Finance Budget Analyst Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 7, 1985

Scope

This series specification describes two classifications used in the Department of Finance to perform various budget analysis and consultative work.

Definition of Series

Incumbents in this series review, gather data, research, analyze, formulate questions and make independent recommendations upon the budgetary and related fiscal affairs of one or more State agencies or departments; will be responsible for budget preparation, including revenue forecasts, budget defense, and presentation; administration and control of approved expenditure plans; make surveys and investigations of operating agencies and consult with and advise responsible agency officials on fiscal organization, fiscal procedure, and related problems; analyze budget requests and perform continuous budgetary control of appropriations; analyze legislation and prepare policy and issue analyses to summarize for either revenue or expenditure issues; analyze and justify budget programs; gather data and make studies on various problems arising in connection with financial administration; give information and instructions to officers and employees of State agencies concerning specific phases of budget and financial procedures; and prepare reports and correspondence.

Entry Levels

Entry into this classification series is typically from outside State service or by State employees from the classification of Junior Staff Analyst.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Supervision received, complexity and sensitivity of assignment, and expertise of incumbent.

Definition of Levels

Finance Budget Analyst

This is the entry and first working level in the series. Incumbents, under supervision, perform analytical and consultative duties, resolve technical issues, clarify budgetary problems, and identify and present alternatives which are necessary to carry out the budget management functions of the Department of Finance.

Staff Finance Budget Analyst

This is the working specialist or full journey level in the series. Incumbents, under general direction, identify and resolve complex budgetary problems, independently perform the more sensitive and/or complex analytical and consultative duties, may assist with staff development, and may function as leadpersons or project leaders over lower level staff.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Applicants who are within six months of satisfying the experience or education requirements will be admitted to the examination, but they must fully meet the experience or education requirements before being eligible for appointment.

Finance Budget Analyst

Either I

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties comparable in level of responsibility of a Junior Staff Analyst, Range B. Persons applying experience toward this pattern must have had a full-time assignment in the California state service preparing, justifying, and analyzing, or controlling and administering budgets or budgetary programs or analysis and forecasting of revenues.

Or II

Education: Possession of a master's degree in any field.

Or III

Experience: Two years of progressively responsible experience with duties involving the preparation, justification, and analysis or the control and administration of a budget or budgetary program or analysis and forecasting of revenues. (One year of graduate work in any field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Staff Finance Budget Analyst

Either I

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Finance Budget Analyst, Range B.

Or II

Experience: Two years of experience involving justifying and analyzing or controlling and administering budgets or budgetary programs, or analysis and forecasting of revenues.

and

Education: Possession of a master's degree in any field.

Or III

Experience: Four years of progressively responsible experience with duties involving the preparation, justification, and analysis, or the control and administration of a budget or budgetary program, or analysis and forecasting of revenues. (One year of graduate work in any field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Finance Budget Analyst

Knowledge of: Analytical procedures and methods for a variety of budgetary and fiscal related issues: research techniques to prepare, enact, maintain, and change the Governor's Budget; principles of organization and time management; basic mathematical and statistical principles and procedures to calculate and summarize numerical data; effective writing techniques and departmental Writing Style Guidelines; laws relating to financial administration of state government; awareness and understanding of the role of state government and Public Finance; awareness of the mission of the Department of Finance, and its key roles and responsibilities; forecasting techniques to develop, monitor, and modify revenue and/or cash flow projections to improve future estimates; statistical methods, principles, and procedures in preparation of forecasts, cash flow projections, and track actual collection and disbursements; principles and practices of governmental budgeting and accounting; economic and cost/benefit analysis to assist in the development and preparation related to the Governor's Budget; legislative and budgetary process, basic statutory controls on budgets, including the control sections, key statutes, and provisions of the Budget Act; purposes, functions, and fiscal organizations of state agencies to propose new and innovative ideas to utilize the state's resources more efficiently; consistently exercise initiative, independence, and leadership capabilities to ensure the timely and accurate completion of work products; team building techniques to assist in mentoring and training new staff on program assignment area; programmatic and historical knowledge related to assignment area to consistently demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of administrative position, protocol, and rational of main parties (Administration/Legislative Analyst office staff, legislative staff), and answer technical questions, and attempt to negotiate appropriate issues; principles of effective negotiation to defend sensitive and complex issues related to the Governor's Budget through testimony in legislative hearings; and propose new and innovative ideas to utilize the state's resources more efficiently.

Ability to: Gather, analyze, comprehend, and interpret data, policies, procedures, laws, regulations and Guidelines; reason logically and creatively to effectively complete difficult assignments on short notice; take initiative to assume progressively greater responsibilities; communicate effectively, both oral and written, with staff at all levels as well as departmental staff; exercise good judgment, communicate tactfully, act diplomatically, and maintain confidentiality; effectively utilize word-processing and spreadsheet tools to prepare work products; maintain flexibility with changing assignments and priorities; effectively manage time and multiple priorities; gain and maintain cooperative relationships with all those contacted through the course of work; work both in a team environment and individually; identify and alert management of potential problems/issues quickly; be flexible and work overtime hours upon short notice; develop and evaluate alternatives, make decisions and recommend effective courses of action; identify risks and deficiencies in specific technical and programmatic areas, and determine cost-effective solutions; coordinate with other staff within the department and staff from other departments; exercise initiative and independence to ensure timely completion of work products; draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations; utilize relevant information sources from historical reference, Budget Analyst Guidelines (BAG), Budget and Finance Letters, Past Budget Summaries (A-Pages), Budget Act, etc.; identify information sources to utilize the state's resources more efficiently; independently apply technical knowledge effectively; effectively review and edit written work products; support and enforce established office policies and procedures, ethical behavior, and DOF core values; prepare forecasts to project future estimates; provide technical guidance for program assignment area to lower-level staff; anticipate assignments from management; and conclude as to the adequacy, completeness, and accuracy of all work products.

Staff Finance Budget Analyst

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of leadership and training techniques to serve in a lead capacity, assist in staff development; political climate and views surrounding issues in areas of responsibility to provide policy, fiscal, and budgetary information to enable management to make informed decisions; and consistently exercise an advanced degree of initiative, independence, and leadership to ensure the timely and accurate completion of work products.

Ability to: All of the above, and exercise an advanced degree of independence and apply technical knowledge effectively and consistently; verbally defend a position before legislative committees; analyze and research the most complex problems; demonstrate leadership and inspire confidence of management; and serve as lead analyst in the assignment area during the Principal Program Budget Analyst's absence.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

All Levels:

Demonstrated ability to act independently; flexibility; tact; and ability to act effectively under pressure.

Class History