Budget and Policy Analyst, Senior

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y? Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!
 
This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

The Department of Budget & Strategic Planning is seeking three (3) dynamic, team-oriented, enthusiastic, and hardworking people to join its team! Incumbents must be self-starters, exceptional communicators and listeners, problem solvers, critical thinkers, and most importantly, team players. Incumbents will join a dynamic team of individuals, to help achieve the Department’s mission, which is: To provide corporate, performance informed oversight for the development, analysis, and execution of the City’s budgeting and strategic performance management processes as well as grant support to balance the needs and resources of the community.

Specifically, incumbents will play a vital team role in the development of the City’s nearly multi-billion dollar budget. Selected candidates will have the opportunity to work with multiple municipal departments and employees, learning about key government operations, assisting departments in solving budgetary and financial challenges that may arise, and helping chart a course for the overall improvement in city department operations – making them more efficient, accountable, effective, and aware of local government activity. Work may include the following:

• Analyzing complex issues to facilitate and execute decision-making

• Serving on inter- and intra-departmental committees and task forces

• Reviewing and assessing departmental performance measures

• Overseeing budgetary transactions

• Performing complex analysis

• Serving as a liaison and official representative to senior staff, external agencies, and the public

• Conducting trainings

• Researching, developing, writing, and editing complex reports and plans

• Preparing financial forecasts, reports, and presentations related to the city’s budgets

• Coordinating or leading tasks to prepare the department for budget proposal or adoption

• Understanding and dissecting complex financial transactions

• Providing policy recommendations based on research and findings

• Working with various software and digital platforms.

The Department of Budget & Strategic Planning is an employer of choice. We value our employees and seek to attract and retain the best. We are also committed to your individual and professional growth! The selected candidates will have the opportunity to attend applicable training and educational workshops, obtain relevant certifications, and join appropriate professional organizations to further enhance and develop professional skill sets and capabilities. The selected candidates will have the opportunity to work with multiple, municipal departments/agencies and employees as well as a unified, core group of individuals within the Budget & Strategic Planning Department - focused on providing excellent, prompt, and accurate services to both internal and external customers.

• Perform detailed expenditure and revenue analysis of multiple city departments’ operating, special, enterprise, capital, and/or internal service fund budgets.
• Perform expenditure and revenue projections of multiple city departments’ operating budgets.
• Perform personnel projections and analyze related economic factors.
• Engage and communicate with multiple staff members on their departmental budgets and other fiscal/budgetary matters.
• Review budget proposals and funding requests for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with laws and other regulations.
• Assist in program evaluation and policy analysis, particularly as it pertains to city/local government finance or budget policy related matters.
• Work with high volumes of data in excel.
• Analyze and interpret financial/budget data and present solutions/results of analysis clearly, promptly, and in an articulate matter.
• Assist in estimating future financial needs.
• Train incoming partners within other departments on general processes and procedures related to annual or quarterly tasks.
• Conduct specialized projects and analysis

KNOWLEDGE (some combination of the following):

• Considerable knowledge of best financial practices and City-wide governmental budgeting principals.
• Foundational knowledge of strategic focus areas. 
• Understanding of local governance, fiscal policy development, financial controls, and compliance
• Familiarity with economic and revenue forecasting methodologies and financial risk assessment practices
• Knowledge of enterprise financial systems, budget systems, and data analytics platforms
• Understanding of policy analysis methodologies and program evaluation techniques
• Awareness of emerging trends and best practices in municipal finance, and budgeting

• Demonstrate skills in analyzing complex issues, building budgets and forecasts, collecting, assembling, verifying, and analyzing data on various platforms and databases.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Effective communication with various internal and external partners as well as city leaders.
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to explain highly technical concepts to various individuals
• Strong research skills
• Critical thinking
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously
• Research and policy analysis skills, including the ability to synthesize large volumes of information into clear recommendations
• Interpersonal and collaboration skills to effectively engage with internal departments, leadership, and external partners

• Ability to think strategically and anticipate fiscal, operational, and policy implications of decisions.
• Ability to independently lead complex analyses and projects while also contributing effectively within a team environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive or high-impact financial information.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, particularly during peak budget cycles.
• Ability to influence decision-making through data, analysis, and clear communication.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, processes, and policy frameworks.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Ability to identify problems, develop innovative solutions, and implement process improvements.
• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and accountability in all work products.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or field related to assignment.
• Five years of journey-level professional experience in area related to assignment, such as management/policy/financial analysis.

• None required.

• Master's degree in a business-related field or public administration is preferred.
• At least three years of experience performing budgetary analysis of local government departmental budgets – reviewing, analyzing, developing, etc. - individually or a combination of all three.
• Experience reviewing and assessing departmental/program performance measures – to include key performance indicators and metrics.
• Experience implementing or assisting in implementation of budget software.
• Experience working on and knowledge of fiscal policy issues.
• Experience writing policy papers, issue briefs, background memos, etc.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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