Funding Analyst

Role Responsibilities

The Funding Analyst is responsible for providing comprehensive funding allocations, fiscal analysis, interpretation and operational services for the Ministry and its stakeholders. Working within the parameters of relevant Government and Ministry policies and guidelines, the Funding Analyst oversees the provision of technical, analytical and consultative services to all levels of Ministry representatives and stakeholders.

Reporting to the Manager, Funding Analysis and Analytics Branch, the Funding Analyst works in a team environment and within the parameters of relevant legislation; Ministry and government policies, guidelines, and business practices; and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to complete timely and accurate school authority budget allocations and profiles. These documents and projections are critical inputs to Executive Team decision-making and support the coordination, compilation, and consolidation of Ministry budget and financial submissions to Alberta Treasury Board and Finance.

The Funding Analyst provides comprehensive fiscal analysis, and cost modeling services, as well as assisting with the preparation and presentation of the operational expenditure forecast model to the Director, Executive Director, and Assist Deputy Minister. This position also analyzes financial scenarios and develops corresponding options, solutions and recommendations. The Funding Analyst is relied on to apply fiscal analysis expertise as part of the senior management decision-making processes.

Fiscal analysis activities undertaken by the Funding Analyst include the development of scenarios, models and methods to describe, examine and evaluate solutions to complex budget and financial issues facing the Ministry and contribute to informed decision-making by senior Ministry representatives and stakeholders. In addition to assisting with the compilation and development of the Ministry's budget and financial submissions to Treasury Board, this position represents the unit on Ministry and cross-government teams and committees dealing with budgeting, financial, and associated activities, and initiatives.

The incumbent will be expected to develop new approaches to data analyses, information reporting and data dissemination, to anticipate and react to emerging educational information requirements and to support new policy initiatives and address emergent issues.

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Job Responsibilities include:

• Planning and forecasting funding models to help identify funding framework implications, demographic and enrollment changes and grant rates.
• Developing, coordinating and preparing the annual school authority funding framework allocations, as well as working with Strategic Financial Services for the quarterly and monthly expenditure forecast submissions relative to the Operating Support for School Jurisdictions; Accredited Independent Schools and Early Childhood Service Operators; and the three-year Business Plan.
• Assisting in the compilation and coordination of the Ministry's annual budget submission and three-year budget and financial information submission to Executive Committee, Cabinet Policy Committee, Treasury Board, Committee of Supply and Public Accounts.
• Analyzing budget impacts on public and independent school authorities and preparing briefings on budget highlights, issues and graphs.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of policies, plans, and strategies to support infrastructure and capital planning and investments in the ECS to Grade 12 education system.
• Working with Capital Planning in determining what school space is excluded in the Operations and Maintenance grant such as outreach schools, online schools or online learning centers, home-based programs, and alternative programs in privately owned buildings/facilities.
• Providing financial analyses and information as requested by senior Ministry officials (e.g., relationship between school authority funding costs and expenditure levels, identification and interpretation of cost drivers, etc.)
• Analyzing data and financial submissions, identifying risks and developing options as appropriate and providing recommendations.
• Contributing to special projects by providing technical and analytical support, relevant and accurate information, analyses, projections and potential effects associated with proposed changes to policies and guidelines.
• Participating actively in cross-sector, cross-Ministry, and external committees and task forces, ensuring relevant requirements and perspectives are represented.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

To be successful in all of these roles you will need to demonstrate the following behavioral competencies:

Agility – You are able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Drive for Results – You are able to determine what outcomes are important and maximize the use of resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and all stakeholders. 

Creative Problem Solving – Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Systems Thinking – Ability to consider the whole system and recognize links between everything from the complex network of global to departmental priorities. Set goals within the context of long-term outcomes and broad perspectives.

Qualifications

Required:

• University graduation in a related field such as Economics, Statistics, Finance, Accounting, plus two years related experience; or equivalency as described below.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience which includes as a minimum, completion of a recognized applied accounting degree or business diploma program.
 
 
 
Assets:

• Knowledge of financial administration, monitoring, projecting, costing and budgeting concepts.
• Advanced knowledge and experience using applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Experience working with SAP (System Analysis Programs).
• Experience with complex financial models, data modelling, and financial analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

A cover letter must accompany your application and should indicate how your previous work experience aligns to the qualifications and competencies required. Please provide clear examples of how you meet the criteria and skills required in your cover letter. Failure to provide a cover letter will lead to the application being screened out. Cover letter will be one of the ways to assess communication skills of candidates.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) – https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information – https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development – https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs