Fiscal Analyst

State-of-Michigan; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Michigan seeks a Fiscal Analyst to analyze and present budget areas to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The role covers drafting bills, clerking subcommittee meetings, and responding to inquiries, with research on all related bills and rules.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s in a relevant field, shows strong quantitative policy analysis and public finance skills, and is proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; knowledge of R is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy, economics, business or related field.
• Strong foundation in quantitative public policy analysis and public finance.
• Excellent writing, research, communication, and detail-oriented skills.
• Ability to perform objective, thorough fiscal policy analysis of State legislation.
• Familiarity with statistical modeling software such as R encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, make recommendations, answer questions, and prepare documents on budget issues.
• Prepare the fiscal analysis portion of bill analyses before committees and the Senate.
• Testify before Senate committees and subcommittees on fiscal issues.
• Provide staff assistance to assigned Senate subcommittees and staff.
• Periodically update expenditure/revenue forecasts for budget areas.
• Develop databases with historical and comparative information.
• Establish professional relationships with budget staff and professionals.
• Arrange and provide staff support for public hearings.

Skills

Policy analysis

Public finance

Writing

Research

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Master's degree in public policy, economics, business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

R (statistical software)

Job description

Fiscal Analysts are responsible for the analysis, technical development, preparatory support, and presentation of an assigned budget area(s) to the Senate Appropriations Committee (including drafting appropriations bills, clerking Senate Appropriations subcommittee meetings, and responding to Senate inquiries regarding appropriations bills). In conjunction with this responsibility, a Fiscal Analyst will provide analysis of all Senate bills, House bills, and Administrative Rules which apply to the specific budget area(s) to which the analyst is assigned, design and conduct appropriate research relative to specific issues, and promptly complete related miscellaneous duties and projects determined to have merit and assigned by the Director of the Senate Fiscal Agency or his/her designee.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Become familiar with a specific budget area(s), State budgeting practices, and Senate and Agency policies and procedures.
• Analyze, make recommendations, answer questions, and prepare documents regarding budget issues.
• Prepare the fiscal analysis portion of the Agency's bill analysis documents for assigned legislative proposals before committees and the full Senate.
• Testify before Senate committees and subcommittees regarding fiscal issues as requested.
• Provide staff assistance to assigned Senate subcommittees and other members and staff of the Michigan Senate.
• As applicable, periodically update expenditure/revenue forecasts for specific budget areas throughout the fiscal year.
• As needed, develop appropriate databases, including historical and comparative information for assigned budget areas.
• Establish professional relationships with significant budget and policy staff in the Executive Branch, the House Fiscal Agency, other Senate staff offices, other government offices, and professional organizations.
• Arrange and provide staff support for public hearings on behalf of members of the Appropriations Committee.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor changes in Federal-State and State-Local relations or statutory or regulatory changes for fiscal and/or program implications in assigned budget areas.
• Design and conduct appropriation research and prepare concise reports on topical issues and their effect on State and local expenditures or revenue.
• Serve on internal Senate Fiscal Agency committees.
• Utilize available data processing systems or other tools to analyze and present information as needed.

Successful candidates must possess at least a Master’s degree in an appropriate field; a strong foundation in quantitative public policy analysis and public finance; excellent writing, research, communication, and detail-oriented skills; and the ability to perform objective and thorough fiscal policy analysis of State legislation. Knowledge of child welfare and public assistance programs and a familiarity with statistical modeling software such as R is also encouraged.

• Must possess the ability to communicate complicated and technical issues effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Must possess attention to detail and the ability to balance multiple priorities under tight timelines
• Must exhibit the ability to use tact, discretion, confidentiality, and good judgement in dealing with Senators, Legislative staff, Executive Agency Directors and staff, and members of the public and press.
• Must have knowledge of, or the ability to learn, the legislative process.
• Must possess familiarity with basic budgeting skills.
• Must display basic research, analytical and statistical skills as evidenced by a master's degree in public policy, economics, business or other related field.
• Must have experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the ability to learn new technologies and software as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS

This job is performed in a general office environment and generally requires minimal physical effort or exertion. A significant amount of each day is spent working at a personal computer. The incumbent will be required to attend in-person and virtual meetings with legislators and staff within the Lansing area and will be required to communicate orally and in writing. The sensitive nature of the position and frequent contacts with the Legislature and special interest groups may create stressful working conditions. There is pressure to work with multiple priorities under tight time frames. The job duties may require more than a normal 40-hour work week, especially while the Legislature is in session, when evening, weekend, and holiday hours may be necessary.

This job description is not intended as a comprehensive list of all of the duties required of this position. Additional duties may be assigned from time to time, and the listed duties are subject to change at any time, with or without notice.

STATUS

Salaried, with a standard benefits package

SALARY

Starting at $65,852

GOVERNING CAUCUS

Nonpartisan

This is a non-civil service, at-will position.

The Michigan Senate considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, height, weight, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. If you are a person with a qualified disability, you may request any needed reasonable accommodation to participate in the application, testing, and/or interview process by contacting the Senate ADA Coordinator at 517-373-1675.