Fiscal Policy Analyst

Fiscal Policy Analyst 
 
The Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) exists to serve the Governor and the state in five primary ways: 

•    Work with the Governor each year to develop a budget recommendation for the upcoming and amended fiscal years that is based on agency requests and that will be presented to the General Assembly
•    Provide research and analysis to the Governor’s Office and other state agencies related to budgetary items as well as to produce an efficient and effective state government
•    Review the agencies’ annual operating budgets to ensure that spending plans comply with the approved appropriations act, sound fiscal stewardship, and the Governor’s goals
•    Develop the state’s strategic plan, outlining the Governor’s vision for the state and how agencies can best support that vision
•    Supply official demographic and statistical data about the state of Georgia
 
OPB Fiscal Policy Analyst assists in the development and monitoring of agency budgets and policies for executive and legislative review. OPB analyst analyze laws proposed by the General Assembly and respond to inquiries from the public, legislators, and state agencies. Analysts monitor expenditures as compared to budget and appropriations and perform detailed and complex revenue and expenditure projections.
 
This posting is for the: General Government Division

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
 
Fiscal Analyst 
•    Analyze annual agency budget requests and prepare recommendations for OPB leadership
•    Analyze and review agency budget spend plans, including complex revenue projections, to compare current and projected expenditures monthly or quarterly
•    Conduct and review multi-year financial trends and monitor performance of agency programs to align with agency strategic plans 
•    Analyze and review agency allotment requests for approval
•    Perform analysis of complex data sets to support recommendations and approvals
•    Monitor and analyze state and federal legislative and policy proposals for fiscal and operational impacts
•    Conduct research on budget and policy priorities to prepare presentations, white papers and policy briefs on budget recommendations, operational efficiencies, streamlining of government, and program reviews.
•    Research assigned agencies to gain understanding of agency programs and initiatives to support reporting and recommendations
•    Assist the Department of Audits and Accounts, the Department of Revenue, and the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission for budgetary requirements 
•    Assist in the preparation of documents published by the office
•    Research and prepare responses to inquiries for management review
•    Other duties as assigned
 

Capital Planning 
•    Provide support and analysis of capital outlay requests
•    Work with assigned agency to determine allowable costs, bond terms, and tax-exempt status
•    Prepare responses to the public, legislators, and state agencies concerning capital project planning, management, and budget issues.
•    Coordinate agency requests for redirection of bond proceeds
 
 

Legislative Tracking 
•    Monitor progress of bills with a fiscal impact through the General Assembly
•    Assist in the preparation of fiscal notes on pending legislation 
•    Attend and take notes for committee / subcommittee meetings of the Legislature
 
 

Preferred Qualifications: 
•    Bachelor's degree or higher in Public Administration, Political Science, Math, Finance, or Economics
•    Proficient in data analysis tools such as excel using Pivot Tables and VLookup, R, Python, and other programming languages
•    Knowledge of Statistical Modeling
•    Skill in analyzing complex problems
•    Ability to analyze data and information, draw conclusions, and make recommendations

Policy Analyst 1 ($52,000)
-    Direct oversight and supervision to complete annual budget recommendations.
-    State agency portfolio contains Tier 2 agency assignments, with few exceptions
-    Consistent support from division leadership to complete routine budget tasks such as, but not limited to approving allotments, budget amendments, revenue/expense analysis, inquiry response, and other duties as assigned
-    Research and evaluation projects as assigned by division leadership (2-4 projects)
-    0-2 years of work experience

Policy Analyst 2 ($60,000)
-    Only needs review and intermittent support from Division Director and Coordinator to complete annual budget recommendations.
-    State agency portfolio contains Tier 1 agency assignments, with few exceptions
-    Limited supervision and oversight to complete routine budget tasks to include, but not limited to  approving allotments, budget amendments, revenue/expense analysis, inquiry response, and other duties as assigned
-    Leverages understanding of agency challenges to recommend research and evaluation projects (5 Projects)
-    Assist in the training of junior analyst (Policy Analyst 1) of state IT systems such as PBCS and TeamWorks
-    2 years of work experience
-    Working knowledge of state IT systems such as PBCS and TeamWorks

Policy Analyst 3 ($70,545)
-    Independently create, support, and defend annual budget recommendations to OPB leadership
-     State agency portfolio contains Tier 1 state agency assignments, exclusively
-    Temporary assignment of additional state agencies, as needed 
-    Serve as division Policy Coordinator as needed 
-    Mentor  junior and new Policy Analysts
-    Works independently to complete routine budget tasks to include, but not limited to approving allotments, budget amendments, revenue/expense analysis, inquiry response, and other duties as assigned, with few errors
-    Expert knowledge of state IT systems such as PBCS and TeamWorks
-    Leverages division wide understanding of agency challenges to recommend research and evaluation projects (7 projects)
-    3 years of work experience