Senior Budget Analyst

City of Boulder•Boulder, CO

About The Position

OVERVIEW OF ROLE (Facilities and Fleet) Under limited supervision, the Senior Budget Analyst provides professional level financial knowledge and skills including monitoring and analysis of the City of Boulder’s operating and capital budgets, outcomes and performance measures to support financial decision-making. This position provides direct departmental support to Facilities and Fleet while participating as a Central Budget team member. This includes functions such as: preparing and developing the annual operating and capital budgets, monitoring and tracking budgets for financial reporting, analyzing department and citywide performance measures, providing review and assessment of current and future fiscal years to confirm data and trend accuracy, and conducting research for special projects. This position will be a subject matter expert regarding the assigned department's needs, and the conclusions and recommendations must be presented in an unbiased and professional manner. The position will also support citywide analysis, budget development, and other special project support as a key member of the Central Budget Office within the Finance Department. OVERVIEW OF ROLE (Finance) Under limited supervision, the Senior Budget Analyst supports the development of the City of Boulder’s annual budget and six-year capital improvement program. The Senior Budget Analyst in the Central Budget Office of the Finance Department serves as a citywide analyst supporting citywide budgetary and financial initiatives and departments across the organization in budget development, monitoring of fiscal impact changes, financial policies, practices, and strategies. This position monitors, forecasts and analyzes fund and department budgets, provides strategic support in budget problem-solving and long-term financial planning, communicates and coordinates cross-departmentally and with external agencies on budget planning and development, and manages special projects as assigned. OVERVIEW OF ROLE (Transportation and Mobility) Under limited supervision, the Senior Budget Analyst provides professional level financial knowledge and skills including monitoring and analysis of the City of Boulder’s operating and capital budgets, outcomes and performance measures to support financial decision-making. This position provides direct departmental support to the Transportation and Mobility Department while participating as a Central Budget team member. This includes functions such as: preparing and developing the annual operating and capital budgets, monitoring and tracking budgets for financial reporting, analyzing department and citywide performance measures, providing review and assessment of current and future fiscal years to confirm data and trend accuracy, and conducting research for special projects. This position serves as a member of the Transportation and Mobility Department leadership Team, working in a collaborative manner to providing budgetary, financial, and analytical services for the Transportation & Mobility Department and the Central Budget Office. This includes providing strategic fiscal advice, preparing and monitoring department budgets, developing rates and fees, assistance in preparing grant applications, grant monitoring and reporting, analysis and research projects, and managing financial services. This position will be a subject matter expert regarding the assigned department's needs, and the conclusions and recommendations must be presented in an unbiased and professional manner. The position will also support citywide analyses, budget development, and other special project support as a key member of the Central Budget Office within the Finance Department.

Requirements

Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity, honesty and trust.
Knowledge of and ability, interest, and desire to communicate courteously and effectively with the public and city staff and to provide good customer service in-person and virtually.
Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to take initiative and assume responsibility, to interpret complex data to non-financial customers, to prioritize and resolve issues before they become problems, to pay close attention to detail, to coordinate tasks to completion, to provide quality control for responsiveness and customer satisfaction, to meet deadlines and to complete tasks while working under pressure.
Knowledge of and demonstrated experience using analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of and expertise in using spreadsheets, word processing software, and financial database systems.
Knowledge of and previous professional experience in financial management, project management, research and analysis, writing and facilitating teams.
Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record.
Have and maintain acceptable background information, including criminal conviction history.
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Finance or related field; or eight (8) years of experience may substitute for the education requirement only.
Three (3) years of progressively responsible budgetary, financial, or related experience, and professional experience in budget in a government setting.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and experience using Microsoft Office Suite (ex. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data visualization software.
Knowledge of and experience using Workday, Tyler Munis, or another financial and budgeting enterprise system.
Knowledge of and municipal or local government experience including proficiency in municipal budgeting, financial policy best practices, and government financial systems.
Master’s Degree in related field.
Three (3) years of municipal or local government experience including proficiency in municipal budgeting, financial policy best practices, and government financial systems.
Knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with transportation funding alternatives, e.g., transportation utility fees (TUF's), improvement districts, assessments, taxation, and grants.

