Fiscal Analyst 3

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Help protect the consumers of Washington state!

Fiscal Analyst 3 (FA3)

Salary Consideration: Range 50, Step A ($52,920) – Step L ($69,396) annually.

The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.  This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. 

This recruitment is open until Monday, May 5, 2025, at 11:59pm.

The Opportunity:
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) seeks to fill the role of Fiscal Analyst 3 (FA3) within the Finance and Facilities section of the Administrative Services Division to support agency operations by implementing and testing agency internal controls and providing back-up support to the commission’s payroll officer.

The Finance and Facilities section promotes fiscal responsibility and ensures accountability to the stakeholders of the agency and the citizens of Washington by ensuring the agency maintains adequate resources to carry out its mission.

Hybrid: 

Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building one (1) to two (2) days a week. 

Travel: 

Local travel, mostly within Thurston County, may be required to attend training. 

Who We Are:
Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, reliable, and fairly priced. 
 

We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable.
  
The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington State.
  
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website. 
 

What We Offer Our Employees:

• UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve. 
• We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
• Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. 
• We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan. 
• Throughout the calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.

Our Values:

• Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
• Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
• Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.

Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Competencies:

1. EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment.
2. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth.
3. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships.
4. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship.

The Position:

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), supports commission operations by implementing and testing agency internal controls. This position is also responsible for backing up the commission’s payroll officer by effectively and efficiently processing payroll in compliance with federal, state and agency rules and procedures.

What you’ll do:

Establish, maintain, and modify agency accounting and budgeting systems and processes to ensure the highest level of controls are in place. This work is achieved by reviewing, establishing, and testing agency internal controls for purchasing, inventory control, cash receipts, disbursements, and payroll. 

You’ll coordinate state and federal audit plans, researching and preparing responses and changes to resolve audit questions and issues. Working with agency management and accounting staff to implement any changes in agency processes based on state and federal auditors’ recommendations for financial compliance as well as changes in fiscal policy due to audits. Additionally, review and make recommendations to the CFO for changes in state fiscal policies and procedures. Implement changes after approval by CFO and the UTC Executive Director/Secretary.

Responsible for providing back up support to the commission’s payroll officer with the efficient and accurate processing of the commission’s payroll and leave records and all related activities. Process, analyze, reconcile, and provide customer service for payroll and leave related activities. Tasks also include processing all payroll, benefits, and leave related transactions for semi-monthly payroll accurately and within required timelines. Reconciling insurance billings, retirement reports, W-2 end-of-year reports, and other reports as required and on a quarterly basis, complete the summary and file the 941 reports to the IRS and complete and submit the Employer’s Quarterly Report for Industrial Insurance. 

You’ll interpret and apply the State Administrative & Accounting Manual (SAAM), Revised Code of Washington (RCW)’s, Washington Administrative Code (WAC)’s, IRS regulations, agency policies and procedures for all payroll functions. 

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following: 

• Responsible for preparing the agency’s internal audit plan for daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks to test internal controls.
• Review annual sick leave buyout data and ensure accurate distribution to eligible employees. Process error-free buyout transactions in the state’s Human Resource Management System (HRMS).
• Calculate shared leave balances and prepare journal vouchers transferring the dollar value of donated leave between expenditure coding. Reconcile and make adjustments as needed to employee leave.
• Communicate and work with the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) on retirement issues.
• Communicate and work with the WA Health Care Authority (HCA) on health care benefits issues ensuring employees’ benefits are accurate.
• Work closely with the Human Resources team in regard to new hires, terminations, protected leave, retirees, organization changes, salary changes, and position changes.
• Assist the section’s Regulatory Analyst 3 auditor for agency annual reports.
• Review submitted annual reports for accuracy and timeliness. Update the Annual Report Tracking System as appropriate.
• Provide support with analyzing discrepancies, company questions, and documentation for any corrective actions to the Regulatory Analyst 3.
• Provide assistance with legal matters, which include audits, penalties, and cancellations of authority to operate. Independently maintain all necessary documents to support corrective actions.
• Coordinating facilities and maintenance issues as needed.

