Lead Finance and Policy Analyst - Budget Analyst III

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position functions as a fully operational senior-level Budget and Policy Analyst for the Division of Child Welfare (DCW), providing high-level fiscal, policy, legislative, and data analysis to support statewide child welfare programs and county-administered services. The position operates with significant autonomy and independent judgment in analyzing complex budgetary and policy issues, developing allocation methodologies, evaluating program performance, and interpreting legislative and regulatory changes. The Budget and Policy Analyst serves as a trusted advisor to program leadership, the Division Finance Director, and counties, providing actionable recommendations that directly inform decisions about resource allocation, program rules, and policy development. The position translates complex financial and policy information into clear, actionable guidance, ensuring that DCW programs operate efficiently, equitably, and in compliance with statutory and fiscal requirements. The position plays a critical and ongoing role in the Allocation Methodology Team (AMT), a subgroup of the Child Welfare Allocation Committee (CWAC), helping to design, test, and implement county allocation models that directly impact service delivery. It also ensures data integrity, evaluation of program outcomes, and accurate reporting to state and federal partners. This role is imperative to the effective operation of the Division, bridging the gap between department objectives, county administration, and fiscal management. By providing evidence-based analyses, policy recommendations, and high-quality reports, the position enables leadership to make informed decisions that directly affect child welfare programs and outcomes across the state.

Requirements

Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years
Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will substitute for the degree requirement and two (2) years of the required experience.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of government accounting and budgeting.
Close attention to detail when drafting, proofreading, and revising written reports.
Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and a self-starter
Comfortable self-managing competing priorities
Highly organized with an emphasis on thorough documentation and process orientation
Five (5) years of professional experience in public policy fiscal analysis, accounting, budget, contract creation and monitoring, procurement, and program administration, including familiarity with state and federal guidelines and programs
Understanding of federal and state fiscal rules and procurement policies
Ability to research and problem-solve independently and with a team
Knowledge of the programs administered by the Division of Child Welfare
Excellent writing skills so that information can be communicated in plain language
Knowledge of federal program requirements, including reporting, administration, and procurement guidelines.
Experience with the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE)
Experience with the County Fiscal Management System (CFMS)
Experience successfully communicating both verbally and in written form to high-level audiences
Ability to gather, analyze, and present data for both technical and general audiences
Excellent computer skills with desktop and mobile office productivity applications, and general tools such as Microsoft products, including Excel, and Google Suite
Ability to balance the needs and intent of the Federal and State guidelines with the needs of stakeholders
Ability to creatively analyze and interpret information necessary to make decisions
Experience working on projects with a team of peers
Experience building decision items for legislation
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Leads the development, execution, and ongoing management of the Division’s budget for the statewide child welfare block grant and initiatives. This includes monitoring expenditures, projecting needs, analyzing caseload trends, and identifying fiscal risks to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and in alignment with program priorities.
Provides direct support to program leadership and the Division Finance Director by independently preparing analyses, recommendations, and decision materials that inform strategic planning, annual budgets, and supplemental funding requests. This includes a variety of funding sources, including Title IV-E funds, the annual county block grant, and other funding sources.
Serves as a primary liaison to counties, providing authoritative guidance on allocation methodology, funding assumptions, and budget implementation requirements.
As part of the allocation development and in support of the Child Welfare Allocation Committee (CWAC), this position develops, evaluates, and maintains funding allocation formulas, including scenario modeling, forecasting, and validation to ensure that county allocations are equitable, accurate, and sustainable.
Exercises autonomy and professional discretion in designing analyses, interpreting data, and recommending changes to allocation methodologies, while ensuring compliance with state fiscal rules, procurement requirements, and statutory directives.
Leads data collection, validation, and evaluation efforts to guide evidence-based decision-making for DCW programs.
Develops and applies metrics to assess program performance, financial integrity, and outcomes at both state and county levels.
Supports program leadership, the Finance Director, and counties by providing actionable insights into trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement. This includes monitoring service utilization, caseload growth, changes in provider rates, and expenditure patterns to guide both policy and operational decisions.
Ensures all analyses adhere to best practices for data integrity, consistency, and reproducibility, allowing leadership to make informed, data-driven decisions about program and budget priorities.
Develops and manages high-profile annual and ad hoc reports, including Joint Budget Committee Requests for Information (RFIs), Decision Item analyses, Annual Provider Rate Memos, and required state and federal submissions.
Provides technical guidance to counties in completing surveys and submitting data, monitors compliance with reporting requirements, and reconciles anomalies to ensure accurate reporting.
Analyzes proposed and enacted state and federal legislation, regulatory changes, and budget items to determine their impact on DCW programs, funding, and county partners.
Produces legislative and fiscal analyses, including House and Senate bill reviews and federal guidance interpretations.
During legislative sessions, evaluates multiple proposals with uncertain, interrelated, and potentially conflicting outcomes, identifying embedded statutory changes that could affect funding, reporting, or program implementation.
Provides recommendations and scenario analyses to leadership to mitigate fiscal risk and ensure statutory compliance.
Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope, responsibilities, and classification of a Budget and Policy Analyst. These may include special projects, ad hoc fiscal or policy analyses, participation in cross-divisional workgroups, or support for emergent legislative, budgetary, or policy initiatives, including but not limited to provider rates, IV-E requirements, etc.

Benefits

Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training, and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.