Budget & Research Analyst - Budget and Research Department

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The City of Phoenix is the fifth largest municipality in the United States and manages a $2.1 billion General Fund Operating Budget as part of its efforts to provide world class services to its residents. The City's Budget and Research Department is seeking to fill a Budget and Research Analyst position. The Budget and Research Department directs the preparation and administration of the annual operating budget and capital improvement program. Additional department responsibilities include revenue and expenditure estimating and forecasting, long range fiscal planning, and conducting organization and management studies.

This position will report to a Deputy Budget and Research Director of the Program Budgeting and Research Division responsible for the development and monitoring of operating budgets for all City departments. This includes monitoring and forecasting department operating expenditures on a line-item basis, enforcing administrative regulations concerning the budget and position management, coordinating the development of the Trial Budget and community budget hearings, and providing budget process and budget software training to departments. Staff ensure citywide operating expenditures stay within appropriated limits and estimates and work with departments to manage costs in all budget line items.

The Program Budgeting and Research Division is also responsible for carrying out research projects that may involve financial analysis, service delivery methods and organizational effectiveness, and policy analysis. This position is responsible for carrying out that analysis and writing reports summarizing findings and recommendations. This position is responsible for numerous critical functions and processes in the department, which require technical ability, analytic skill, independent judgment and initiative, and effective time management.

Areas of responsibility include:

• Ensure operating expenditures for departments stay within appropriated limits and estimates and work collaboratively with staff to manage costs in all budget line items.
• Reviews budget and position management requests for funding availability and compliance with administrative regulations; resolves issues with departments.
• Communicate regularly and provide excellent customer service to department liaisons.
• Analyzes and reviews operating expenditure and revenue budget requests from departments for accuracy and projects fund balance impact.
• Works collaboratively and effectively with City departments in the development of budgets, assisting with each stage of the budget development process.
• Assesses availability of funding, appropriation authority, and acceptability of the use of funds; recommends adjustments and discusses recommendations with management and department staff.
• Assists in preparation of City budget documents, including the Inventory of Programs, Summary Budget, and Detail Budget books documents.
• Prepares and quantifies changes to the budget as they arise in the budget process.
• Coordinates and conducts training on the budget process and budget system for city departments.
• Conducts independent research studies involving surveys, identifying best practices, producing cost-benefit analysis with recommendations, and preparing written reports to a large variety of audiences, including executive management staff.
• Makes recommendations identifying improvements, cost savings and efficiencies for a diverse array of City programs and services.
• Completes short-term and long-term forecasts and proposes changes to maximize forecasting accuracy.
• Completes variance analyses with detailed explanations.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Possesses superior analytical and critical thinking skills and makes sound recommendations.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently while managing a complex workload in a balanced, efficient, and effective manner.
• Has strong communication skills (including writing, speaking, and presentation), particularly on technical matters.
• Can work autonomously and in collaborative settings.
• Ability to multi-task, be highly organized, and have excellent follow through skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive and effective working relationships.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge/experience of methods, principles and practices of government finance, budgeting, and accounting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) and comfortable navigating new software products and applications, including City budgeting and accounting systems.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Highly detail-oriented with ability to follow written and verbal directions accurately.

SALARY

Pay Range: $88,691.20 - 131,040.00 annually.

Hiring Range: $88,691.20 - 118,872.00 annually

Pay Range Explanation:

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

BENEFITS

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information .
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans.
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
• Employer paid long-term disability.
• Free Bus/light rail pass.
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year.
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days.
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period.
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi .

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in economics, finance, accounting, statistics, or a related field.
• Three years of professional-level experience in governmental budgetary and finance activities which included some experience analyzing and interpreting financial and economic data and trends.
• Other combinations of experience and education which meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• The City job description can be found here .
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here .

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Experience forecasting expenditures and/or revenues and conducting variance analysis.
• Experience with operating budget development through the different phases of a fiscal year.
• Experience working on independent and collaborative research projects, including data gathering, survey work, analysis, and summarizing findings.
• Experience with fund balance analysis.
• Experience writing reports for a range of audiences, including making recommendations for improvements.
• Experience communicating with management level staff.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes September 26, 2024. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

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• If you need assistance applying for this job, please contact our HR Connection Center at (602) 495-5700 .

REFERENCE

Budget & Research Analyst, JC:05600, ID# 55559, 09/11/2024, USM, MR, Benefits:007

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.