Required Qualifications:

Twelve (12) semester or eighteen (18) quarter hours of accounting, auditing, or budgeting from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or foreign equivalent and three (3) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, payroll, public administration or relevant experience.

Or

Current experience as a Fiscal Analyst 2 or 3.

EDI Competencies (expected of all employees): 

1. EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment.

2. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth.

3. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships.

4. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship.

UTC Values (expected of all employees):

1. Respect: We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.

2. Professionalism: We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.

3. Integrity: We do the right things for the right reasons- trusting others to do the same.

UTC Core Competencies (expected of all employees):

1. Accountability - With courage, we hold ourselves and each other accountable for exhibiting respect, professionalism, and integrity.

2. DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment - Ability to be exposed to, know, and understand the language and concepts of DEI and be committed to being part of creating, maintaining, and improving a diverse, equitable, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

3. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth – Engages in self-reflection, lifelong learning, and growth.

4. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships - Conducts themselves in a manner that builds trust, enhances work relationships, and meaningfully partner and engage with those they serve and serve with.

5. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship – Ability to demonstrate that all people are valued and engaged as members of the group, team, organization, or community through equitable, inclusive, and respectful behavior.

6. Measuring Success and Improvement – Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and continually improve strategies that promote equity and inclusion in their organization and with the communities they serve.

7. Customer Focus – Responsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customers to identify needs; assumes responsibility for own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.

8. Results Focus – Accepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results: prioritizes tasks appropriately, overcomes obstacles, works with others as necessary, and meets deadlines and quality standards.

9. Communication Skills – Demonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.

10. Adaptability/Flexibility – Open to new ideas. Responds constructively to changing and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.

11. Self-Development – Demonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up to date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seeks developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities.

12. Continuous Process Improvement – Utilizes Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates on process improvement projects/teams. Actively engages in section/division huddles and incorporates visual management into daily work.

Desired Qualifications:

• A business focus BA degree from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education or CHEA or foreign equivalent, with minimum 20 accounting credits to include accounting, auditing, budgeting, and governmental accounting.
• Experience using a Human Resources Management System (HRMS), Pay1, AFRS, Enterprise Reporting.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting reports.
• Experience with facilities management.
• The ability to organize multiple assignments involving competing priorities, meet deadlines, and complete high volumes of work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience with being a productive team member in a diverse and busy workplace with deadlines and seasonal workload issues.
• Demonstration of a high-level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to understand general ledger and subsidiary ledgers and their structure.
• Experience researching, interpreting, and applying information in State Administrative and Accounting Manual (SAAM), Revised Codes of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Codes (WAC), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations.
• Comprehension of internal control measures for payroll.
• Demonstration of accurately using the ten-key numerical keypad on a computer and adding machine.
• Ability to reconcile financial data and resolve fiscal problems.
  

READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY: 

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). 
• This position is overtime eligible per the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Ensure the accuracy, spelling, and grammar of your application and any requested attachments before submitting.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested in joining our Team, please read the instructions below carefully; click “Apply” at the top of the page to begin the process.
  
Your application will only be considered complete if the following attachments are submitted in addition. Please note, see resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application or supplemental questionnaire.

1. Letter of Interest describing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate. 
2. Resume detailing your applicable experience and education.
3. References: At least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses; one (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application, including answers provided to the Supplemental Questionnaire, along with the required attachments - letter of interest, resume, and references submitted as part of the application process. 

All information may be verified, and documentation may be required for verification. Candidates may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.

The UTC is an equal opportunity employer. We want to make sure you have an equal opportunity to join our team. Our commitment is making sure current and future employees are treated fairly and equally without regard to age, sex (including gender identity), race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or religious or political affiliation.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

For more information about the UTC, please visit:

www.utc.wa.gov, www.twitter.com/wautc and www.facebook.com/wautc

Salary : $52,920 - $69,396