Budget Analyst

This position offers some flexibility of office location within the hybrid work model currently being observed.
The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.
The Budget Analyst assists the Budget Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in analyzing agency program and policy functions for revenue and budget implications. They ensure EEC's financial accountability through coordination of accounting, contracting, and policy functions and conduct fiscal and policy analyses on EEC administration and programs. They make recommendations in the development of new programs and policies, ensure resources and contracts are allocated and tracked properly and coordinate necessary data sharing with EEC units for federal fiscal reports.
EEC will manage approximately $1.5 billion in the next fiscal year - a huge sum that is the product of a variety of funding sources including state and federal appropriations as well as trust funding. As a member of the Budget Unit, the Analyst will be responsible for helping the Department understand the budgetary implications of changing policies and programming in early education and care. We are seeking an organized, analytical person that can help the Department navigate our various funding streams and support efforts to get the biggest impact possible out of the dollars available.
A successful candidate will: support coordination between financial and business units; ensure resources and contracts are allocated and properly tracked; provide fiscal and policy analyses on administration and programs; and provide recommendations on the development of new programs and policies based on their analyses. Additionally, a successful candidate will coordinate internal data sharing for federal fiscal reporting and provide general support as necessary.
Key Responsibilities:
Supporting Agency Budget Implementation -
• Reconcile operating expenditures and projections ensuring budgets in the state's accounting system are up to date.
• Support the development and implementation of interdepartmental service agreements (ISAs).
• Plan operating spending according to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) language and the agency's priorities.
• Coordinate resources supporting administration, licensing, child care, and child care resource & referral programs through tracking, analyzing, and reporting on program expenditures and savings, with an eye to early identification of potential problems.
Supporting Agency Financial Practices -
• Support the resource needs of the agency's administration, licensing, child care, and child care resource and referral programs by ensuring that accurate and timely analyses of program and policy changes are prepared as assumptions for incorporation in agency's budget request, spending plans, and maintenance funding estimates.
Reporting & Fiscal Analysis -
• Provide agency responses to information requests from the Executive Office of Education, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and legislative Committees on Ways and Means on matters related to budget and spending.
• Prepare fiscal and policy impact analyses of critical management, legislative, and regulatory changes to agency's licensing, child care, and child care resource & referral programs.
Other duties, as assigned -
Preferred Qualifications:
• Ability to prioritize against competing pressures
• Ability to interpret statistical data correctly and draw sound conclusions
• Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take appropriate actions
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to mediate conflicts, coordinate competing interests, and work under time constraints
• Ability to present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form
• Skilled in problem-solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and team building
• Strong mathematical and statistical skills
• Experience working with large databases, forecasting expenditures, and analyzing data sets using Microsoft Access and Excel
• Ability to communicate and write effectively
• Knowledge of child care service delivery system a plus
• Knowledge of state finance databases (MMARS, CIW) a plus, but not required
• Willingness to learn, be adaptable and expand knowledge of financial operations relevant to state government system
Based on assignment travel may be required for this position.
Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov.
Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) four (4) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results) or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
II. An Associate's degree in a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
III. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
IV. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.
V. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.