BUDGET ANALYST

Fulton County; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fulton County in Georgia seeks a Budget Analyst within the Department of Finance to support the preparation and submittal of annual departmental budgets. You will analyze requests, monitor expenditures, and assist in preparing the county's budget book for publication.

The role emphasizes producing clear financial reports, forecasting, and ensuring compliance with state and local requirements. Collaboration with other departments and external partners is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or public administration; or related field.
• Three years of experience in budgeting, accounting, auditing and financial administration.
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the preparation and submittal of annual departmental budgets and develops budget estimates.
• Analyzes departmental requests to formulate budget recommendations for Fulton County Budget Commission.
• Generates financial reports, analyzes actual data, and projects surpluses/deficits.
• Prepares monthly expenditure analyses and the county's annual budget book for public distribution.
• Processes budget adjustments and ensures funding moves comply with laws and policies.
• Provides training on financial information systems to departments and staff.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budget forecasting

Excel

Reporting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance/accounting/business/public administration

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Financial systems

Job description

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in finance, accounting, business, or public administration; or a related field required; supplemented by three (3) years of experience in budgeting, accounting, auditing and financial administration; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required:

Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities:

Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Veterans’ Preference:

Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans’ preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans’ Preference Policy and Procedure.

Examination:

The examination will consist of a review of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as eligible. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.

Summary of Skills:

• Financial & Analytical Expertise: Strong ability to develop, monitor, and analyze operating and capital budgets; proficiency in forecasting, expenditure tracking, and variance analysis.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and financial systems; capable of producing clear dashboards, reports, and performance metrics to support executive decision-making.
• Policy & Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of government budgeting processes, grants management, and fiscal regulations; ability to ensure departmental compliance with county policies and funding requirements.
• Communication & Collaboration: Skilled in preparing executive summaries and presenting complex financial data to management, elected officials, and non-technical stakeholders; effective at coordinating across departments and external partners.

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to perform duties related to the preparation and submittal of annual departmental budgets. Responsibilities include analyzing departmental requests, reviewing monthly expenditure analysis, and processing budget adjustment requests. This classification is distinguished from Budget Analyst, Senior in that this classification processes departmental budget adjustment requests, but does not supervise assigned staff, whereas the latter supervises assigned staff, monitors departmental budgets and coordinates/prepares the County's annual budget book.

Essential Functions:

• Assists County departments and agencies in the preparation and submittal of annual departmental budgets: determines schedules, guidelines and format of budget submittals; researches, complies, and summarizes data needed for formulation of budget estimates; selects and enters budgetary information on a wide variety of related forms, schedules, and reports; analyzes various budget scenarios and situational budget reductions and calculates related adjustments.
• Analyzes departmental requests to formulate budget recommendations for consideration by the Fulton County Budget Commission.
• Conducts financial analysis and generates financial and statistical reports for decision makers: analyzes actual financial data weekly/quarterly to project potential surplus and/or deficits within various departments' budgets; and analyzes departmental operations and make recommendations for improvements.
• Prepares reports and reviews monthly analysis of expenditures.
• Assists in the preparation of the County's annual budget book for public distribution: conducts research and analysis of state and local statistical data for comparisons; compiles revenue and expenditures for various County Fund budgets; and converts actual and projected figures into graphical data for visual comparisons.
• Processes budget adjustment requests and assists in resolving budget and funding issues: approves or rejects adjustment requests in compliance with state, local, and federal law; and conducts analysis to ensure appropriate movement of funding.
• Provides training and assistance to departments/individuals in the use of financial information systems.

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

For Applicants With Prior Military Service:

We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including:

• Leadership Under Pressure — Prioritizes budget-related tasks, meets deadlines, and makes informed decisions when managing competing financial and operational demands.
• Operational Planning & Execution — Supports budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and resource allocation to help achieve departmental and organizational objectives.
• Adaptability & Rapid Problem Solving — Analyzes budget variances and financial issues, adjusts to changing requirements, and develops timely solutions.
• Team Cohesion & Communication — Collaborates with departments and stakeholders and clearly communicates budget information, financial data, and recommendations.
• Safety & Risk Awareness — Identifies financial, compliance, and operational risks and follows established policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Technical & Equipment Proficiency — Uses spreadsheets, financial systems, databases, and other technology to analyze financial data, prepare reports, and support budget activities.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization:

Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction:

Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization:

Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.

Functional Reasoning:

Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning:

Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, genetics, disability or sexual orientation.