Financial Analyst III – Commerce Finance

State of Utah • Salt Lake City, UT

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Utah Department of Commerce is seeking an experienced Financial Analyst III to join its Finance team. This position provides advanced financial analysis, budget execution, financial reporting, forecasting, reconciliation, and financial management support across the Department of Commerce. The successful candidate will be expected to quickly assume responsibility for assigned financial portfolios and perform complex assignments with a high degree of independence. The position will analyze financial activity, monitor budget execution, identify emerging issues, develop forecasts and recommendations, resolve discrepancies, and provide usable financial information to Finance and department leadership. This position is well suited for an experienced government financial professional who understands how financial transactions connect to appropriations, budgets, revenues, fund balances, program operations, and management decisions.

Requirements

• Ability to attend the initial training period in-person at our Salt Lake City office, with the understanding that hybrid telework (up to 3 days per week) is available once you have demonstrated understanding and competency in the basic functions of the position.
• 4 or more years of combined professional experience and education performing governmental budgeting, accounting, financial management, or closely related financial analysis. (Note: A degree is not required. Relevant higher education in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a closely related field may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis).
• Experience independently managing complex financial assignments, including analyzing and reconciling financial information from multiple systems or sources.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel to analyze financial data, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, or comparable analytical functions.
• Experience using financial information systems and reporting tools to research transactions, identify discrepancies, and prepare financial reports.
• Experience developing financial forecasts, models, analyses, or recommendations for management decision-making.
• Experience interpreting and applying financial policies, statutes, rules, or established procedures.
• Experience clearly communicating complex financial information to executive leadership, program leadership, or other financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience preparing professional written financial analyses, explanations, recommendations, or briefing materials.
• Ability to professionally represent the Finance Office in meetings and respond accurately to questions from division directors, executive leadership, central budget offices, legislative staff, auditors, or similar stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment with recurring and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Knowledge of governmental budgeting, accounting, and financial management principles.
• Ability to analyze large or complex financial datasets.
• Ability to interpret financial activity and identify trends, discrepancies, risks, and emerging issues.
• Ability to reconcile information from multiple systems and sources.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience using financial information systems and reporting tools.
• Ability to develop financial forecasts, models, reports, and recommendations.
• Ability to understand and apply financial policies, statutes, rules, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to financial and non-financial audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet recurring and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to develop practical solutions to financial and operational problems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to accountability and responsible stewardship of public resources.

Nice To Haves

• Experience performing financial functions within Utah State government.
• Familiarity with statewide financial systems, processes, policies, and budget requirements.
• 7 or more years of combined professional experience and education performing governmental budgeting, accounting, financial management, or closely related financial analysis. (Note: A degree is not required. Relevant higher education in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a closely related field may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis).
• Current or recent professional State of Utah government budgeting, accounting, or financial-management experience.
• FINET or other Utah State financial systems.
• Utah State budget development and execution.
• State appropriations and appropriation structures.
• Dedicated credits and other state revenue sources.
• Governmental fund accounting.
• Revenue and expenditure analysis.
• Financial forecasting.
• Fiscal-year closeout and year-end processes.
• Encumbrance and purchase-order management.
• Financial reconciliations.
• Legislative fiscal notes.
• Budget requests and funding analysis.
• Financial taskings involving statewide financial partners such as the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, or Division of Finance.
• Utah State financial policies and procedures.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Power Query, Power BI, or comparable reporting and analytical tools.
• Development of financial dashboards, models, queries, or automated reporting.
• Process improvement and development of financial controls or procedures.
• Independently researching and resolving complicated financial issues.
• Managing budgets, programs, funds, or financial portfolios.
• Providing financial guidance to managers or program personnel.
• Performing analysis beyond routine transaction processing.
• Developing spreadsheets, queries, reports, dashboards, or other analytical tools.
• Identifying and resolving reconciliation issues.
• Improving existing financial processes.
• Translating financial data into information leadership can use to make decisions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Finance analyst for assigned divisions, programs, appropriations, and funds.
• Monitor budgets, expenditures, revenues, available balances, encumbrances, commitments, and other financial activity.
• Maintain an understanding of the financial condition of assigned programs and identify emerging issues, risks, and funding pressures.
• Analyze financial activity and identify trends, discrepancies, unusual transactions, and potential financial concerns.
• Develop expenditure and revenue forecasts and provide supporting analysis and recommendations.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc financial reports for Finance leadership, division management, and department executives.
• Review financial data for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with applicable policies and requirements.
• Research and resolve discrepancies between financial systems, reports, supporting documentation, and program records.
• Analyze appropriated funds, dedicated credits, restricted funding, enterprise activity, and other funding structures as assigned.
• Monitor purchase orders, encumbrances, commitments, and other obligations affecting available funding.
• Support fiscal year-end closing, reconciliations, carryforward analysis, and fiscal-year transition activities.
• Develop and maintain budget execution tools, spreadsheets, dashboards, financial models, queries, and management reports.
• Perform revenue, fee, cost, workload, and cost-recovery analysis.
• Support development and review of legislative fiscal notes and other legislative financial analysis.
• Assist with budget requests, funding analyses, legislative information requests, and financial taskings from statewide and department leadership.
• Research statutes, appropriations, financial records, historical activity, and other information necessary to answer complex financial questions.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, strengthen controls, reduce manual work, and improve the quality and timeliness of financial information.
• Develop procedures, documentation, templates, and analytical tools that improve consistency and efficiency.
• Provide financial guidance and technical assistance to department employees and program managers.
• Coordinate with accounting, purchasing, budget, division administration, and other state financial partners.
• Perform advanced financial analysis and special projects with limited supervision.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for a full benefits package.
• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed