Business Analyst

California Correctional Health Care Services; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the State Controller (SCO) in Sacramento is seeking a Business Analyst to support personnel and payroll programs, ensure reporting compliance, and drive process improvements across statewide payroll systems.

You will collaborate with CalHR, the CSU Chancellor's Office, and other agencies to clarify business rules, perform analysis, and develop requirements, test plans, and implementation strategies. Hybrid work arrangements may apply.

Qualifications

• Experience with personnel and payroll systems
• Ability to perform analytical duties in program planning and policy review
• Experience in performing complex research and analysis project work
• Developing business requirements and test plans
• Ability to manage changing priorities and deadlines
• Strong communication and customer-service skills

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain payroll and pay/compensation programs
• Work with CalHR, CSU Chancellor's Office, and other entities to clarify rules
• Perform maintenance and operations for pay and benefits programs
• Plan tasks, track workload, and complete assignments on time
• Develop project/work plans and monitor progress
• Perform data analysis and routine reporting
• Develop user requirements, test plans, and UAT
• Draft procedures and update manuals
• Maintain archival documentation

Skills

Payroll systems

Analytical thinking

Communication

Project planning

Policy analysis

Legislation analysis

Independent work

Team collaboration

Job description

Under the general direction of the Business System Support and Maintenance (BSSM) Supervisor II, with direct supervision provided by the Business Program Administration (BPA) Unit Supervisor I, the Business Analyst performs activities related to personnel and payroll program analysis and reporting compliance.

The BPA unit is responsible for administering and maintaining the business programs related to pay and compensation, exception-based processing for statewide Personnel and Payroll systems and subsystems, and retirement reporting for more than 294,000 State Civil Service, California State University (CSU), and exempt employees.

They will apply business and program analysis principles, best practices, and standards to perform assignments independently and/or in a lead capacity. This position requires strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities and support several strategic initiatives simultaneously.

The Business Analyst is expected to promote professionalism, collaboration, and effective communication while applying established business methodologies and best practices to support the unit's operational and strategic objectives.

Duties performed:

• Administer and maintain the business programs associated with pay and compensation that are determined by collective bargaining agreements, side letters, legislation, and stakeholder direction in the Employment History and Payroll systems and subsystems.
• Work closely with the Department of Human Resources (CalHR), the CSU Chancellor's Office, state departments/agencies, and other entities, to clarify business rules and processes.
• Perform program maintenance and operations activities that inlcude deduction and benefit programs, production exception analysis, pay and compensation programs, settlement processing, reporting compliance, policy program maintenance, and validation of business processes that help ensure accuracy of system generated payments.
• Prioritize, plan, and conduct tasks, tracking workload to ensure assignments are completed timely.
• Document objectives and time constraints, develop detailed project/work plans, monitor and evaluate the progress of each project, determine corrective measures, and adjust the project/work plan as needed to implement solutions.
• Resolve work schedule conflicts.
• Perform business impact analysis and problem resolution.
• Perform system generated Mass update processes and maintain archival documentation.
• Conduct and/or review analytical studies and surveys, develop alternative solutions and present recommendations to management.
• Identify and develop detail requirements for program and business process modifications.
• Make recommendations on problems to enhance processes and procedures.
• Review and analyze proposed legislation and advise management on potential impact.
• Develop user requirements for mass update and test plans, performing user acceptance testing.
• Develop project and implementation plans.
• Develop procedures, update manuals, and prepare communications to departments.
• Maintain archival documentation programs and libraries.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

This position is located at The Emerald Tower on Capitol Mall, steps from Tower Bridge and is walking distance to the State Capitol. The building offers affordable monthly parking, employee gym access, an amenities center, and a beautiful mid-tower garden terrace.

It is conveniently situated only blocks from Old Sacramento, numerous restaurants, a seasonal farmer's market, and the Crocker Art Museum.

Overlooking the Golden 1 Arena and Downtown Commons, the office is accessible from Sacramento Regional Transit's light rail and bus systems, with convenient access to I-5, I-80, US 50 & US 99.

This position is eligible for hybrid telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. All telework schedules are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time. Specific telework arrangements may be discussed in more detail with the respective hiring manager. Telework does not change the terms and conditions of employment, the essential functions of job duties, or required compliance with the State Controller's Office policies. Applicants must reside within California at the time of appointment.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees' monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ANALYST II

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-535104

Position #(s): 051-220-5393-999

Working Title: Business Analyst

Classification: ANALYST II $6,031.00 - $7,547.00 A New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1

Work Location: Sacramento County

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Facility: Personnel/Payroll Services Division

Department Information

The Office of the State Controller (SCO) is the destination employer within the State of California.

As California's chief fiscal officer, the Controller's Office ensures accountability and transparency of California's financial practices while promoting fairness and opportunity for all.

Here, you'll work in a collaborative and supportive environment with diverse opportunities for professional growth and development.

A career with the SCO offers meaningful work that directly impacts the state's future.

Special Requirements

Take the required examination here: Analyst II Examination

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Ability to uphold PPSD values: Professionalism, Accountability, Customer Service, Collaboration, and Trust.
• Ability to communicate effectively while using tact and good judgment.
• Ability to work independently and effectively under pressure while managing changing priorities, competing demands, and deadlines.
• Strong customer services and research skills.
• Ability to work well with others at all levels.
• Excellent attendance and dependability.
• Experience related to the state's Employment History and Payroll systems and subsystems, payroll operations, and human resources policies and procedures.
• Demonstrable ability to perform projects and recurring tasks independently or in groups.
• Professional experience in performing analytical duties in program planning, policy review, development and evaluation, and legislative analysis.
• Professional experience performing complex research and analysis project work, identifying business needs making recommendations to management, and implementing effective courses of action (including delivering products within cost, schedule, and resource constraints).
• Experience developing Business Requirements (Defining the scope of the solution based on priorities, business value, and implementation complexity, including, developing user requirements for system changes and reporting requirements, developing test plans, performing user acceptance testing, and developing implementation plans).
• Technical acumen and time management skills with the ability to coordinate concurrent assignments and changing priorities to efficiently meet deadlines.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to formulate objectives and priorities, maximize opportunities, manage risks, and implement plans consistent with the short-term and long-term goals.
• Analytical proficiency to understand laws, rules, regulations, bargaining unit provisions, procedures, and policies related to personnel and payroll programs.
• Good communicator with active listening skills.
• A strong collaborator with a positive and proactive approach to assignments and initiatives.
• Ability to serve as a catalyst for organizational change.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:

PPSD Recruitment

[phone]

[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

EEO Officer

[phone]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.