Principal Financial Analyst

Office of Finance 

Annual Salary Range: $120,729 - $160,952 

FLSA Exempt / Non-Union Represented 

This position allows for up to four days of remote work per week. 

About the Office 

The Office of Finance oversees all aspects of the State Bar’s accounting, financial planning, and procurement management. Procurement, within the Office of Finance, is responsible for the State Bar’s procurement and contracting process and ensures compliance with competitive bidding requirements and other policies. 

About the Position 

The State Bar of California seeks an experienced and highly skilled Principal Financial Analyst with at least five (5) years of experience, with at least two (2) years of experience supervising a team. The ideal candidate will research, develop, and implement procurement policies and strategies that align with the organization’s goals. This will include sourcing vendors, preparing and analyzing procurement documents such as Request for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotation (RFQs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and contract documentation. Experience with inclusive and equitable procurement policies and practices, including outreach to diverse vendors, small and local businesses and vendors, and under-represented or under-served groups, is preferred. 

Examples of Essential Duties 

• Conducts market research and analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks in the procurement landscape.  

• Oversees the competitive bidding process with a focus on promoting inclusive procurement practices and supporting small and local business participation. 

• Implements small business outreach program, represents the State Bar at outreach events, and monitors program effectiveness. 

• Negotiates service contracts with vendors, including terms and conditions, comparing commodity pricing and re-bidding; performs regular spend analyses to identify areas for consolidation and negotiation of optimal terms.  

• Develops, maintains, and enforces guidelines concerning the State Bar’s Procurement policies, rules and regulations, governing activities, and processes, including guidelines for engaging diverse suppliers. 

• Performs regular contract and vendor audits; assesses and mitigates procurement-related risks, including vendor performance issues and compliance risks.  

• Evaluates goods and services provided, along with demographic data to help gauge efficacy and inclusive and equitable sourcing practices. 

• Collaborates with legal counsel on complex service negotiations, contract interpretation, bid protests, and procurement rules, laws, and regulations; collaborates with other offices to align procurement activities with overall organizational objectives.  

• Manages enterprise procurement (purchase requisitions and purchase orders) and supplier management systems, including testing quarterly updates, patches, and implementing new features; evaluates and recommends new procurement technologies and tools to enhance the procurement function's efficiency and effectiveness. 

• Ensures enterprise procurement and supplier management systems comply with all State Bar rules, requirements, and policies. 

• Serves as staff to subgroups of members of the Board of Trustees, Executive Office efforts, and other committees and working groups by conducting research and policy analysis, providing materials in presentation-ready format, and presenting materials at public meetings and other committees to ensure clear and accurate communication regarding implementation efforts. 

• Serves as the subject matter expert in analyzing and critiquing proposal information before selecting a vendor. 

• Ensures that contract requirements are followed and in accordance with State Bar policies. 

• Responds to internal and external inquiries about the State Bar’s data collection and analysis, continuous improvement, and internal audit efforts.  

• Supervises analytical, administrative, and technical staff. 

• Monitors project budgets and makes recommendations on budget expenditures.   

• Performs a number of other similar or related duties which may not be specifically included within this position description, but which are consistent with the general level of the job and the responsibilities described. 

Employment Standards 

Knowledge of:  

• Principles of procurement management, management administration, and supervision. 

• Manual and computerized procurement, accounting, and financial recordkeeping systems. 

• Principles of procurement standards and best practices as they relate to enterprise-wide goods, services, and/or equipment, regulations, policies, and current conditions affecting price, trends, and availability. 

• Principles of direct and lead supervision, training, organizational behavior, conflict resolution, and performance evaluation. 

• Principles of effective personnel management in a union environment. 

• Principles of project planning and implementation. 

• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment, including database, report generation, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and software applications relevant to the work. 

• Principles and practices of customer service. 

• Principles of effective written and verbal presentations, including public speaking and public relations/customer service. 

• Within the introductory period, obtain a working knowledge of the State Bar office and functions. 

Ability to:  

• Understand and use the State Bar’s specialized procurement operations, processes and software applications. 

• Analyze, interpret, and reconcile contracts and procurement documents. 

• Analyze information such as bids and proposals from vendors and/or contractors, purchasing contracts, and procurement trends and apply to the needs identified to make complex decisions and/or recommendations. 

• Demonstrate knowledge of or have a history of engagement, commitment, and leadership regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, practices, and initiatives. 

• Design and maintain inclusive and equitable procurement policies, programs, and processes. 

• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, by computer and in writing. 

• Speak publicly to large groups of people. 

• Effectively manage shifting priorities, adopt effective courses of action, and work under deadlines. 

• Manage multiple, simultaneous assignments, to independently plan and prioritize day to day work, and to meet deadlines. 

• Effectively interact with others, mentor and train staff as required. 

• Effectively address conflict. 

• Prepare a variety of fiscal reports in assigned areas of responsibility. 

• Maintain procurement records and files. 

• Provide leadership, guidance, and training to team members, fostering a growth mindset and culture of continuous improvement and innovation.  

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality in program administration and interactions with contractors, consultants, experts, and others. 

• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.  

• Act with integrity in all related State Bar business.  

• Quickly adapt to changing environments, critical needs and adopt and effectively implement courses of action. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in a field that develops skills related to essential duties, or equivalent academic achievement.   

• Master’s degree in a relevant field may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience. 

Experience: 

• Minimum five (5) years of journey-level professional procurement experience; or four (4) years of procurement experience with two (2) years of supervisory experience. 

License, Certificate, Registration Requirements 

• Special Qualifications, including specialized knowledge, abilities, education, experience,  license, or certification, may be established for individual positions.