Business Analyst Senior- Finance

The Finance Senior Business Analyst supports the Seattle Public Schools Finance department by ensuring that financial systems, budgeting tools, and related business processes effectively align with district goals, fiscal policies, and regulatory requirements. Working from within the Budget Office, the analyst provides day-to-day functional support to budget staff and others, serving as a bridge between Finance users and the technology team — translating needs into system improvements and helping users get the most out of the tools they rely on, including the district's SAP ERP, budget development platform, and supporting systems and databases.

This role also provides subject matter expertise related to budgeting processes, financial data, and system functionality; supports user testing; and assists with training and documentation. Success in the role draws on a foundation in finance, budgeting or reporting, paired with analytical skills and the ability to work effectively across both functional and technical areas.

10%

• Facilitates identification of as-is and to-be business processes, ensuring alignment with District and Department policies and procedures and state/federal laws, regulation and code.
• Provides consultation to business unit management staff to determine solutions to business problems.
• May lead efforts or act as part of a team. 

5%

• Facilitates Business Case development/ feasibility studies for new initiatives. 
• Identifies business benefits desired, options to achieve them and associated costs/risks of each.

10%

• Elicits and documents Requirements in support of new system implementation or system changes/improvements.
• Uses a variety of methods to gather and organize requirements, using judgment to select best methods depending on specific project needs including JAD, use cases, etc.
• Assumes a role as liaison between clients and the District's technical development resources.

10%

• Configures complex business applications to meet requirements.
• Performs analysis to identify options, documents options and related benefits/risks/costs/ trade-offs to inform business decisions.
• May use standard query tools to perform data analysis. 

5%

• Leads or acts as team member in Testing activities, following best practices.
• Depending on role, develops test plan and/or test cases and scenarios/scripts.
• Conducts testing against plan, records/reports results.
• Uses standard query tools to support testing activities.
• Helps inform product readiness decisions and provides data analysis for information or corrections.

5%

• Develops system Documentation including operational/technical and user-facing documentation, operating procedures, related District policies and procedures and reference materials.

10%

• Develops training plans and training materials to support project or operational work. Delivers training, which may include 1:1 coaching, videos, demonstrations, workshops and instructor-led classes.

35%

• Performs tier 2-3 support – includes escalated support and implementation of system releases, employing all of above skills as needed to ensure smooth and continually improving operation for District operation.
• Designs support plans, schedules and training of other support staff. 

10%

• Schedules and leads small projects, coordinating technical and business staff.
• Develops and manages to all project documentation including Charter, schedule, risks/issues list, budget, communication plan and other required supporting plans in keeping with organizational standards.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of this position.
• Mentors and leads other Business Analysts.
• Continues to upgrade skill set.

DISTRICT-WIDE CORE COMPETENCIES:

Collaboration
Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties. 

• Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
• Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.
• Represents his/her own interests while being open-minded to other groups.
• Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally. 

Getting Results (Action Oriented)
Performs work with energy and drive; values planning, but will take quick, decisive action when an opportunity presents itself. 

• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
• Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
• Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
• Strives for new levels of performance. 

Decision Quality & Problem Solving
Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.

• Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
• Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
• Displays self-confidence in own judgment.
• Focuses in the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems. 

Integrity
Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain. 

• Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
• Represents information and data accurately and completely.
• Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
• Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.

Accountability
Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely and cost-effective results; determines objectives, sets priorities and delegates work; accepts responsibility for mistakes; complies with established control systems and rules. 

• Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.
• Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
• Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.
• Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
• Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.

REQUIRED OTHER RELEVANT COMPETENCIES:

Customer Focus
Commits to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders; acts with stakeholders in mind; values importance of providing high-quality customer service

• Makes customers and their needs a primary focus of his/her actions.
• Thinks ahead and considers the impact of actions both internally and externally.
• Develops trust, credibility and maintains strong relationships with customers.
• Goes the extra mile to satisfy customer needs and expectations.

Managing Through Processes & Systems
Designs practices, processes, and procedures necessary to get things done; simplifies complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources; creates systems that manage themselves

• Sets clear, well-defined outcomes for desired results and tracks progress.
• Breaks down objectives into actionable steps with targeted deadlines.
• Leverages and uses resources efficiently and creatively to achieve desired outcomes.

Dealing with Ambiguity
Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty

• Responds quickly to change and comfortably considers new approaches.
• Operates well in situations when consequences of actions and decisions are unclear.
• Switches strategies or approach if current ones are not working.

Listening
Practices attentive and active listening; has the patience to hear people out; can accurately restate the opinions of others even when he or she disagrees 

• Responds in a way that reflects an understanding of what was said.
• Asks clarifying questions to assure a commitment to understanding what was said.
• Demonstrates patience in hearing people out.
• Persists in trying to understand despite obstacles.

Intellectual Acumen
Is intelligent and capable; deals with concepts and complexity comfortably; is good at learning and deciphering new knowledge; able to assimilate new skills independently

• Demonstrates and is described as someone who is intellectually sharp, agile and capable.
• Handles concepts and complexity comfortably.
• Demonstrates the ability to comfortably shift thinking on a dime 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Business process and data modeling techniques;
• Work flow analysis and improvement methodologies;
• Relational database concepts and client-server concepts;
• Systems analysis and design methodologies;
• Project management;
• Understanding concepts of business area supported at an expert level;
• PC and other distributed technologies. 
• Project management, including use of project scheduling tools;
• Analyzing and defining user business requirements and restating as design and requirement documents for the technical development staff;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Facilitating multi-department meetings;
• Dealing with staff and management at all levels;
• Technical configuration as appropriate to system being supported;
• Data analysis;
• Data correction and data transfers;
• Complex query writing;
• Schema changes as appropriate to system being supported;
• Complex problem solving across departments and divisions;
• Office productivity tools such as MS Word and Excel. 
• Lead and facilitate meetings of small groups and project teams, including both technical and non-technical personnel;
• Develop and maintain detailed program plans, estimates and schedules;
• Analyze and implement improvements to existing manual or automated systems in light of changing business needs and technologies; develop and maintain project schedules;
• Work effectively with core users and casual users; develop training materials and train core and casual users;
• Show awareness of and honor the cultural and linguistic diversity in the schools and communities;
• Support ways to engage families/students from diverse cultures.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
  
Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work will be considered.

DESIRED CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:
CBAP, CCBA or other Business Analysis certification

CLEARANCES:
Criminal Justice fingerprint and background check

Salary : $120,099 - $154,211