Responsibilities

Fund management. Acts as steward of several internal service funds, maintains a high level of fund management integrity, responsible for all financial aspects of the funds, projects and monitors revenues, expenditures, and fund balances. Responsible for disclosing to city management and Council any changes to the annual appropriations. Establishes and maintains reserve policies. Work strategically on behalf of the Director, and the department’s management team to plan, develop, and execute a financial operating plan for the Facilities and Fleet department making recommendations for a budget of approximately $55.4M and 53.0 FTEs Coordinates preparation of assigned annual budget, budget adjustments, capital improvement programs, and related proposals to city management. Conducts budget analysis, develops rate, fee and internal service (replacement) studies and analysis. If funding is supported through grants, then conducts analysis and monitors grants to ensure compliance. Calculates cost of service analyses and recommends appropriate user charges, fees and allocation basis; provides analysis for capital financing and debt issues and establishes and administers asset replacement policies. Coordinates the work of other staff members supporting these efforts.
Conducts research and analysis on policy issues, master plans, service levels, and productivity measures as requested: cost/benefit analysis, system analysis, organizational analysis, administrative processes, and rate setting methodology and assessment. May perform and assist implementation.
In a team environment, support city and department budget development, including analysis, projection and reporting. Support presentation of budget and performance measure data to key stakeholders, including city staff, City Council and community members. To do so, the person in this position must have exceptional problem solving and communication skills and take the needs of all parties involved into account. This includes, but is not limited to the following: Listen to and support the evaluation and/or implementation of recommendations for each department's operating and capital needs. Prepare information about funding options and budget constraints for Finance Department staff to present to key advisory, staff, and legislative bodies, such as: assisting to identify potential budget overages and sources of available funding within departmental budgets. Provide support, analysis, reporting, communication, presentation, budget and policy advice, and budget development to departments, as needed. Support and assistance may include: analyzing departmental budget trends, performing updates and entries into the financial system, developing reports to help provide financial insight to departmental, Central Budget, or executive staff. Use a range of financial analysis tools and best practices used by local governments. Support development of the Operating Budget and Six Year Capital Improvement Program documents. Support innovative practices and solutions for improved strategic and transparent budgeting. Communicate effectively and appropriately, including the communication of sensitive information, in internal city and public meetings.
Conducts financial and performance data analysis and maintains city financial systems. Evaluation of data includes skilled data collection, analysis and communication of results, and other supporting communication to customers of the Facilities & Fleet and Central Budget Office. This includes, but is not limited to the following: Prepare numerous complex spreadsheets; extensively use the city's financial software system; apply various data gathering and interpretation techniques. Research comparative economic, financial and performance data from peer cities and organizations. Author reports, agenda items, City Council study session material, minutes from such meetings, presentations, monthly financial reports, and other documents that will become public domain materials. Evaluate policy questions from city decision makers, complying with necessary timelines, levels of effort, and approaches to analysis that are sensitive to the context of the policy question. Support senior staff in the Central Budget Office and Facilities & Fleet Department with the collection, analysis and communication of varied financial and management data and information. Collaborate with other city staff in gathering financial and management information, including program objectives, costs, revenue sources, and performance measures. Communicate technical and analytical information in a manner that is understandable and useful to decision makers and the public. Communicate with exceptional written and verbal skills.
Develops the City of Boulder’s annual budget and six-year capital improvement program.
Serves as a central liaison working with department leadership and staff to support department budget development, including financial analysis, projections, determination of funding for projects and programs, feasibility studies and reporting.
Performs complex forecasting and analysis, and special project research that impact organizational, citywide, and department budgets, which includes analyzing business and policy proposals, performing complex financial calculations, conducting feasibility studies, forecasting expenditures, and preparing reports, models, and presentations recommending courses of action to manage fiscal accountability.
Monitors and performs analysis on current and upcoming fiscal year budgets to ensure financial stewardship.
Utilizes various reporting software and financial systems to track financial transactions, understand trends, and synthesize financial and operational data into reports, presentations, or other communications.
Performs review and approval of budget transactions in financial system to ensure accuracy.
Develops and supports presentations of operating and capital budget information to key stakeholders, including city staff, City Council and community members. Supports budget community engagement.
Supports the development of outcomes, performance measures, and targets by program area across the organization.
Prepares information about funding options and budget constraints to present to key advisory, staff, and legislative bodies.
