Finance Analyst

Come join our team of skilled, hard-working, and committed individuals in the City of Lake Forest's Finance Department!  If you are a motivated individual looking to make a meaningful impact in the community you serve, the Finance Analyst position is for you!

First review will take place on July 31, 2024. Prompt application is encouraged as this recruitment may close at any time without further notice.   There is currently 1 (one) vacancy. 

Under direction, plans, organizes, writes reports, and conducts complex and difficult financial analysis, recommends departmental and City-wide policy, procedures and controls related to accuracy of revenues, expenditures, and fund balances, purchasing, and special revenue fund transactions, and develops complex accounting and financial systems.The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.
 

1. Perform a wide range of fiscal activities for the City, its operating departments, and related agencies; including fiscal year and month end participation reporting, reconciliations, and capital asset oversight.
2. Provide consulting and support services to departments regarding a variety of financial issues including the status of financial accounts, transactions for assigned funds, specialized cost studies, and budget preparation.
3. Conducts or participates in studies of new and existing programs and special projects; researches and analyzes organization structure, technical data, and fiscal impact to determine feasibility, resolve problems, and increase efficiency; consults with City personnel and outside agencies; develops recommendations; assists with the development of policies and procedures; participates in program implementation and monitoring activities; serves as project manager for assigned projects.
4. Prepares and presents comprehensive technical, administrative, and financial analytical and statistical reports that present and interpret data, identify alternatives, and present and justify conclusions, forecasts, and recommendations based on data summaries and other findings.
5. Participates in the budget development and administration for assigned area of responsibility; analyzes proposed capital, operating, and maintenance expenditures; prepares reports and analyses related to impact of budgetary decisions; prepares financial forecasts; tracks and monitors budget expenditures.
6. Builds databases and spreadsheets of financial, economic, investment, financial market and other data, using information obtained internally and from other sources, including financial models to generate forecasts, analyses, and reports of financial, investment, and revenue issues.
7. Provides assistance in resolving operational and administration issues; identifies issues and conducts research to find alternative solutions; makes and assists in the implementation of recommendations.
8. Researches, negotiates, administers, and monitors assigned contracts and agreements, which may include franchise agreements with outside suppliers, service providers, and others; ensures work is performed in compliance with contracts and agreements.
9. Administers, writes, and prepares assigned grants; manages and tracks authorized grant expenditures.
10. Provides complex staff assistance to management staff; participates on and provides staff support to a variety of committees and boards; prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
11. Coordinates assigned services and project activities with other City programs, functions, boards, committees, and task forces as well as external organizations and agencies and the general public; coordinates with, interacts with, and shares knowledge, issues, and status with appropriate parties.
12. Assists in the administration of the City’s investment portfolio.
13. Assists with the preparation of Annual Financial Reports.
14. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of business and public administration and issues related to area of assignment.
15. May perform legislative analysis of proposed bills in order to draft positions on issues.
16. Utilizes critical thinking skills through the use of logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
17. Authors written materials, including staff reports, using a prescribed format and conforming to all rules, including punctuation, grammar, diction, and style; prepares staff reports on a variety of complex subjects for review by management staff and City Council.
18. Performs related duties as required.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

Operational characteristics, services and activities of assigned program area; principles and practices of public administration; organization and operation of municipal government; municipal government functions specifically related to program area; legislative practices; methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation; principles and practices of program development and administration; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs related to area of assignment; principles and practices of contract negotiation, preparation and monitoring; principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis; techniques and formulae for administrative, financial, and comparative analyses; methods and techniques of effective technical, administrative, and financial record keeping, report preparation, and presentation; recent developments, research methods, current literature, and sources of information related to assigned programs and service areas; terminology used in area of assignment; principles and practices of budget preparation and administration; computer systems including general knowledge of finance and accounting systems; principles of business letter writing; office procedures, methods, and equipment including strong computer skills and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; internet web site practices, methods and techniques; principles, trends, methods, and techniques used in customer service, public relations, public information, and program education and promotion; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. 

Ability to:

Perform a full range of responsible and varied professional, analytical duties in providing responsible staff support to a City department; plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and evaluate assigned programs, projects, events, or technical area; oversee and participate in the development and administration of program goals, objectives and procedures; perform a range of professional analytical, programmatic, and administrative duties involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; collect, evaluate, and interpret varied information and data; research, analyze, and formulate recommendations, work plans, and activities regarding planning, technical, and administrative issues; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals; develop recommendations for problematic areas and implement and monitor changes; read and interpret plans and specifications; prepare clear and concise technical, administrative and financial reports; prepare clear, accurate and concise tables, schedules, summaries and other materials in statistical and narrative form; establish and maintain various data collection, record keeping, tracking, filing, and reporting systems; exercise tact, diplomacy and political acumen in dealing with sensitive political, public policy, and community situations; research, negotiate, manage, and monitor contracts and agreements; understand the organization and operation of the City, assigned program, and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; understand, interpret, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; properly interpret, ensure compliance with, and make recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations and policies; identify and respond to community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs; coordinate multiple projects and meet critical deadlines; organize and prioritize timelines and project schedules in an effective and timely manner; participate in the preparation and administration of budgets; operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and various software packages; work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person; exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:

A valid Class C California Driver’s License and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s Vehicle Insurance Policy.

Education/Training/Experience:

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field and two years of professional experience in administrative and management analysis; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.The physical and mental demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
 
While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to work in
an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop,
bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate
amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and
fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to
exchange information. Specific hearing abilities required by this job include hearing in
the normal audio range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by
this job includes close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands 

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret data and situations; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; learn and apply new information or new skills; work with constant interruptions; and interact with City officials, media, citizens groups, employees and others encountered in the course of work, including occasionally dealing with conflict situations.

Work Environment

The employee works primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites and locations; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.
  

Salary : $81,444 - $105,888