CPW Budget and Policy Analyst III (Denver, CO)

Job Title This position exists to provide professional-level budget and policy analyses in preparing the agency's annual executive and legislative branch budget requests and in executing the agency's budget. Job Description The position serves as the budget liaison to various branches within the Division. It is not always the same Branch, as liaisons provide primary and secondary support and, for succession purposes, will transition branch liaison duties periodically. The position develops and presents a wide array of financial information, including developing models, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting financial information; ensuring the accuracy of complex interrelated financial information, spreadsheets, and databases; and preparing schedules and reports to communicate financial information, both internally and externally. This position is a subject-matter expert and, as such, designs and formulates various (proven/unproven) economic, analytical, and statistical models or algorithms as needed to meet changing budget, economic, and programmatic needs; develops long-term financial projections; and makes recommendations for policy changes. Budget Management and Execution Serves as the budget liaison to various branches within the Division. As a liaison, this position is expected to provide exceptional customer service and training to a wide array of staff with varying professional backgrounds. Additionally, this position will provide primary and secondary support for succession and will periodically transition branch liaison duties. Further, this position will act as a single point of contact for assigned internal customers and perform a variety of complex, technical financial analyses, including cost estimations, expense and revenue projections, cash flow analyses, risk analyses, cost-benefit analyses, variance analyses, and other supporting analyses. Develop new models and/or apply existing budgeting and accounting techniques to adequately support each analysis and meet the Division's changing needs. Provide information and/or prepare reports for management, the public, and the General Assembly. Reconcile and track agency funds and grants. Perform analysis and identify any variances and/or issues to ensure that fund balances, targets, and expenditures are in compliance with annual cash funds reports for agency enterprise and non-enterprise funds, statutorily required reports on funds (including fund transfer calculations), progress reports, revenue and expense forecasts, variance reports, and any other requested information. Identify and recommend necessary changes to funds, expenses, revenues, state accounting system, internal budget system, and the state timekeeping system to ensure that agency funds are utilized appropriately. Monitor the assigned Division budgets vs. actual expenditures (all funds and grants) and make changes to ensure that funds and budgets are used appropriately. Develop projection algorithms for forecasting expenditures and incorporate them into the fund source monitoring. Analyze expenditure rates (utilization) and whether expenditures are coded correctly. Make corrections through the state's accounting system and the agency's internal budget system as appropriate to ensure budgets are in accordance with any limits set by the General Assembly, the Department, and Division Management. Perform fund transfers, move expenses and revenues, change coding strings, change state timekeeping system coding, move payroll transactions, etc., as needed to ensure appropriate budget execution. Financial Reporting Develop, manage, forecast, and prepare monthly financial reports for Division leadership as requested by the supervisor, including revenue and expenditure, income statement, and balance sheet reporting. Develop and manage standardized reporting categories. Analyze supporting systems and processes to develop reports that consistently and transparently report on the Division's complex financial position, which includes various funds and other non-appropriated funding sources. Evaluate and compare reports and identify variances and the causes of variance. Report and explain the monthly reports to the supervisor, the Division Chief Financial Officer, and Division Management as requested. Work with the Division Controller and staff to identify and resolve accounting processes or practices that impact financial reporting. Develop, write, and train on financial reporting processes and procedures. Identify and implement coding changes as appropriate. Ensure the financial reporting information provides management with sufficient information to determine its financial status, and measure agency-wide multi-level budget impacts of previous and future decisions. Review, approve or reject all requisition forms for CPW that are submitted into workflow. Policy & Procedure Development Researches, develops, drafts, and helps implement any policies and procedures required in carrying out the fiduciary responsibility of the work unit or are requested by agency management. The position analyzes the need for formal financial policy, collaborates with stakeholders throughout the agency (internal and external), analyzes issues, drafts formal policy (written and oral presentations), and assists the budget director in implementing policy through the Administrative Directive and Regulatory Review processes. Develops, organizes, and regularly updates technical procedure manuals for the full range of processes carried out in the Budget section, including policies regarding the annual internal budget development process, variance analysis, database management, internal budget system management, program evaluations, fund transfer processes, and any other financial reporting and management. Documents processes used and decisions made, and creates procedures for each position's function and organizes the documentation of all the other procedures within the work unit. Develop, organize, and regularly update technical procedure manuals for the full range of processes carried out in the work unit, including annual internal budget development, variance analysis, program evaluations, fund transfer processes, and any other financial reporting and management. Document processes used, management decisions, create procedures, and organize the documentation of all procedures. Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Minimum Qualifications SIX (6) years of relevant experience in budget analysis, budget development and implementation, policy development and implementation, public or private sector management or administration (including budget formulation, execution, and analysis), or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. OR A combination of related education in economics, finance, statistics, and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years. Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will substitute for the degree requirement and two (2) years of the required experience. Substitutions Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will substitute for the degree requirement and two years of the required experience, but not for the specific experience detailed. Preferred Qualifications Experience with government finance, the legislative process, and/or fiscal note coordination Experience with the State's electronic accounting system (Colorado Operations Resource Engine or "CORE"), Electronic budgeting system (Performance Budgeting or "PB"), and timekeeping system Kronos. Excellent oral, written, mathematical, and interpersonal skills. Highly proficient in Microsoft products (Excel, Access, Power BI, etc.) Complex analytical skills working with large sets of data and/or complex subjects. Required Competencies Strong written skills with an understanding of legal and regulatory concepts and language Excellent organizational and time management skills Ability to identify priorities Ability to accomplish goals and objectives Ability to develop effective solutions Ability to coordinate the needs of stakeholders despite competing requirements and priorities Ability to work in a complex political environment Conditions of Employment State of Colorado residency is required at the time of application. Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating a State vehicle. Travel around the state to attend staff meetings, support program staff, provide training, site visits, etc. The current work arrangement for this position is as follows: (Please note, this arrangement can be subject to change) - This is a Remote/Hybrid position - Work is primarily performed from a home office, however the selected candidate will at times report to a CPW office as directed by Supervisor for meetings, training and projects as directed by the supervisor. Travel will be required at times around the state to support staff. Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR). Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver's license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle. To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who: Have an assigned State fleet vehicle Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle APPEAL RIGHTS: It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department'