Principal Budget Analyst

Principal Budget Analyst

Anchored in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada - 20 miles east of Sacramento and about 1.5 hours from Lake Tahoe - the City of Folsom is comprised of beautiful parks and trails, and boasts excellent schools, family-orientated neighborhoods, and outstanding shopping, dining, and cultural options. Folsom is a high-tech, forward-looking city, with firms ranging from small to large international corporations. Voted by WalletHub as the Best Place for Families to Live in California, and 2nd Best Lake Town in America, Folsom is recognized for its affordability, fair weather, education, and health. Folsom's schools were recognized among the best in Sacramento County.

The City of Folsom's Office of Management & Budget is currently recruiting for one (1) Principal Budget Analyst to join the Finance Department. This is a confidential, unrepresented, exempt position.

Under the general direction of the Financial Services Manager, the Principal Budget Analyst performs complex budgetary, financial, economic, statistical functions, and programs, evaluates cost and performance data; and provides sound recommendations for budget policy and formulation, implementation and procedure; coordinates activities of the City's Operating and Capital Improvement Plan Budgets with other departments, governmental agencies, and/or private entities.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Principal Budget Analyst is a professional level classification. Using a high degree of independent judgment to perform highly complex analytical work and apply an expert level of understanding on fiscal and budgetary analysis and control at the management level. This classification is distinguished from that of the Senior Financial Analyst, in which the latter performs less complex accounting and financial reporting-related duties. In addition, the Principal Budget Analyst may oversee, monitor, and/or direct the work of lower-level staff. This position is in-office Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. This is an exempt, unrepresented-confidential position.

Examples of Essential Duties

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.

• Coordinate and manage the development of the City's financial plan, including capital and operating budgets and financial strategies; lead and participate in complex financial analyses of proposed policy changes; serve as a liaison between departmental management teams; provide information and analytical support involving major projects.
• Monitor assigned departments to ensure that budget priorities are properly executed; evaluate existing and proposed financial strategies, policies, plans, programs and functions of assigned departments and budget units; consult with and advise department and budget unit staff; make recommendations.
• Conduct detailed research and analysis of economic and legal conditions in the public and private sector to forecast long-term fiscal impact of decisions made by the city about programs and functions of City departments.
• Analyze budgetary and statistical data and make recommendations; and provide financial information, analysis and recommendations for complex labor proposals.
• Analyze City contracts for financial impact, ensuring alignment with the City's Operating and Capital Improvement budgets and compliance with established budgetary limitations.
• Review purchase requisitions to confirm that expenditures remain within approved departmental budgetary constraints.
• Conduct public presentations to the Mayor and City Council, other governmental bodies, community groups, and other public gatherings regarding complex and controversial policy, fiscal, and administrative issues.
• Coordinate, review and evaluate budget segments prepared by operating department and divisions; initiate policy recommendations for functional and organizational changes in departments and budget units to achieve annual budget goals in areas of cost-effectiveness and levels of service of those departments; develop recommendations for, and coordinate budget preparation activities with other staff to prepare the final budget for presentation to the City Council.
• Research, evaluate and make decisions on requests for assigned departments and budget units for changes in allocation of positions, funding appropriations, and program functions on a continuing basis throughout the fiscal year.
• Review existing and proposed local, state and federal legislation for impact on the City, consult with affected departments makes recommendations on action to be taken, and writes proposed changes.
• Provide customer service by responding to information requests, conduct budget analysis, review, research, and providing solutions to problems and correcting errors.
• Review City Council staff reports to evaluate financial impacts and assess implications on the City's Operating and Capital Improvement budgets.
• Represent the office and frequently take the lead role on committees and task forces for the development, scheduling, implementation and monitoring of programs, which have Citywide impact and required coordination between departments and divisions.
• Represent the City in multi-jurisdiction committees, task forces, or work groups, and frequently taking the lead role in organizing, conducting, and implementing the effort.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards

The level and scope of the knowledge and abilities listed below are related to job duties as defined under "Distinguishing Characteristics."

• Principles and practices of municipal governmental accounting and budgeting; sources of revenue and revenue forecasting, business administration, public administration, public finance, management, and team building.
• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing City finance administration.
• Principles, methods, and practices of municipal finance, budget development, economics, financial analysis, cost benefit analysis, and statistical methods and research.
• Principles of long-range financial planning and methods.
• Principles and practices of pertinent Federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Business computer applications, automated financial reporting systems, and presentation software, particularly related to statistical analysis techniques and formulae.
• Methods and techniques involved in conducting analytical studies of administrative and management practices, methods and procedures.
• Detailed organizational and functional structure of municipal government.
• Principles and practices of project management.
• Principles and practices of technical report writing and technical report presentation.
• Principles and practices of public speaking.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, discipline, and performance evaluation.

Ability to:

• Independently research, analyze and make effective recommendations on administrative, management, organizational, budgetary and fiscal practices, procedures and problems.
• Collect, evaluate, and interpret varied information and data, either in statistical or narrative form.
• Prepare and deliver city-wide operating and capital improvement budget, as well as quarterly and year-end reporting.
• Work effectively with sensitive and confidential information in a political environment.
• Prepare and write comprehensive, accurate and complex reports in a logical, comprehensive, concise manner, and make recommendations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing using all communication methods.
• Coordinate multiple projects and meet critical deadlines.
• Develop and direct professional, technical, or support staff in following procedures and instructions for conducting studies and preparing reports.
• Prioritize workload efficiently, without direct instruction, to meet deadlines under changing conditions.
• Analyze a variety of complex administrative, statistical and organizational problems and make sound policy and procedural recommendations.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies.
• Acquire subject matter expertise in specific functions, programs and special projects, including the laws, rules regulations, and procedures and technical operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Supervise, train, discipline, and evaluate subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related financial area from an accredited college or university. Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional-level budget, accounting, or financial administrative and analytical experience, experience in forecasting, strategic planning, and policy analysis or financial analysis. Municipal experience is required. Substitution: Experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. Desirable Qualifications: Master's degree in Public or Business Administration or Accounting is desirable. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a typical office environment. (1) Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending or squatting. (2) Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 25 pounds. (3) Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision. (4) Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. (5) Hearing/ Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone. (6) Emotional/ Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone. (7) Environmental: frequent exposure to