Fish Program Budget Analyst - Budget Analyst 4 (In-Training) - Permanent - 2026-07954

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks a Fish Program Budget Analyst to lead strategic budget planning and financial analysis for eight divisions, overseeing a $61 million biennial operating budget.

You will develop spending plans, monitor funds, prepare fiscal notes, and guide grants and local contracts while advancing budget policy in a fast-paced environment; reporting is hybrid with in-person needs at the Olympia, WA headquarters.

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, or public administration.
• Six (6) months of professional experience as a Budget Analyst 2.
• A bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or closely related field.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, or public administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead budget planning and monitoring across divisions.
• Develop spending plans and fiscal notes for grants and contracts.
• Prepare and deliver budget reports and financial analyses.
• Collaborate with program staff and managers to improve fiscal operations.

Skills

Excel&Budgeting

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or accounting

Tools

AFRS

ABS

TALS

SPS

BDS

CBS

Enterprise Reporting (Fastrack)

Web Intelligence (AdHoc)

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Title- Fish Program Budget Analyst

Classification- Budget Analyst 4 *(In-Training)

Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent Current WDFW Program- Financial ServicesProgram Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Hybrid/Telework- While this position offers a hybrid work arrangement, the successful candidate must be available to report to the Olympia, WA headquarters as needed.

*In-Training- We are recruiting to hire at the Budget Analyst 3 (BA3) or Budget Analyst 4 (BA4) level. We will train a new hire at level BA3 up to the BA4 level.

Salary-Depending on which level you are hired at, your salary range will be as follows:

Budget Analyst 3 - $5,111.00 - $6,870.00 monthly

Budget Analyst 4 - $6,075.00 - $8,172.00 monthly

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Steelhead – Photo Credit: Dec Hogan

Serve as the Fish Program’s budget subject matter expert, providing strategic financial analysis and guidance to senior leaders and staff across eight divisions and a $61 million biennial operating budget.

In this role, envision yourself leading complex budget planning, monitoring, and decision-making, including fiscal notes, grants and financial reporting, while developing effective processes that strengthen fiscal and business operations.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Program Budget Analyst will,

• Manage ongoing division budgets, financial, and operational activities.
• Conduct in depth analyses/evaluation and provide recommended actions to identify and address issues, problems and opportunities related to assigned division budgets, financial, and/or business operations to internal and external constituents and manage implementation of changes for program effectiveness.
• Assist program staff with management of federal grants and local contracts, including developing spending plans and assisting with the submittal of contract amendments and grant applications.
• Develop and implement financial monitoring tools and reports in coordination with the Fish Program Budget Manager/Assistant Budget Manager and the Fish Program Division Managers for projections and fund balance management.
• Lead tactical and strategic budget planning and policy development within the Fish Program division assignment by managing projects to implement agency goals and objectives, strategic initiatives, and policies and procedures using work plans, written directives and workshops/trainings conducted both internally and externally.
• Monitor, interpret, prioritize, and implement budget and operational policies and procedures for the deployment of division budget and operational functions.

Serve as division expert and lead the development and production of budget and financial reports, addressing complex and sometimes unprecedented budget, financial, and operational issues:

• Under the direction of the Fish Program Budget Manager/Assistant Budget Manager, research and analyze expenditure patterns, organizational structure, and applicable state and federal regulations for issues requiring specific fiscal and operational expertise for various divisions within the Fish Program.
• Provide consultative planning and detailed analysis using Microsoft Excel to program staff in the development and monitoring of biennial and supplemental budget allotments for all fund sources including local and federal funds and associated match.

Biennial and supplemental budget, decision packages, fiscal notes and allotments/spending plans:

• Assist subject matter experts to develop accurate and timely cost estimates and fiscal notes.
• Develop maintenance level decision packages and cost projections, after analyzing expenditure data and researching various topics.

Working Conditions:

Work setting, including hazards: Assigned duty station is in Olympia, Washington, with a hybrid work arrangement (must be available to report to the Olympia, WA headquarters as needed). Work is performed almost exclusively in a fast-paced office environment with typical office work hazards such as working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, and extended periods of sitting or standing.

Schedule:

Typically, Monday – Friday working 40 hours per week, with flexibility around start and stop times (8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.). The work week may occasionally be altered by supervisor to accommodate workload periods while maintaining a 40-hour work week.

Travel Requirements:

Limited, but some travel to WDFW Regional offices and locations may be required. Occasional overnight travel may be necessary.

Customer Interactions:

Requires frequent contact with customers, who are primarily internal fiscal and program staff, and budget managers, communicating by email and/or in person.

Qualifications:

This Budget Analyst 4 (in-training) series provides mentoring and career development opportunities for candidates with limited experience.

Candidates will be hired as a Budget Analyst 3 or 4, dependent on skills and experience.

Upon satisfactory completion in-training plan, the selected candidate will automatically be promoted to a Budget Analyst 4.

Required Qualifications for the Budget Analyst 3:

Option 1: Four (4) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, or public administration.

Option 2:Six (6) months of professional experience as a Budget Analyst 2.

Option 3:A bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or closely related field.

And

Two (2) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, or public administration

Option 4:A technical degree, vocational education, or an associate’s degree in business, accounting, or closely related field.

And

Three (3) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, or public administration.

Required Qualifications for the Budget Analyst 4 (Goal Class):

Option 1: Six (6) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance or public administration.

Option 2:Six (6) months of experience as a Budget Analyst 3.

Option 3:A bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or a closely related field.

And

Four (4) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance or public administration.

Option 4: A technical degree, vocational education, or associate’s degree in business, accounting or closely related field.

And

Five (5) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance or public administration.

In addition to the options above, the following experience is required:

One (1) completed biennial cycle, with increasing levels of responsibility

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, accounting, economics, statistics, mathematics, or closely related field.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills including proficiency in analytical formulas and functions, data management, pivot tables, and charts and graphs.
• Fiscal or Budget office experience.

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Office of Financial Management (OFM) regulations, and relevant federal regulations.
• Budget and business management practices.
• Budgeting and accounting practices based on education and/or practical experience.
• Developing and managing a wide range of contracts/grant types, including federal, private/local, and interagency agreements.
• Indirect rate management and how match requirements are applied to a wide range of contract types.
• Contracting processes and reporting requirements for other governmental agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),Washington state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), Department of Ecology, and Bureau of Reclamation.
• State financial systems including AFRS, ABS, TALS, SPS, BDS, CBS, Enterprise Reporting (Fastrack), and Web Intelligence (AdHoc).

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the Benefits tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at [e-mail].
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation:

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone [phone] or email [e-mail], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties:

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or [e-mail].

Other questions:

If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to [e-mail] and reference job #2026-07954.