Budget and Policy Analyst

Department Information

Join Our Team

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system.

This posting is open to both current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of application. However, please note that upon hire, you will be required to establish residence within the State of Colorado.

Position Description

Under general supervision, the budget and policy analyst is responsible for all areas of state budget and finance in support of Colorado’s public colleges and universities, as well as the internal department budget and finance functions, including tracking of budgets to actuals, assisting programs with developing budgets, evaluating expenditures, forecasting revenues, and maintaining collaboration across teams.

Supervision Exercised

This position does not supervise any employees.

Description of Job

Scope of Responsibilities

This intermediate level position is responsible for independently performing specialized budget duties for the Department of Higher Education. Positions at this level exercise judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures, practices and policies of the work unit.

Job Duties

The duties listed below reflect the different types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.

Internal Budgeting

For assigned portfolios, regularly track budget to actuals including collaborating with accounting and program staff and advise on expenditure adjustments needed to stay within budget

Problem solves through changes needed to avoid over or under expenditure, and escalate issues when needed

Advise and assist assigned portfolio teams in creating future budgets and budget requests

Develop and maintain complex financial models to project multi-year revenue and expenditure trends for higher education portfolios. This includes expenditures, budgets, and revenues for assigned portfolio areas to ensure proper appropriations and revenue to cover costs and then advice leadership on changes needed to ensure adequate funding

As needed within the analyst’s portfolio, maintain, administer, and run allocation formulas for programs that allocate funding across institutions

Serve as a subject matter expert in CORE and infoAdvantage reporting to ensure real-time accuracy of appropriations and budgets tracking.

Establish and maintain long range budget plans

Ensure proper payments and distributions to partners, subrecipients, and institutions for programs under the assigned portfolio to ensure proper fiscal controls and funds available

Ensure expenditures and fiscal operations are in alignment with state laws and applicable policies.

Maintain proper coding structures for assigned portfolio programs to ensure proper inputs into CORE and tracking of budgets to actuals

Budget Development

Maintain a robust knowledge of the budget cycle, how appropriations change, and where spending authority comes from

Assist in the development of decision items and fiscal notes through budget analysis including modeling, caseload forecasting, and data collection

Assist in defending budget proposals to the Governor’s Office, Joint Budget Committee, legislative staff, and other groups

Analyze state government and federal actions to advise Department staff on budget implications

Recommend when state laws or applicable policies should be updated related to the fiscal management of programs and advice on the fiscal impact of those changes

Analyze financial and staffing patterns, organizational structure, and management practices in order to recommend budgetary, organizational, and programmatic changes from a fiscal perspective that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department.

Budget Decision Tracking

Assist in tracking Governor Office decisions on budget requests and legislative requests with fiscal impact and advice on how decisions will impact Department appropriations, spending authority, revenue, and fiscal operations.

Assist in tracking decisions by the Joint Budget Committee, Appropriations Committees and the legislature for the impact the Department’s appropriations, spending authority, and revenue

Data and Reports

Maintain and develop necessary financial data such as historical expenditures, awards, or recipients on assigned portfolio

Create necessary financial reports or budget related reports that fall within the assigned portfolio

Engagement Activities

As necessary, collaborate with stakeholders, subrecipients, and/or institutions to ensure proper payments, fiscal procedures, and budgets

As necessary, prepare and present materials to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and its subcommittees

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Qualifications Education and Experience

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in finance, accounting, public policy, political science, higher education, economics, or a related field

Substitution: Four (4) years of experience in state government accounting, public sector budgeting, or financial analysis can replace the education requirement of a bachelor’s degree

Experience:

Budget forecasting and modeling experience

Experience in any of the following: financial aid, higher education, finance, policy, or accounting

Experience with stakeholder engagement

Budget tracking experience

Preferred Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications:

N/A

Experience:

Experience in Power BI

Visualization skills

Knowledge of:

Standard office practices, procedures, software and equipment, including the use of personal computers, telephones, Zoom, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams)

State statutes, rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines

Knowledge of Colorado’s Long Bill process and Joint Budget Committee (JBC) cycles.

Ability to:

Work effectively in both independent and team situations

Produce comprehensive analytical documents

Analyze financial fiscal data and program data

Create and deliver presentations to various audience members

Take the initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner

Communicate effectively, both written and verbally

Employ attention to technical detail and accuracy

Apply time management skills to prioritize work

Establish and maintain relationships with internal/external stakeholders

Read and interpret new and existing statutes to identify the impact of proposed legislation on the department

Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)

The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time

Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings

Occasionally may push or pull an object

Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard

Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds

Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects

Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to HR@dhe.state.co.us

Supplemental Information

Typical Working Conditions

The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid, or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday– Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.

Notice

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resource Director at HR@dhe.state.co.us or call 720.264.8575.

Notice: The official version of this job description is maintained by the Human Resources Office. This document may not reflect the most current updates in real time.