Douglas County Government in Castle Rock, Colorado, is seeking a budget professional with significant public sector experience.  This position performs complex financial and budgetary analysis.  Knowledge of fund accounting is a necessity.  This position provides technical analysis for the evaluation, monitoring, preparation, and presentation of the annual county-wide budget including preparation and analysis of multi-year forecasting of revenues, expenditures, and fund balance.  This position works closely with all levels of county personnel from administrative staff to directors and elected officials. 

The ideal candidate will possess a thorough knowledge of principles and practices of governmental budgeting; excellent oral and written presentation skills; strong analytical skills; proficient in spreadsheet and graphics software; ability to maintain and troubleshoot system tables and processes; and works effectively in a team environment.

(The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)
 
Provides technical analysis for the evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the annual county-wide budget.  This includes the preparation and analyzing multi-year forecasting of revenues, salaries and benefits, operating expenditures, capital projects and grants.  Incorporates this data in the preparation of the twenty-two individual fund balance forecasts.
 
Identifies the restrictions of fund balance to determine the unreserved fund balance available for budget appropriations for county-wide budget development and supplemental budgets.
 
Assists elected officials, department directors, and staff in the preparation of their annual departmental/divisional budgets and new requests.  Provides necessary training for department staff for JDE Budget module.
 
Evaluates staffing level, service delivery, and policies to support budget recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
 
Develop analytical models, methodologies, and trends to assist in decision making or request for spending needs and the accuracy of revenues and expenditures projections.
 
Assists in the development of long-range capital improvement program (CIP) budgets.
 
Develops and publishes the County's Budget Book and Budget-in-Brief.  Updates and maintains the Revenue Manual including detailed analysis of major sources of County revenues such as sales and use taxes, property taxes and charges for services.
 
Participates in the identification of policy issues with financial impact.  Analyzes and reviews policy issues to include agenda items, professional service agreements and contracts for financial impact implications.  Develops alternatives and recommendations for presentation to Budget Manager, Assistant Budget Director, Director of Finance, County Administrator, Board of County Commissioners, and other appropriate groups in the County.
 
Prepares monthly and/or quarterly financial reports with supporting documentation and ad hoc analysis for departments or elected offices with variance analysis for "budget to actual", revenues, salaries and benefits, capital and other operating expenditures including projects and other programs. Conducts year-end analysis to ensure departments are in compliance with spending authority appropriations.  Prepares correcting accounting entries as needed.
 
Conducts financial feasibility studies of existing and proposed programs.
 
Conducts periodic review of encumbrances to validate accuracy of commitments of appropriated budget dollars.
 
Prepares formal budget amendment documents for approval by the Board of County Commissioners through Supplemental Budgets in compliance with state budgeting requirements and guidelines.   Also, prepares budget reallocations to ensure departments are in compliance with spending authority as outlined in County's policies.
 
Presents the supplemental budgets and/or other agenda items to Board of County Commissioners and the citizens at Public Hearings and/or Business Meetings.
 
Conducts specialized research on subjects as requested.  Such projects may require the need to perform outside research, interaction with other public and private organizations. May be requested to prepare a written report and/or outline concerning the research findings to be provided to the Board of County Commissioners and/or other appropriate groups within the County.
 
Maintains awareness of legislation that affects County finances and budgeting activities.  Provides fiscal analysis of proposed legislation including Government Finance Officer Association Best Budgeting Practices.
 
Represents the County on local, regional, or state committees or task forces that address issues affecting County finances or financial policies, i.e. Grant Committee and Revenue Committee.
 
Ability to maintain and trouble shoot technical/functional systems used in development and maintenance of the county's budget to include JD Edwards financial management system and SharePoint.
 
Responds to ad hoc reporting for informational request from Budget Manager, Assistant Budget Director, Finance Director, County Administration, elected officials, and constituents.
  
OTHER DUTIES:
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not supervise other employees.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR:
This is professional, accurate, and detailed work involving County financial matters.  Consequence of error may result in incorrect analysis effecting the overall operations and economic well-being of the County possibly resulting in litigation.
 
CONTACTS:
Work involves substantial contact with elected officials, department directors, County Administrator, Board of County Commissioners or delegated representatives, other state and local governmental agencies, outside consulting firms, investment firms, financial institutions, and the public.
 
INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT:
Work is performed independently within general policy guidelines.  Assignments are received in the form of results expected and due dates.  Work product and results are periodically, but not routinely, monitored.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
Generally, a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field and five years of professional level experience or any equivalent combination.  Government budgeting experience highly desirable.  Professional designation or master's degree in finance related field desirable.
 
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Strong oral and written communication skills including public speaking.  Ability to communicate financial data and concepts to all levels of county personnel as well as financial and non-financial oriented people including citizens.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
 
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to analyze conflicting points of view and recognize the demands place upon the budget process by county offices and departments as well as external special interest groups.  Ability to translate data into clear concise verbal and written reports.  Ability to assist County personnel and provide technical assistance in budgeting and cost-benefit concepts.
 
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge and understanding of Colorado budget laws and regulations, fund accounting, budgetary appropriations, internal financial controls, and generally accepted accounting principles.  Ability to develop advanced spreadsheet applications.  Thorough and applied knowledge of theories and principles of budgeting, cost analysis, financial and statistical forecasting and projection methodology.  Ability to coordinate and prepare official budget documents and a variety of reports and related documents. Ability to multi-task.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
 
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY USED: 
Frequently uses standard office equipment including personal computers, telephones, calculators, and copy/fax machines.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
Primarily sedentary physical work requiring the ability to lift a maximum of 20 pounds; occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate personal computer and office equipment; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; ability to communicate with employees and the public.
 
GENERAL WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
Work is generally performed in a typical office environment.
 
In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions.  This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required.  In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.