Principal Budget Analyst

Salary : $94,538.01 - $148,897.36 Annually

Location : Sacramento, CA

Job Type : Full-Time Career

Job Number : 020041-25-FIN

Department : Finance

Division : Budget

Opening Date : 01 / 31 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 28 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

THE POSITION

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

This position is one of three Principal Budget Analyst positions in the Budget, Policy and Strategic Planning Division under the Finance Department. The Principal Budget Analyst is responsible for key portions of the budget development, labor negotiations, forecast modeling, and other special citywide projects. This position will directly supervise lower-level staff. As someone in a lead role, the Principal Budget Analyst will be representing the division and Budget Manager in various department-wide meetings, Council meetings, and other governmental or community meetings.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will be a professional with extensive technical knowledge in budgeting and / or other areas of finance. They will have strong interpersonal, communication, and supervisory skills. They will embrace the opportunity to work in the team-oriented and fast-paced Budget Office. The ideal candidate will be able to prepare and present their work to staff, management, and the City Council. Direct experience in conducting operational and fiscal analysis, budget review and analysis, and / or other complex analyses is preferred.

Under general direction, the Principal Budget Analyst performs complex budgetary, financial, economic, statistical, support to the Budget Office's activities, functions, and programs; evaluates cost and performance data; and provides sound recommendations for budget and policy formulation, implementation and procedure; coordinates activities of the Budget Office with other departments, governmental agencies, and / or private entities.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Principal Budget Analyst is the professional level classification in the Budget Analyst series and is populated with multiple incumbents. Using a high degree of independent judgment, incumbents perform highly complex analytical work and apply an expert level of understanding on fiscal and budgetary analysis and control at the management level. Incumbents act in a staff capacity to the Budget Manager, Director of Finance or executive-level management staff. This classification is distinguished from other analyst classes with financial responsibilities by the duties performed for development of the citywide budget and coordination with key fiscal staff from operating departments.

The Principal Budget Analyst is distinguished from the Special Projects Manager in that the latter performs the most complex studies in support of the City Council, City Manager's Office, and / or the Legislative Policy unit. The Principal Budget Analyst is distinguished from the Senior Budget Analyst in that the former is a team leader providing work direction and technical guidance to senior and entry-level budget analysts, performs the more complex and difficult projects, possesses a higher level of technical and communication skills, and may supervise staff.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction is provided by the Budget manager or Director of Finance, or other higher-level management staff. Assignments may require the direct or indirect supervision of professional, technical, or clerical support staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate and manage the development of a City's financial plan, including capital and operating budgets and financial strategies; lead and participate in complex financial analyses of proposed policy changes; serve as a liaison between departmental management teams; provide information and analytical support involving major projects.
• Monitor assigned departments to ensure that budget priorities are properly executed; evaluate existing and proposed financial strategies, policies, plans, procedures, programs and functions of assigned departments and budget units; consult with and advise department and budget unit staff; make recommendations.
• Conduct detailed research and analysis of economic and legal conditions in the public and private sector to forecast long-term fiscal impact of decisions made by the city about programs and functions of City departments; analyze budgetary and statistical data and make recommendations; and provide financial information, analysis and recommendation for complex labor proposals.
• Conduct public presentations to the Mayor and City Council, other governmental bodies, community groups, and other public gatherings regarding complex and controversial policy, fiscal, and administrative issues.
• Coordinate, review and evaluate budget segments prepared by operating department and divisions; initiate policy recommendations for functional and organizational changes in departments and budget units to achieve annual budget goals in areas of cost-effectiveness and levels of service of those departments; develop recommendations for, and coordinate budget preparation activities with other management analyst and staff to prepare the final budget for presentation to the City Council.
• Research, evaluate and make decisions on requests for assigned departments and budget units for changes in allocation of positions, funding appropriations, and program functions on a continuing basis throughout the fiscal year.
• Review existing and proposed local, state and federal legislation for impact on the City, consult with affected departments makes recommendations on action to be taken, and writes proposed changes.
• Represent the office and frequently take the lead role on committees and task forces for the development, scheduling, implementation and monitoring of programs, which have Citywide impact and required coordination between departments and divisions.
• Represent the City in multi-jurisdiction committees, task forces, or work groups, and frequently taking the lead role in organizing, conducting, and implementing the effort.
• Provide customer service by responding to information requests, conduct budget analysis, review, research, and providing solutions to problems and correcting errors.
• Assign and review the work of lower-level staff involved in the analysis and development of City programs and services; direct and participate in special studies; represent the office in assigned area of responsibility.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of :

Skill in :

Ability to :

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Experience :

Six years of progressively responsible professional-level budget, accounting, or financial administrative and analytical experience including three years of advanced journey-level experience in forecasting, accounting, strategic planning, and policy analysis or financial analysis. Municipal experience is desirable.

Education :

Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, economics, accounting, or field directly related to the administrative, management, and fiscal duties of the class.

Substitution :

A Master's degree in one of the above fields may substitute for one year of required experience.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university / college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and / or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note : Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours / week).

3. Screening Committee : (Pass / Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.

4. Interview Process : Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.

5. Conditional Hire : Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan / fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and / or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

QUESTIONS : For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process :

Bilingual Pay

Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act

The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and / or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

Civil Service Rules :

Union Contracts :

Salary Schedule :

APPLICATION : I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position / job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note : Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours / week).Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions : https : / / www.cityofsacramento.gov / HR / employment

PROOF OF EDUCATION : To qualify for this classification you may use education or experience as listed in the substitution option to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities.I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university / college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position.Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements (https : / / www.cityofsacramento.gov / HR / employment) for information on accepted documentation.

EDUCATION CONFIRMATION : I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education in public or business administration, economics, accounting, or field directly related to the administrative, management, and fiscal duties of the class by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE : The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and / or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring department's review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.

Describe your budget experience, including public sector budget experience, if any. Include your duties and the budget size of the departments / agencies under your responsibility.

Describe a time when you had to review your budget analysis with management and / or staff. How did you explain the results of your analysis, and how did you handle situations where others didn't understand and / or disagreed with your findings?

Describe a time when you gave a formal presentation. Include the type of presentation, to whom it was presented to (e.g. staff, management, governing body), and the topic of the presentation.

Required Question

Salary : $94,538 - $148,897