Budget Analyst

Description

Under general direction, performs a wide range of analytical, technical, and advisory functions in the municipal budgetary process; assists the director in the preparation of the City’s annual budget; provides direct support in management and analysis of City operations, specifically working in the areas of budget analysis and assisting with analysis of revenue collections; provides support in preparation of budget to actual comparisons and analysis for financial reporting purposes.

Examples of Work

• Performs budget preparation processes for the City’s annual budget; reviews budget change requests for accuracy and compliance with budget principals and guidelines established by elected officials; participates in planning, organizing and communicating budget deadlines; prepares and ensures accuracy of all associated budget reports presented.
• Coordinates the development of the City’s Capital Improvement Program budget; ensures capital improvement budgets are incorporated properly into the annual budget; directs preparation and ensures accuracy of all associated CIP reports presented.
• Analyzes and produces complex reports for use by diverse groups, including elected officials, City management, boards, commissions, and other government entities; coordinates with City management and elected officials to determine reporting needs for operating and capital budgets; works with the Information Technology (IT) Department to develop and implement necessary enhancements to reports used in the budget process.
• Facilitates and participates in public presentations as needed; provides oral briefings, recommendations, and progress reports to City management and elected officials.
• Reviews and processes budget transfers requested throughout the budget year.
• Provides general budget consulting services to City departments, converting technical budget information into operational terms for City officials and staff; interprets and provides guidance to departmental personnel related to application of established budget principals and guidelines.
• Prepares and provides workshops and training related to the CIP and annual budget processes.
• Coordinates the preparation of the city-wide indirect cost allocation plan and establishment of interfund allocation rates; reviews work of contracted plan preparer for accuracy.
• Performs budget analysis and conducts related studies to identify efficiency and cost savings; prepares reports of such activity including recommendations for action.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field; AND five years of experience in the development of governmental budgets. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience
may
also be qualifying.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license or otherwise demonstrate ability to get to and from multiple work locations as required.
• A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license may substitute for up to two years of work experience.

Examination Details
***This recruitment is open until further notice. Application packets are reviewed as needed with results merged into one eligible list according to final ratings (Civil Service Rule IV, Section 13). The first review of application packets will occur no later than April 14, 2017; the next review of application will occur no later than May 26, 2017.***

Upon request, at time of application, the City will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.

Supplemental Questionnaire Details

The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to elicit sufficient job-related information and will be used to evaluate the amount and quality of the applicant’s previous job-related experience, as well as any other information deemed important to performing the duties of the position.

• The “Supplemental Questions” are the Civil Service examination for this position and need to be completed online at the time of application.
• TIP: It is more efficient to develop your responses in a word processing document and then paste them into the online questionnaire to be submitted. The questions are located online in the tab marked “Supplemental Questions” on the job announcement.
• Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification. “See Resume” or “See Application” are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
• Changes or corrections to your responses cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted. Duplicate applications will be disqualified.
• Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.

We encourage you to apply immediately. Online applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the filling cut-off date.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status.

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Eligibility:
Coverage begins for new hires and their dependents on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of employment.

Eligible Dependents:
Spouse or Domestic Partner, birth, adopted children or children placed for adoption, Domestic Partner’s children, step-children who live with employee, and any child for whom employee is legal guardian or for whom coverage is required by a Qualified Medical Support Order. Adult children under age 26 are eligible.

Medical

Qualified employees may select from two health carrier options; a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Group Health Cooperative or a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) administered by Premera Blue Cross. The City pays the monthly premium in full for employee only. The monthly premium to add coverage for eligible dependents varies depending on the medical plan selected.

Dental

Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental of Washington. The monthly premium is minimal for employee
and
eligible dependents.

Vision

Vision coverage is included in the medical plan selected. Costs for eye exams and hardware; lenses, frames or contacts varies depending on the medical plan selected.

Life Insurance – Employee Only

Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at one-and-a-half times the employee’s annual base salary to a maximum of $100,000. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Life Insurance – Eligible Dependent(s)

Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at $6,000 for spouse/domestic partner and $2,000 for each child. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

AFLAC

Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

Flexible Spending Account

The City offers two optional Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The Health Care FSA allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to receive reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. The Dependent Care FSA allows an employee to receive reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for dependent children up to age 13 and other eligible dependents as defined by IRS Code. Employees can elect to contribute up to $2,550 per year for the Health Care FSA and $5,000 per year for the Dependent Care FSA.