Prepares written reports, agenda items, presentations, monthly financial reports, and other documents to communicate budgetary information.
Monitors and tracks citywide and operational policy and operational changes that may result in fiscal impact changes.
Identifies and recommends solutions for improved strategic and transparent budgeting.
Demonstrates behaviors and skills of a team player that carries their share of the workload, is open to new ideas and change, and is a champion and communicator of recommended financial strategies and policies.
Performs related duties as required to meet the needs of the City.
Fund management. Acts as steward of five special revenue and capital project funds, maintains a high level of fund management integrity, responsible for all financial aspects of the fund, projects and monitors revenues, expenditures, and fund balances (includes all facets of a fund financial plan). Ensures accuracy of annual and multi-year appropriations. Responsible for disclosing to city management and Council any changes to the annual appropriations. Establishes and maintains reserve policies. Work strategically on behalf of the Director, Deputy Directors, and the department’s leadership team to plan, develop, and execute a financial operating plan for the Transportation & Mobility Department making recommendations for allocation of approximately $58.0M and 98.0 FTEs. Coordinates preparation of assigned budgets, adjustments to base budgets, carryover requests, capital improvement programs, debt issuances, and related proposals to city management. Conducts budget analyses, develops rate and fee studies and analysis. Oversees financial transaction processes. In partnership with the Central Grants Team in the Finance Department, responsible for all Transportation & Mobility grant management including the efforts of project managers as it relates to federal grants, compliance with accounting standards and applicable federal and state requirements. Works with the Finance Department and the city’s external auditors to produce required audit reports. Creates the annual Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) report and contributes to other annual Annual Comprehensive Finance Report (ACFR) related documents including the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) report. Performs staffing analysis and provides recommendations on staffing levels including FTEs and FTE management, also works as part of the management teams to determine appropriate staffing levels given the department’s work plan and analyzes filling vacant positions or reallocation of savings. Design and improve the financial management reporting systems for use throughout the department. Coordinates the work of other staff members supporting these efforts.
Conducts research and analysis on policy issues, department plans, methods, service levels, and productivity measures as requested: cost/benefit analysis, system analysis, organizational analysis, administrative processes, and rate setting methodology and assessment.
In a team environment, support city and department budget development, including analysis, projection and reporting. Support presentation of budget and performance measure data to key stakeholders, including city staff, City Council and community members. To do so, the person in this position must have exceptional problem solving and communication skills and take the needs of all parties involved into account. This includes, but is not limited to the following: Listen to and support the evaluation and/or implementation of recommendations for each department's operating and capital needs. Prepare information about funding options and budget constraints for Finance Department staff to present to key advisory, staff, and legislative bodies, such as: assisting to identify potential budget overages and sources of available funding within departmental budgets. Provide support, analysis, reporting, communication, presentation, budget and policy advice, and budget development to departments, as needed. Support and assistance may include: analyzing departmental budget trends, performing updates and entries into the financial system, developing reports to help provide financial insight to departmental, Central Budget, or executive staff. Use a range of financial analysis tools and best practices used by local governments. Support development of the Operating Budget and Six Year Capital Improvement Program documents. Support innovative practices and solutions for improved strategic and transparent budgeting. Communicate effectively and appropriately, including the communication of sensitive information, in internal city and public meetings.
Conducts financial and performance data analysis and maintains city financial systems. Evaluation of data includes skilled data collection, analysis and communication of results, and other supporting communication to customers of the Transportation & Mobility Department and the Central Budget Office. This includes, but is not limited to the following: Prepare numerous complex spreadsheets; extensively use the city's financial software system; apply various data gathering and interpretation techniques. Research comparative economic, financial and performance data from peer cities and organizations. Author reports, agenda items, City Council study session material, minutes from such meetings, presentations, monthly financial reports, and other documents that will become public domain materials. Evaluate policy questions from city decision makers, complying with necessary timelines, levels of effort, and approaches to analysis that are sensitive to the context of the policy question. Support senior staff in the Central Budget Office and Transportation & Mobility Department with the collection, analysis and communication of varied financial and management data and information. Collaborate with other city staff in gathering financial and management information, including program objectives, costs, revenue sources, and performance measures. Communicate technical and analytical information in a manner that is understandable and useful to decision makers and the public. Communicate with exceptional written and verbal skills.