What are the responsibilities and job description for the Budget and Finance Analyst position at City of Bellingham, WA?

Salary : $91,872.00 - $111,672.00 Annually

Location : City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 24-BUDGET AND FINANCE ANALYST

Department : Finance

Opening Date : 02 / 21 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 10 / 2025 8 : 30 AM Pacific

FLSA : Exempt

Bargaining Unit : Eteam

Nature of Work

Are you passionate about numbers, financial planning, and contributing to the growth and success of your community? The City of Bellingham is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive individual to join our Finance Department as a Budget and Finance Analyst. In this role, you will work directly with the Budget Manager to develop and administer the City's budget, conduct in-depth financial analyses, and support strategic decision-making. If you have a strong background in financial analysis and are eager to make an impact on city-wide fiscal policies and processes, we want to hear from you!

The Budget and Finance Analyst assists the Budget Manager in the development and administration of the City's budget including preparation of the budget document. Performs independent budget, financial and policy analysis, analytical research and cost analysis. Prepares budget and financial reports and analysis for internal and external use. Provides support for City-wide financial analysis and other Finance Department projects and activities as assigned.

The current full salary range for this position is $7,656 / month - $9,306 / month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the and City policy.

Research has demonstrated that salary negotiation can further inequality due to bias across gender and race. To prevent negotiation bias, the City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. This is in line with the City's commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor's degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master's degree in a related field when the master's degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications. The City's HR Department regularly evaluates minimum qualifications to provide equitable employment opportunities.

For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can and

13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
12 paid holidays 1 floating holiday per year
40 hours of sick leave upon hire 8 hours accrued monthly
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours / month.

Closing Date / Time : Mon. 03 / 10 / 25 8 : 30 AM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB :

Assists in the development of the City-wide budget. Reviews data and identifies information needed to support budgeting. Compiles, analyzes and interprets confidential and sensitive financial data used for financial analysis and budget planning and development.

Maintains budget system data. Works collaboratively to maintain integrity and currency of data within the system by entering, selecting, reviewing, analyzing, reconciling and modifying records. Ensures appropriate fund allocations and performs research to resolve discrepancies.

Performs analytical research and cost analysis as requested. Designs and conducts research and analysis projects to support budget administration, financial decision-making, forecasting and policy development. Assesses fiscal impacts of budget policy and administrative actions.

Prepares specialized reports requiring a broad knowledge of City accounting, payroll and budget procedures. Works with staff to identify information requirements and develops standard and ad hoc reports to meet the needs of departments and administration. Selects and utilizes the appropriate method to prepare, maintain and support a variety of reports.

Prepares the City's budget document and related printed, electronic and presentation files.

Provides information and assistance regarding the budget process to City department personnel and ensures compliance with budget policies and procedures. Prepares ordinances to amend the budget and implement financial policy.

Supports and assists in other Finance Department activities such as annual development of the CAFR, revenue collection analysis, policy development and financial systems upgrades and maintenance.

Develops and recommends process improvements, innovative solutions and procedural changes. Recommends budgeting system improvements and modifications to meet changing needs or to resolve problems identified as a result of system and data analysis. Develops implementation and communication plans and tools. Drafts or revises related policies and procedures.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED :

May serve as project manager for specific budget or finance initiatives, as assigned.

Performs other related work of a similar nature and level.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT :

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with the majority of time at a computer workstation. Work is performed in an environment that experiences frequent interruptions. This is a sedentary position with minimal physical exertion requirements.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the position including :

Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine;

Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others;

Occasionally transport objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Experience and Training

Bachelor's Degree with major study in statistics / decision science, accounting, business administration, public administration, or related field.

Two years of professional experience in budget, financial analysis or accounting program analysis.

Demonstrated experience working with database management, spreadsheet and word processing software required.

Experience in public sector budgeting or accounting strongly preferred.

Experience with financial systems and reporting tools preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

Employment contingent on passing a criminal background check (See Fair Hiring Practices).

Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

As part of the application process, a cover letter is required.

Within the cover letter, please answer the following questions :

Please indicate why you are interested in this position, and why this position is the next right step for you in your career.

Provide a brief summary of your education, experience and qualifications for this position.

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience / training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for March 27, 2025. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around March 20, 2025. Please Note : Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity :

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40 ), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.

The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.

The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.

The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our for additional information.

This position is unrepresented. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the for more information on PERS.

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

As part of the application process, a cover letter (no longer than one page) is required. Within the cover letter, please answer the following questions : Please indicate why you are interested in this position, and why this position is the next right step for you in your career.Have you attached your cover letter?

Yes, I have attached my cover letter.

No, I have not attached my cover letter and I understand my application will be considered incomplete.

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree with major study in statistics / decision science, accounting, business administration, public administration, or related field?

If your degree is in a related field, please tell us what your degree is in and how your studies are related to the required areas of study above.

Do you have two years of professional experience in budget, financial analysis or accounting program analysis?

Do you have demonstrated experience working with databases, spreadsheets, and reporting software?

Please describe your experience in budget, financial analysis or accounting program analysis.

Please describe your experience working with databases, spreadsheets, and reporting software.

Required Question

Salary : $91,872 - $111,672

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