Senior Budget Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager of Financial Planning, the Senior Budget Analyst plays a critical role in managing a comprehensive range of budgetary and fiscal analysis functions. This position provides professional, technical, analytical and consultative services on financial matters to senior management, ministry staff, and external stakeholders.

The Senior Budget Analyst supports the Financial Planning unit in meeting the Ministry's accountability responsibilities by developing processes for preparing the Ministry’s annual budget submission to Treasury Board and finalizing the Ministry’s Main Estimates, including the Minister’s briefing package and key budget messages for the Committee of Supply debate. The role also involves providing analysis and recommendations on Health Entities’ budget and forecast submissions for the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) and Executive Directors in the Department of Health, while collaborating with the Corporate Financial Planning area, Health Entities and other Ministries to build partnerships and ensure accurate updates and financial reports are prepared for the Ministry.

In addition, the Senior Budget Analyst assists in analyzing financial results for the Government of Alberta’s Annual and Quarterly Fiscal Update publications and contributes to the Ministry’s Main Estimates and Annual Report by conducting financial variance analysis and providing recommendations. The position provides professional guidance and consultation on budgets, forecasts, financial policies, regulations, and procedures to support senior management decision-making and the achievement of Ministry business plan goals.

The Senior Budget Analyst also drives continuous improvement by analyzing and resolving financial issues, streamlining processes and activities to enhance efficiency, and developing procedures and presentations to improve financial management reporting and budgeting for the ADM and Executive Team.

This position requires an in-depth understanding of accounting and finance functions, including economic and forecast modeling, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of programs and operations offered by the Ministry. The incumbent must demonstrate sound analytical skills and the ability to multi-task in an environment where objectives are not always clear and timelines are tight.

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Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Preparing financial information and variance analyses, including identification of major cost pressures, funding options and overall opportunities and risks facing the Ministry.
• Preparing short and long-term fiscal analysis and briefing materials on major issues and budget scenarios to reflect budget adjustments and develop recommendations for review and approval of senior management.
• Reviewing forecast submissions compiled by Health Entities for accuracy and completeness.
• Developing and maintaining processes and systems to track Health Entities' spending, ensuring spending targets are not exceeded and that Treasury Board is appropriately informed.
• Ensuring compliance with and uniform application of accounting principles and practices.
• Ensuring Health Entities understand financial requirements to provide accurate and complete financial information.
• Responding to action requests and other inquiries, providing senior management with decision support through the preparation of correspondence, briefing notes and financial reports.
• Researching, compiling, and developing information and summaries for complex initiatives and issues.
• Collaborating with staff across the Department and Health Entities to provide guidance and support for decisions related to financial and budget matters.
• Effectively communicating with branch management, budget analysts, and Treasury Board contacts.
• Leading and coordinating special projects ensuring accurate analysis, while considering the effects of proposed changes to policies.
• Providing consultation, guidance, and advice relating to budgets, financial administration and fiscal analysis to branch staff at all levels.

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.

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.


Creative Problem Solving – You are able 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.


Develop Self and Others – Desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others.

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

Qualifications

Required:

• Four-year university degree in a related field such as Business, Finance, Accounting, Commerce or Management plus four years related experience.

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

Assets:

• Knowledge of budgeting, financial administration and financial forecasting and costing theories, techniques and processes.
• Experience in preparing and overseeing complex budget and forecast submissions within a large organization.
• Experience preparing briefing materials that translate financial data into meaningful information for decision makers.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working with relevant financial information systems, reporting tools and software (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) / System Analysis Program (SAP) and ability to manipulate data sets.
• Experience in data management software or language (Business Intelligence Tools, SQL, VBA, Python, Tableau, Power BI)
• Canadian professional accounting designation (CPA or legacy designation) or equivalent.
• Experience working in financial planning area within public sector (Federal, Provincial, Municipal) in the last five years.
• Knowledge of government financial legislations, regulations and policies.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, directives, and procedures relating to budgeting and financial administration (e.g. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles - GAAP, Public Sector Accounting Board - PSAB, Financial Administration Act, Government Organization Act, Government Accountability Act, Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, grant regulations and Treasury Board Directives).
• Experience using Fiscal Amounts Tracking Sheet (FATS) and 1GX.

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

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

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
• Leadership and mentorship programs