Principal Budget and Financial Analyst

DEFINITION

Under administrative direction, to serve as a manager/division head within the Finance Department or large city department performing a wide variety of complex/professional level administrative and financial duties including planning, preparing, scheduling, monitoring, and analyzing financial and budgetary information; to review, analyze, and maintain financial records including the general ledger, job cost accounting, grant accounting, bond administration, operating and capital improvement budgets, and other fiscal documents; to assist in the preparation and administration of the City’s operating and capital improvement budgets; to perform long and short range economic forecasts, analysis and reports on City’s rates, fees, financial and budgetary conditions; and to perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is an advanced professional level “at-will” classification which may serve as a manager/division head within the Finance Department or within a large city department; incumbents manage departmental administrative functions and perform the most complex aspects related to financial analyses, budgetary, forecasting, and related work. Incumbents are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability, with a high degree of impact as a result of decisions made based upon the analyses conducted. Positions assigned to this classification serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational financial analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines. The work frequently requires attending meetings, coordination with other departments, and making presentations to City Council. Assigned duties and responsibilities will require work to be performed during and outside of normal office hours, weekends, and holidays.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS--Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as a division head within the Finance Department or large city department; participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities; ; analyzes, recommends, develops, and administers policies and procedures to meet departmental administrative needs as well as governmental and accepted accounting reporting requirements.
• Assists the department director by performing a wide range of complex professional-level general cost accounting, financial analysis, auditing, and financial reporting work.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of the City’s operating and capital improvement budgets city-wide or at the department level; quantifies impact of budget on the City’s financial performance; submits budget recommendations; and monitors expenditures.
• Performs complex administrative and financial analyses, including problem identification, selection of methodology, and evaluation of alternative solutions and presentation of findings.
• Analyzes past and present financial operations and expenditures and estimates future revenues to use in preparation of the annual budget and long-range financial forecasts.
• Coordinates and provides documentation for debt issuance, regulatory disclosure compliance and debt administration.
• Establishes financial controls and reviews expenditures for conformance with approved budgets; prepares and reviews reports and statements; develops operating and other statistics used for budgeting purchase and costs.
• Monitors capital improvement project expenditures; maintains financial records and control of capital projects in coordination with departments or Finance (depending on assignment).
• Prepares analytical and statistical reports on operations and activities including policies, procedures, methods and proposals to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness and quality of operations.
• Develops financial analysis models; conducts financial analyses and financial management audits and participates in rate studies and development of fee schedules.
• Initiates changes and leads the design, control, operation, and enhancement of computerized financial systems including budget control, general ledger control, contracts, accounts payable, revenue, billing, payroll, project construction accounting, and fixed assets.
• Serves as the departmental liaison to all internal work groups in recommending and administering City-wide and/or departmental accounting/administration policies and procedures; answers administrative and financial related questions from staff, public agencies, and others.
• Represents the department in meetings with governmental and regulatory agencies, private firms, the public, and others; participates and works with other public agencies and organizations on technical studies to achieve goals of mutual benefit and good.
• Conducts independent financial analyses of the City’s and/or departmental financial condition and financial or rate impacts associated with various initiatives and financing major capital infrastructure projects.
• Develops and maintains current and long term cash flow analysis for meeting the City’s operational needs and investing idle funds.
• Establishes and maintains procedures and practices; oversees the development of new systems and the review of existing practices; reviews and updates financial policies; reviews and reconciles accounting and finance functions, such as posting to and balancing of accounts, opening and closing of accounts, auditing and making adjusting entries, and preparing periodic reports.
• Analyzes and recommends changes in methods, procedures, systems, forms, and records; develops procedures to implement new financial, technical, and departmental system requirements.
• Develops and maintains City-wide and/or departmental accounting policies and procedures manual; drafts and proposes new policies; reviews and revises existing policies as necessary.
• Establishes and monitors procedures and schedules of records retention for the assigned department.
• Prepares correspondence on a broad range of departmental administrative, finance, budget, grant, and accounting-related subjects.
• Researches and remains knowledgeable on laws, legal issues and legislation related to the City’s budget, accounting, grants, and finances in order to update, develop policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates assigned activities and services with other City staff, departments, and outside agencies.
• Researches grants and prepares application submittals coordinating with internal department staff; conducts administrative process to receive grant awards; administers and monitors grants and prepares necessary reports.
• Prepares and presents staff and agenda reports and other necessary correspondence related to assigned activities and services; presents reports to various commissions, committees, and boards.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in finance and accounting; stays abreast of new trends in technology and those additional trends related to the department to which assigned; researches emerging trends and their applicability to City needs.
• Participates in the selection of assigned staff; trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
• Develops and manages requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services; prepares scope of work and any technical specifications; evaluates proposals and recommends award; negotiates contracts; administers contracts to ensure compliance with City specifications and service quality.
• May serve as the acting department head in his/her absence, as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge Of

• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, evaluation, and project management.
• Principles and practices of public agency financing and budget development, implementation and administration.
• General, cost and municipal government accounting principles, practices, and procedures.
• Automated accounting systems and information at an advanced level, particularly as related to sophisticated statistical analysis, modeling, data management and manipulation.
• Financial, statistical, investment and comparative analysis techniques and formulae.
• Principles, practices and methods of administrative, organizational, economic and procedural analysis at an advanced level.
• City policies, procedures and practices regarding investments and financial management.
• Applicable state, federal and local laws, rules, regulations and procedures affecting public utilities and special districts budgeting, financing, and reporting including GASB, GAAP and FASB principles applicable to public entities.
• Rate-making principles, concepts, and issues.
• Analytical principles and practices used in evaluating, verifying, interpreting, and forecasting financial data.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Sound business communications.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
  
  

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, schedule, monitor, and supervise work of the Finance Division to meet schedules and timelines; set priorities for, train, evaluate, select, and recommend advancement/discipline of subordinates.
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply City policies, and state and federal laws regulating financial accounting, budgeting, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Evaluate financial and organizational programs and make sound recommendations under intensive deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Represent the City effectively in dealings with the financial community and other agencies.
• Present proposals and recommendations, clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions, communicate clearly and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, provide quality customer service.
• Read, understand, interpret, apply, and communicate accounting principles, policies, procedures, contracts, grants, rules, and regulations.
• Prepare, verify, and present concise financial reports and statements.
• Perform responsible and complex professional-level accounting, budgetary and financial analysis work.
• Operate a personal computer accurately and efficiently; use a variety of computer software programs at an advanced level.
• Devise and implement efficient accounting and record keeping procedures.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of departmental goals.
• Work weekends, evenings, and attend special events as required.
• Operate a vehicle observing legal and defensive driving practices.
• Work under moderate stress conditions.
  
  

Experience and Training Guidelines: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience

• Five to seven years of professional journey level experience in accounting and finance including financial analysis, accounting, auditing, accounting procedures development, long-range financial forecasting, budget development, and debt management; and advanced level proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
  
  

Training:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Public, or Business Administration, or closely related field with major coursework in Accounting. A Master’s degree in a related field is highly desirable.
  
  

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a State of California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s vehicle insurance program.
  
  

Application Procedure:

A City application form and supplemental questionnaire (if applicable) MUST be submitted and received by the closing date. Please apply online at www.yourrialto.com. All other employment inquiries can be directed to The City of Rialto, Human Resources Department. 246 S. Willow, Rialto, CA 92376. Telephone: (909) 820-2540.

Selection Process

Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application material that they meet the employment standards outlined above. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position. Successful applicants will be placed on an eligibility list. The City may also merge lists. The selected candidate(s) must successfully complete pre-employment clearances which may include a physical, drug screen, and fingerprinting.

Veterans Preference Credit Eligibility

Veterans of the armed forces, who have been discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable (Government Code: 18540.4), shall receive an additional five (5) points to their final examination score for ranking purposes only. This preference will apply only to the first appointment to any regular full-time City appointment. A copy of your valid DD214 must be submitted on or before the final filing date in order to be eligible for Veterans Preference Credit. For more information, please see the City's Veteran's Preference Policy.

E-Verify

The City of Rialto is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees in the United States.