/or reporting; or as a government budget analyst or specialist.
Alternatively, a combination of related education in business administration, economics, management, public administration, accounting, contracting, finance, or a closely related field, and qualifying experience totaling seven years.
A current, valid CPA license from the Colorado Board of Accountancy may substitute for the degree requirement and two years of required experience.
Advanced mathematical knowledge and problem-solving ability.
Strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills; strong attention to detail.
Ability to work across teams and effectively collaborate with internal and external customers.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and organize work around shifting deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, including advanced Excel formulas and tables.
Ability to identify and create process improvements.
Must be a resident of Colorado.
Must have a valid, unrestricted Colorado driver’s license and a safe driving record meeting the criteria specified in the posting.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States; DOLA does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.
Must complete pre-employment criminal and financial background checks.
Applicants using education to meet minimum qualifications must upload unofficial college transcripts with the application.

Nice To Haves

State of Colorado experience working in CORE (Colorado Operations Resource Engine).
Experience analyzing large datasets.
Knowledge of and experience with State of Colorado budgeting principles and processes.
Knowledge of and experience with electronic accounting databases, including intermediate MS Excel abilities.
Experience working with financial applications and linking existing databases and reports to online dashboards.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and federal laws.

Responsibilities

Serve as work leader for Budget Analyst II positions, helping establish standardized work processes and analytical tools and guiding analysts in their implementation.
Support annual budget submissions, including schedule 9s, decision items, supplemental budget requests, and fee increase or decrease requests.
Develop standardized budget reports in coordination with the supervisor, other budget analysts, and office directors.
Develop and maintain complex financial models, which may include loan repayments, program options, and vouchers.
Lead the development, execution, and ongoing management of the Division’s budget.
Monitor expenditures, project needs, analyze trends, and identify fiscal risks.
Conduct scenario modeling, forecasting, and validation to support accurate and sustainable budgets.
Design analyses, interpret data, and recommend improvements to budgeting methodologies while ensuring compliance with state fiscal rules, procurement requirements, and statutory directives.
Provide direct support to the Budget Manager, Operations Director, Office Directors, and Division Director.
Partner with DOH office staff to identify financial issues, manage office budget processes, and review proposed budget actions.
Help draft, edit, fact-check, and finalize budget change requests for review.
Analyze complex budgetary and policy issues, develop allocation methodologies, evaluate program performance, and interpret legislative and regulatory changes.
Provide actionable recommendations to inform resource allocation, program rules, and policy development.

Benefits

Medical and dental plans.
PERA defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, plus pre-tax and Roth 401(k) and 457 plans.
Employee wellness programs.
Paid life insurance.
11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
RTD Eco Pass for eligible State employees.
Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options.
Training opportunities.
Employee discounts on services and products through the State of Colorado Work-Life Employment Discount Program.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.