Financial Analyst III (OCFO - ODFS Government Operations Division)

City of Detroit • Michigan, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer - ODFS division is accepting applications for a Financial Analyst III position. Financial Analyst III is an experienced level financial analyst professional within the City of Detroit Office of the Chief Financial Officer that requires limited direction and supervision. The Financial Analyst conducts complex analyses and provides recommendations concerning the City of Detroit financial and operational results. The key services provided include, but are not limited to: examination, review, study, or other financial analysis; preparing detailed reports to show sources of information and explain the basis for conclusions; making recommendations on the basis of detailed analysis and evaluation; creating and tracking budget to actual across multiple years; and executing a month-end close process that includes variance analysis and forecasting. Many of these services will be performed within the appropriate modules of the ERP Cloud that impact the operations of this position. Departmental Financial Services - Assure the effective management and financial integrity of agency operations by developing, implementing and monitoring city-wide and department-wide plans, policies and systems in the areas of program analysis/evaluation, strategic planning, and performance metrics. Agency Chief Financial Officers (“Agency CFOs”) will develop, track, and provide actionable data to assess the performance of City operations. Staff monitor project plans, track budget to actual spending and integrates budget/ actual financial data with agency operational data.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major courses of work in accounting, business, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Such education must include at least twenty-four (24) semester (36 terms) credits of coursework in accounting, finance, or economics.
• At least three (3) years of professional experience providing a systematic review, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of budgets, loans or other financial data.
• Standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, generally accepted accounting procedures (GAAP), accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations
• Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources
• Economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data
• Federal, state, and local legislation, regulations and ordinances affecting preparation, review, and implementation of operating and capital budget requests and financial analysis
• Established work methods and procedures
• Pertinent regulatory or statutory provisions in performing assigned financial and operational analysis and evaluation work
• Operation and organization of the Departments and Agencies appropriate to the affected position
• Techniques commonly used in locating errors in financial and operational reports and statements
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Professional, comprehensive knowledge of theories, practices, methods, and techniques of accounting and, as required, auditing; and organizational or program practices, policies, and functions sufficient to do experience level work
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmental financial management
• Mathematical and statistical procedures generally employed in the fields of financial asset investment, accounting, and budgeting to verify data, to project costs, to budget, etc.
• Enterprise resource planning systems for finance, budget, general ledger, human resources, and other management systems and software programs
• Identifying, synthesizing, and evaluating complex budget related issues and assignments, consolidating information from a variety of sources, and selecting appropriate analytical approaches
• Presenting concise financial and operational information (orally, written, and/or using PowerPoint or Word) to a variety of audiences
• Use of Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and / or other office suite software packages)
• Use of Excel (e.g. Pivot Tables, Vlookup, Hlookup, charts, tables, and / or other related software packages) functionality
• Communicating in writing clearly and effectively demonstrates this skill by rendering technical details and reports in a form readily understandable to management and the public
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Talking to others to convey information effectively
• Establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public
• Collect, quickly interpret, and analyze information from a variety of sources, apply criteria, draw conclusions and develop recommendations, guidelines, and policies
• Read, interpret, and effectively analyze professional and technical reports
• Choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
• Plan, coordinate, set priorities, and supervise staff and others engaged in diversified fiscal analysis and forecasting activities
• Develop cost-benefit and business case analyses by consolidating information, identifying relevant data, and making logical assumptions to provide insight and recommendations with minimal errors regarding cost savings, optimal organization and financial structure, and program offering
• Participate in decision-making sessions, provide guidance, and advise a number of program managers on legal and regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, potential roadblocks, and program improvements through analysis of fund requests, program operations, monthly reports, and special analysis
• Communicate information and ideas clearly and effectively both orally and in writing so they can be understood
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
• Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
• Work tactfully and effectively with employees, supervisors and managers, taxpayers, and with elected and appointed officials and senior staff in assigned Departments and Agencies
• Take initiative to acquire additional knowledge and education to remain current in field
• Work as part of a team

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree, such as master’s in business administration, master’s in finance, master’s in economics, and other appropriate and related courses of study.
• An Accounting degree is preferred

Responsibilities

• Plans, assigns, and coordinates the work of Financial Analyst I and II and other clerical and administrative staff
• Using ERP Cloud applications performs the following activities: Strategic planning, financial and operational analysis, budget preparation and analysis, and other critical analysis
• Financial evaluation of agencies and departments
• Strategic financial modeling, annual target setting, and annual business planning process for City Agencies to assess financial implications and support complex business decisions
• Using Process Management to manage the financial review cycle
• Development, implementation, and monitoring of financial and operational policies, guidelines, processes, procedures, internal controls, and performance measures
• Partnering with City Agencies to develop and monitor multi-year operating and capital plans, reserve forecasts, and long-range financial strategies
• Informs investment decisions by analyzing financial information to forecast City, industry, or economic conditions
• Prepares plans of action for investment, using financial analyses
• Conducts financial studies, research, analysis, and modeling to assess financial implications and support complex business decisions
• Develops, implements, monitors, and ensures compliance of financial and operational performance measures
• Engages in all aspects of setting and refining strategy, major strategic analyses, and the operating budget for City Agencies
• Analyzes and evaluates the financial and business operations and transactions engaged in by many different departments/agencies
• Reviews prior year expenditures, grant balances, and fund sources and prepares detailed financial forecasts, cost projections, and recommendations based on actual results
• Prepares, provides, reviews, and responds to requests and inquiries regarding financial, expenditure, revenue/fund status, appropriation transfers, supplemental appropriations, and variance reports to management to enable financial and budgetary monitoring and control
• Performs cost-benefit analyses to compare operating programs, review financial requests, or explore alternative financing methods
• Evaluates monthly financial and operational performance against plan, prior year, and forecast
• Drives functional enhancements to planning and forecasting processes and activities and implements best practices
• Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations
• Reviews operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs
• Provides complex technical consultation and assistance to management in preparing budgets, grants, proposals, and contracts; and interpreting and applying budget and financial guidelines
• Draws charts and graphs, using computer spreadsheets, to illustrate technical report
• Compiles and analyzes accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program
• Prepares regular and ad hoc financial and operational reports
• Consults with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level