Senior Budget Analyst

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of Budget and Grants Management (OBGM) supports the strategic utilization of all resources, aligning them to district priorities by spearheading CPS’ financial strategy to support effective budget planning and maximizing available funds.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Budget Manager, the Senior Budget Analyst is responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative financial research and analysis to support decision-making and budget development within the district, including the functional areas of Operations and Administration, Education Programs and Academic Supports, Special Education, Portfolio Planning and Charter Schools, and Revenue & Budget Strategy. The Senior Budget Analyst will also perform statistical and comparative analyses of revenue and spending and provide such data in the form of reports, presentations, spreadsheets, graphs, and other visual aids.

The Senior Budget Analyst will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide strategic support for all of the programs within assigned budget area(s) of responsibility, including the purpose, effectiveness, staffing methodologies, numbers served, types of participants, service delivery methods, and/or other relevant information
• Conduct detailed personnel analyses and projections, estimating current and future year costs under various scenarios
• Conduct detailed non-personnel cost analyses to determine the effectiveness and appropriateness of expenditures
• Analyze grant funding or revenue generated within the budget area(s) to assist with reporting and/or projections
• Work closely with the assigned budget area(s) to monitor and explain variations from the budget, pressures that may lead to variations, or opportunities for savings/increased revenue throughout the year
• Analyze legislation, new policies, or programs for fiscal impact, making recommendations, and preparing memos/spreadsheets summarizing the analysis and recommendations
• Understand the basics of the district’s financial systems sufficient to generate needed, accurate information, to ensure budgets are loaded appropriately, and necessary actions are handled timely, effectively, and accurately
• Synthesize and analyze information from the assigned budget area(s) and present easily understandable, accessible, accurate materials including spreadsheets, memos, PowerPoint presentations, and oral presentations, Board report recommendations, or other reviews, as appropriate
• Support project-based work around budget development and other department processes
• Provide mentoring support to new and developing analysts
• Participate in cross-departmental work, including RFP committees, internal working groups, and other organization-wide projects
• Perform related duties as required

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Senior Budget Analyst must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Business Management, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Business Management, Public Policy, or a related field is preferred.

Experience Required:

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in budget and grants management, government or education finance, or other related experience is required
• Experience conducting budget and/or cost analysis is preferred
• Demonstrated experience in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and enterprise financial systems preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possess and use critical thinking skills
• Ability to conduct financial analyses using Excel and other financial tools
• Ability to understand programmatic design, goals, and implementation
• Have initiative and follow-through to achieve goals with limited direction
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; capable of communicating and collaborating with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to present spreadsheets that are accurate, clear, and efficient
• Willingness to occasionally work extended hours in order to complete projects with condensed timelines and provide backup and support to others within the office
• Capacity to work well under pressure
• Be willing to occasionally work extended hours in order to complete projects with a condensed timeline

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.