LegalShield

Prepaid legal services and/or prepaid identity theft programs are optional. These programs pay for a limited amount of documents to be reviewed, limited trial defense representation, the preparation of a standard will, identity theft consultation, restoration and monitoring according to terms of contract.

Pet Insurance

Get cash back on the everyday care your pet needs to stay healthy! Nationwide/Voluntary Pet Insurance is an optional plan in which City of Spokane Employees can enroll.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance

Voluntary Term Life Insurance is optional and is provided through The Standard Insurance Company and is subject to application review and approval. Additional coverage up to $300,000 is available for employees and their spouse/domestic partner. Dependent children can be insured for up to $10,000 each. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

Continued Medical/Dental Insurance

Employees separating from City service have the option to continue medical and/or dental insurance benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium in addition to a small monthly administrative fee.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Spokane Employees’ Retirement System

The Spokane Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) is a defined benefit pension plan covering non-uniformed employees whose positions are classified under the Civil Service Merit System. As a participant you contribute 8.25% of your salary toward your retirement. Contributions and earnings are tax deferred. The City also contributes 8.25% of your salary toward your retirement. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 become vested (eligible for a monthly benefit at retirement age) at seven years of service.

Deferred Compensation

Enrollment in the City-sponsored 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by ICMA-RC allows participants, on a voluntary basis, to defer a portion of their salary on a before or after tax basis. Contributions and associated earnings contributed on a before tax basis are eligible to receive City matching contributions and are tax deferred (not taxed until taken out). You can also choose to participate in the 457 Roth (after tax) contribution option. You may enroll in the 457 plan or change your contribution at any time. Minimum contribution is $15 per paycheck up to and is subject to the IRS annual limitations. The City will match employee contributions up to $150/month.

PAID TIME OFF

Official Holidays

The City observes seven official holidays as paid. An official holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. An official holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The City observes Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, but has not declared that day as an official holiday. For this reason, employees hired before the third Monday of January receive an additional eight hours of floating holiday time to be used in accordance with Spokane Managerial and Professional Association Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.

Floating Holidays

Employees hired between January 2nd and June 30th receive 32 hours of floating holiday, and employees hired on or after July 1st receive 16 hours of floating holiday. Floating holiday hours may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.

Personal Leave

Most City employees represented by the Spokane Managerial and Professional Association are considered “salaried” employees exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. The City of Spokane offers personal leave to these employees in recognition of the fact that they typically put in more than forty (40) hours of work in a week. Each calendar year, employees are credited with the following personal leave: forty (40) hours if hired by January 15; thirty (30) hours if hired between January 16 and March 31; twenty (20) hours if hired between April 1 and June 30; ten (10) hours if hired between July 1 and September 30; and zero (0) hours if hired after September 30.

Vacation Leave

Employees earn a number of paid vacation hours each pay period. The number of hours earned depends upon the employee’s length of employment and the number of hours in a pay status. Vacation accrual ranges from 12 days per year for a new employee to 20 days per year after 11 years of employment. Unused vacation hours carry over each year, but are subject to maximum accrual amounts in accordance with Spokane Managerial and Professional Association Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions. The first pay period in December, employees may elect to cash out up to 40 accrued vacation hours, provided the cash out does not drop the employee’s vacation bank below 80 hours.

Sick Leave

Sick leave accrues at a rate of four (4) hours per biweekly pay period. Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue sick leave. Unused sick leave hours carry over each year, however, there is an illness leave bank cap of 960 hours.

Other Leaves

The City also provides several other paid and unpaid leaves, such as: bereavement leave, Family and Medical Leave, maternity leave, jury duty, and military duty leave.

WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a referral and counseling service administered by KEPRO. It provides a myriad of services to employees and their household members. Services include receiving confidential assistance for personal issues, such as managing stress, depression, parenting, alcohol/drugs, grief, etc. Each household member is eligible to receive up to eight counseling sessions per issue per year at no charge. There is also a benefit relating financial or legal concerns in addition to Worklife/Convenience services and online tools.

Employer Sponsored Bus Pass (ESBP) Program

The City of Spokane encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work and participates in the ESBP Program offered by Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The program provides employees the option to use their City-issued ID badge as a bus pass for unlimited rides free of charge.