Budget Analyst or Budget Analyst Senior

The Budget Analyst or Budget Analyst Senior is responsible for performing in-depth budget and financial analysis work. The incumbent will develop, analyze, and execute budgets, position control, performance measures, and financial reports, and monitor fiscal activity and program performance. This position will proactively work with the Budget and Financial Analysis team, internal stakeholders, such as TRS leadership and executive team members, and external stakeholders, such as the Texas State Legislature.

This position at our Austin, Texas headquarters will be filled at one of two levels - Budget Analyst or Budget Analyst Senior. The selected candidate will be offered the position level that most closely matches their education and experience.

Salary Range:
Budget Analyst: $81,168 - $101,460
Senior Budget Analyst: $89,286 - $111,608

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Budgetary & Fiscal Activities
• Assists in the planning, coordinating, and preparation of the agency’s administrative operating budget, Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR), and other financial and legislative reports.
• Contributes to the development of the Annual Administrative Operating Budget Report for the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award program. (Senior plans and coordinates)
• Assists with coordinating and preparing the agency’s strategic plan and performance measures.
• Maintains the budgetary system and financial reporting tools.
• Reviews and approves all procurement, fiscal and personnel transactions for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepares monthly and annual reconciliations on the agency budgetary and expenditure system, OpenGov, Procurement and Vendor System (PAVES), the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS), the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas (ABEST) application, and the Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS). (Senior oversees)
• Provides budget, expenditure, and position oversight, including developing monitoring tools and financial analysis reports.
• Informs management of budget activities including deviations, concerns, and events likely to affect operations; explains causes; and measures and reports effects on agency’s resources.
• Conducts quarterly budget meetings to review organizational spending to ensure that it is within the budget.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual budgetary reports, including periodic and ad-hoc management reports regarding budgetary and fiscal activities for internal use and Board of Trustee reporting.
• Provides guidance and training to agency staff on budgetary and expenditure system processes.
• Coordinates the reporting of quarterly and annual performance measures. (Senior oversees)
• Coordinates the reporting of USAS quarterly expenditure reconciliations in ABEST. (Senior oversees)
• Assist in the annual clean-up and close-out of accounts at Fiscal Year-end. (Senior coordinates)
• Prepares a variety of technical financial reports to provide management with expenditure data, trends, and recommendations.
• Participates on finance related agency committees and special projects as needed.
• Serves in back up capacity to the Senior Budget Analyst and the Director of Budget and Financial Analysis.
• Serves in back up capacity to the Director of Budget and Financial Analysis and the Deputy Chief Financial Officer (Senior)
• Aides management and team members as needed.

Analysis & Reporting
• Analyzes and may manage the distribution of budget and resource allocations across agency business operations and departments to ensure compliance with budgetary laws, regulations, and policies.
• Analyzes key drivers of budget variances and assist in developing, updating, and maintaining models and financial systems to budget, forecast, analyze, and report financial data.
• Monitors and analyzes appropriation, encumbrance, and cash balances.
• Monitors and analyzes position control. (Senior)
• Analyze expenditure patterns. 
• Makes recommendations on the use and distribution of funds, including allocation of indirect program costs and budget evaluation techniques.
• Informs management of budget deviations, problems, and events likely to affect operations; explains causes; and measures and reports effects on agency’s resources.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual budgetary reports, including periodic and ad-hoc management reports regarding budgetary and fiscal activities for internal use and Board of Trustee reporting.
• Assists with the coordination and preparation of a variety of technical reports on estimates, costing data, and budget limits; and compiles and analyzes data for the legislative process.
• Assists with the reporting of quarterly and annual performance measures. (Senior coordinates)

Support
• Serves as part of the internal control process for budget and fiscal management.
• Serves as the budget liaison with internal business units to field budgetary and fiscal related inquiries.
• Supports the Director of Budget & Financial Analysis in analyzing budget proposals and identifying alternatives if the projected results are unsatisfactory.
• Supports the preparation of key presentations and financial reports to communicate the budgetary plan and progress to executive-level administration.
• Presents financial analysis to influence management decisions. (Senior)
• Participates on finance related agency committees and special projects as needed.

Performs related work as assigned. 

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business administration or a closely related field.
• High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in advanced budget preparation, budget analysis, budget management or related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Experience
• Three (3) years of full-time experience in advanced budget preparation, budget analysis, budget management or related experience.
• Five (5) years of full-time experience in advanced budget preparation, budget analysis, budget management or related experience. (Senior)
• A master's degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of State of Texas governmental financial systems (ABEST, USAS, CAPPS).
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) statements.
• Experience conducting policy research, data analysis, and fiscal analysis.
• Experience using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), SharePoint, and Adobe.
• Experience with software languages, database, and data visualization technology (SQL and PowerBI).

Knowledge of
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) statements.
• State budget, expenditure, and fiscal policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of State of Texas governmental financial systems (Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System [CAPPS], Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas [ABEST], USAS. (Senior)

Skill in
• Performing work that often requires knowledge commonly acquired through a prolonged course of specialized academic instruction in a business field.
• Analyzing detailed accounting records, troubleshooting associated problems, and interpreting and applying applicable laws, policies, and procedures.
• Interacting with internal and external stakeholders in a friendly and professional manner, works to resolve inquiries quickly and effectively.
• Communicating effectively using prescribed formats, and adhering to all rules of spelling, grammar, punctuation, diction and style.
• Performing computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division correctly using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages.
• Using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and other business software to analyze data and prepare correspondence and reports.
• Working effectively under pressure to meet strict deadlines while maintaining extreme attention to detail.
• Accurately and rapidly using a calculator.
• Using Excel for analysis of large data sets.

Ability to
• Operate office equipment including computer, telephone, fax/copy machine and any related peripherals.
• Apply basic knowledge to accomplish operational tasks.
• Apply basic knowledge to accomplish operational Use advanced-to expert-level knowledge to perform in-depth strategic tasks, administrative and operational studies; develop and perform statistical and research studies and address business problems. (Senior)
• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.
• Work effectively in a professional team environment.