Budget Analyst

Merced College; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits for employee and all:

Sick leave and retirement benefits

Job summary

Merced College is seeking a Budget Analyst to develop, monitor, and report on the District’s annual budget. The role involves forecasting revenues/expenditures, ensuring fund availability, and supporting multi-year financial planning to promote student success and institutional effectiveness.

The position reports to the Director of Business and Fiscal Services and will collaborate with district staff, budget managers, and payroll to maintain rigorous internal controls and accurate financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four years of applicable experience or equivalent education/experience.
• Knowledge of GAAP and budgeting principles and practices.
• Ability to develop, implement and monitor large budgets and forecasts.
• Experience with financial reporting and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead budget development and provide advisement to administrators on budget items.
• Forecast revenues and expenditures and monitor funding availability.
• Manage budgeting for general and supplemental funds and process transfers.
• Maintain position control budgets and coordinate with HR/Payroll.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly/annual financial reports and board presentation materials.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Accounting software

General ledger systems

Job description

Are you a detail-oriented finance professional passionate about supporting higher education? Merced College is seeking a dynamic Budget Analyst management position to play a key role in developing, managing, and monitoring the District’s financial resources. In this pivotal position, you will work closely with District staff and department managers to help guide budget planning, analyze revenue and expenditure trends, perform multi-year forecasting, and ensure fiscal integrity across general and supplemental funds. If you enjoy problem-solving, collaborating with others across departments, and building meaningful insights to student success through fiscal planning, this opportunity is for you!

As you consider this opportunity, know that Merced College is more than a community college — we are a catalyst for transformation, redefining higher education and setting new standards for excellence. Serving nearly 20,000 students each year, we are proud to be a leading center of learning and opportunity in California’s Central Valley.

Founded in 1962, Merced College blends a strong tradition of academic excellence with forward-thinking innovation to create an inclusive and engaging environment for students and employees alike. Committed to the well-being, growth, and professional success of our team, we foster collaboration and a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to make a difference. Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, the City of Merced offers a welcoming community of more than 90,000 residents, with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Yosemite National Park.

If you are passionate about innovation, equity, and student success, we invite you to join the Merced College team.

Merced College Mission

At Merced College, students are our focus, and we are known by their success. We transform lives through education and workforce development.

Merced College Vision

Enriching our community through educational experiences and support services:

• Degree/Certificate Programs
• Transfer
• Career Technical Education
• Workforce Training
• Lifelong Learning
• Basic Skills
• Community Engagement

Merced College promotes student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, and institutional effectiveness, all with a focus on student achievement.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

This position is primarily responsible for performing professional-level finance and accounting work in the development and monitoring of the District’s annual budgets. Tasks will involve facilitating certain aspects of the budget development process, preparing annual projections as well as multi-year forecasts of revenues, expenditures and fund balances, monitoring and confirming fund availability, and compiling periodic budget revisions.

REPORTS TO

Director of Business and Fiscal Services

SALARY SCHEDULE

Management Range 16

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience

Additional compensation for doctorate

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Assists with the budget development process for the District by facilitating certain aspects of its preparation, administration, and execution. Assists the Director with advisement to administrators on preparation and interpretation of budget items
• Projects annual revenue and expenditures; monitors and confirms funding availability, and creates and/or processes budget transfers in consultation with budget managers
• Assists with all aspects of budgeting and reporting for the District’s general fund and supplemental funds
• Recommends and implements data processing programs and modifications for the budget process
• Maintains and updates academic, classified and management position control budget in conjunction with Human Resources and Payroll staff, including verification of funding fornew positions and monitoring employee assignment status
• Maintains direct contact with District staff and budget managers in budget preparation, implementation and control; provides training to employees on the use of the District’sfinancial accounting and budget system
• Resolves budget and expenditure control related problems, issues and concerns inconjunction with the appropriate budget manager
• Monitors adherence to the budget by periodically comparing actual reserves and fundbalances to budget
• Develops “what if” scenarios and analyses of projected salary and benefit costs.
• Assists other staff as assigned, as time allows, during rush periods or in the absence of FiscalServices staff
• Communicates with District personnel and administrators, off-campus agencies, vendors, students, student advisors and others regarding assigned budgets and expenditures of funds; explains procedures and regulations as needed; obtains and provides information and resolve issues and questions
• Prepares and distributes documents and schedules to support the budget planning and development process
• Participates in the preparation of financial statements, including variance analysis. Assists in preparing budget-related presentation materials for the Board and Administration
• Facilitates, analyzes and prepares line item transfers and budget adjustments. Reviews expenses and other requisitions for compliance with applicable standards, rules and regulations, and approved budgets, analyzing variances and resolves variances with appropriate budget managers
• Analyzes budget reports to assure expenditures do not exceedappropriations
• Prepares elements of Federal, State and local financialreports
• Assists with the monthly and year-end closing process and accompanying financialreports
• Prepares various monthly, quarterly, annual and other periodic and ad hoc financial and statistical reports and documents; create a variety of spreadsheets, documents and graphs
• Assists in the establishment of budget-related Board policies and procedures
• Reviews departmental budget submittals for completeness, accuracy, the appropriate use offunding sources and adherence to District policies
• Maintains compliance with federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations by studying existing and new legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed action
• Maintains financial security by following and establishing appropriate internal controls
• Participates in the review, development, and implementation of accounting systems, recommended best practices and procedures; recommend changes in the aforementioned areas
• Answers questions and provides information to District staff regarding budget-related policies and procedures
• Investigates complaints and recommends corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required
• Participates in periodic internal audits of various District funds and records; identifies and resolves discrepancies and irregularities
• Assists with testing and implementation of new software programs or upgrades
• Other related duties asassigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of

• Generally accepted accounting principles andtheories
• Finance and accounting principles and procedures, including developing, implementing, and administering a large budget
• Financial analysis and projectiontechniques
• Financial statements andreports
• Accounting ledgers andjournals
• Computer technology related to accounting systems

Ability to

• Prepare, implement, administer and monitor large budgets
• Accurately track and monitor budgets and expenditures of funds
• Perform an internalaudit
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present financial, administrative, and technical information and data in an effective manner
• Prepare clear, concise and complete budget and financial reports, documents and statements, in narrative and statistical form
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Work confidentially withdiscretion
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationship with those contacted in the course of work
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education/Training/Experience:

Bachelor's degree AND four (4) years of applicable experience OR the equivalent education and experience.

License or Certificate

None

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience: Governmental Fund Accounting

License or Certificate: None

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions here in are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical Ability to:

• Hear and understand speech at normallevels
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
• Read printed matter and computer screens
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Bend and twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push,pull
• Reach in alldirections
• Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of variousconfigurations
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard

See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Interview Information

Applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to participate in onsite oral interviews conducted by a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be selected to move forward to the interview stage.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for November 30, 2026, with in-person final interviews scheduled for December 1, 2026.

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee’s only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.

Condition of Employment

The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer