Budget Specialist

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) Budget and Financial Management Division seeks to hire a Budget Specialist. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop budgets and policy priorities in the areas of early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Formulating the Governor’s recommended budget for two education agencies with combined General Fund budgets in excess of $3.2 billion annually;
• Assisting with the legislative budget adoption by providing analysis, testimony and research;
  
• Working collaboratively with the agencies to ensure budget implementation occurs within administration priorities, state and federal law;
  
• Forecasting agency spending and assisting with fiscal projections for the General Fund;
  
• Reviewing education legislation for budgetary impact and developing policy alternatives;
  
• Understanding complex funding streams and possessing strong quantitative skills to develop education funding formulas for policy makers ; and
  
• Collaborating with a wide array of stakeholders including state and local officials, associations, and advocates to explain and support the Governor’s education funding and policy priorities, and may represent the agency on various education task forces, boards and commissions.

Please ensure that your application is complete and have included a resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application.
Candidates who do not submit the required documents above will not be considered.

Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: Carolyn Kozak at (860) 418-6324 or opm.recruitment@ct.gov.  

NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

In the Office of Policy and Management, Budget and Financial Management Division and the Office of Finance, this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the development and administration of the state's fiscal policies for one or more State agency or program.

Performs a full range of financial analysis work for assigned agencies or programs including programmatic, revenue and capital portions of their budgets; consults with and advises commissioners or executives of assigned agencies in preparation and presentation of budget requests and options; reviews state agencies fiscal management policies, procedures and systems; analyzes, reviews and makes recommendations on budget requests and options in terms of agency functions, policy, programs and objectives; recommends agency budget or program revisions; provides input and analysis for on-going refinement of program budget development and budget option process; consults with and advises agency personnel on fiscal policy, procedures and operations and other financial management matters; confers with and instructs agency heads in process and implementation of financial objectives; negotiates with agencies for compliance with recommended changes; interprets and monitors agency spending, capital, revenue, and program accomplishments in accordance with established policy and legislative intent; assists in preparation of testimony for legislative budget hearings, fact findings, binding arbitrations etc.; testifies at legislative hearings; analyzes and updates statewide financial plan, developing necessary adjustments and modifications as required or analyzes and updates statewide capital policy through the preparation and implementation of State Bond Commission's monthly agenda; provides analysis of State's overall financial position for inclusion in the official statement; performs analytical work involving examination of budgetary controls, fiscal operations and purchasing functions; provides consultation, advice and functional assistance to state agencies business staff on fiscal management and financial information systems; provides training to state agency staff; identifies and analyzes appropriate benchmarks and best practices; reviews state agency requests for Personnel Service Agreements and Purchase Service Contracts; conducts research projects; prepares reports; makes presentations; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of the principles of organization and management including public administration; knowledge of governmental program budgeting and governmental accounting; some knowledge of research techniques and statistical principles and procedures; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to analyze budgetary and financial management problems accurately and develop effective courses of action; ability to design and interpret graphic representations; ability to utilize financial information systems.

Seven (7) years professional experience in budget preparation, financial management or operations including budget responsibility.

Note: Professional experience in budget management will be interpreted as principal responsibility for such aspects of budget as planning, preparation and administration. Professional experience in financial management or operations will be interpreted as principal responsibility for a combination of budget work and financial planning, accounting, purchasing and/or financial analysis and reporting.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the junior working level in budget development and management. For state employees this is interpreted at the level of Budget Analyst.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
   
2. A Master's degree in Public Administration, Business, Economics, Finance or closely related fields may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
   
3. For state employees one (1) year of experience as an Associate Accountant, Associate Fiscal/Administrative Officer or an Associate Accounts Examiner may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. If you are requesting special accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact Carolyn Kozak at 860-418-6324 or carolyn.kozak@ct.gov.