Fiscal Analyst

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

Job summary

State of Michigan's Senate Fiscal Agency seeks a Fiscal Analyst to analyze budget areas and prepare fiscal analyses for the Senate Appropriations Committee. The role involves drafting appropriations bills, clerking subcommittee meetings, and responding to inquiries about the appropriations process.

Candidates should have a Master's degree in public policy or related field plus strong writing and quantitative skills.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in public policy, economics, business or related field.
• Strong writing and communication skills with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of budgeting concepts and legislative processes.

Responsibilities

• Analyze budget areas and prepare fiscal analyses for Senate committees.
• Draft appropriations documents and support subcommittee meetings.
• Testify before committees on fiscal issues as requested.
• Provide staff assistance to Senate subcommittees and staff.
• Update expenditure/revenue forecasts as needed throughout the year.
• Develop databases with historical and comparative data.

Skills

Analytical skills

Oral & written communication

Attention to detail

Budgeting basics

Discretion & confidentiality

Multitasking under deadlines

Education

Master's degree in public policy or related

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Posting number: 09242026

Department: Senate Fiscal Agency

Job classification: SFA Fiscal Analyst

Posting type: Open

Categories: Accounting and Finance, Miscellaneous, Business

Summary

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

1. 1. Become familiar with a specific budget area(s), State budgeting practices, and Senate and Agency policies and procedures.
2. 2. Analyze, make recommendations, answer questions, and prepare documents regarding budget issues.
3. 3. Prepare the fiscal analysis portion of the Agency's bill analysis documents for assigned legislative proposals before committees and the full Senate.
4. 4. Testify before Senate committees and subcommittees regarding fiscal issues as requested.
5. 5. Provide staff assistance to assigned Senate subcommittees and other members and staff of the Michigan Senate.
6. 6. As applicable, periodically update expenditure/revenue forecasts for specific budget areas throughout the fiscal year.
7. 7. As needed, develop appropriate databases, including historical and comparative information for assigned budget areas.
8. 8. 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.
9. 9. Arrange and provide staff support for public hearings on behalf of members of the Appropriations Committee.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

Examples of duties

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.

Qualifications

1. 1. Must possess the ability to communicate complicated and technical issues effectively, both orally and in writing.
2. 2. Must possess attention to detail and the ability to balance multiple priorities under tight timelines
3. 3. Must exhibit the ability to use tact, discretion, confidentiality, and good judgment in dealing with Senators, Legislative staff, Executive Agency Directors and staff, and members of the public and press.
4. 4. Must have knowledge of, or the ability to learn, the legislative process.
5. 5. Must possess familiarity with basic budgeting skills.
6. 6. Must display basic research, analytical and statistical skills as evidenced by a master's degree in public policy, economics, business or other related field.
7. 7. 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.

Supplemental information

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.