School Finance Analyst

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Flexible work schedules

Health insurance

Job summary

Colorado Department of Education is seeking a School Finance Analyst to support state funding calculations for districts, charter schools, and BOCES. You will manage data, perform complex financial analyses, and help ensure timely funding and data quality across Colorado's public education system.

The role emphasizes collaboration with districts, adherence to funding laws, and delivering actionable financial insights to support decision-making across the Public School Finance Unit.

Qualifications

• One to three years of experience with complex data sets and in a financial setting.
• Experience in governmental accounting, finance, public policy, auditing, or related field is preferred.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to analyze financial data.

Responsibilities

• Support administration of the Public School Finance Act and related funding programs.
• Perform monthly and annual school finance calculations and adjustments.
• Validate data and calculations with districts and program staff.
• Develop and maintain procedures and documentation for funding responsibilities.
• Provide training and resources to districts on school finance.
• Run data queries and deliver financial information to stakeholders.

Skills

Data analysis

Excel

SQL

Power BI

Tableau

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Tools

PivotTables

GAAP

Job description

This position is not part of the classified personnel system; applications will be accepted from Residents and Non-Residents of Colorado.

Incumbent will be required to live in and complete work for CDE within Colorado.

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 184 school districts, 1,886 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

Why Work For CDE

The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!

The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals.
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org.
• Employer-paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply).
• Paid professional development opportunities.

A wide salary range is posted for this position, and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority relative to others performing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Work Environment

This position is full-time, funded by state funding (funding is contingent upon availability), and is eligible for a hybrid work environment.

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• 5% Travel required within Denver Metro/Downtown for Meetings/Training
• A Remote (Home) office is required.
• Required to report to the work location per business needs
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • LIGHT/Office environment:
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
    • May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
    • Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
  • DL Not Required: Required to independently obtain and determine means to complete travel requirements. (For positions that only report to CDE locations and can use public transportation to complete that.)

Join the Colorado Department of Education as a School Finance Analyst and help ensure accurate, timely funding for schools across the state. Put your financial analysis, data management, and problem-solving skills to work supporting school districts and strengthening Colorado’s public education system.

Position Summary

The School Finance Analyst performs complex financial, data, and program analysis supporting the calculation and distribution of state funding to Colorado school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES). The position is part of the Public School Finance Unit team responsible for ensuring districts receive accurate and timely funding and have access to reliable financial information to support local decision-making.

The Analyst supports administration of the Public School Finance Act, categorical and other statutory funding programs, pupil count and enrollment processes, mill levy calculations, financial data collections, and other funding activities administered by the unit.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Support administration of the Public School Finance Act, including calculation, reconciliation, and documentation of district Total Program funding and monthly state share distributions.
• Perform assigned monthly and annual school finance calculations, including Charter School Institute funding, district estimates, prior-year corrections, pupil count audit adjustments, and other statutory funding changes.
• Administer assigned categorical and statutory funding programs, including CDE-40 Transportation, facility school funding, small attendance center funding, and other assigned distributions.
• Review and validate data supporting funding calculations and work with school districts and CDE program staff to resolve data, calculation, and payment issues.
• Support annual and supplemental pupil count processes, including district projections, student eligibility questions, data compilation, quality review, and analysis of funding impacts.
• Collect and analyze assessed valuation and local finance data and support calculation of district mill levies, local share, and mill levy certifications.
• Compile district election and local finance information related to bonds, overrides, transportation, and other local funding measures. Prepare district and statewide funding estimates, reports, datasets, and financial analyses using enrollment, assessed valuation, pupil count, and other school finance information.
• Perform detailed quality assurance and reconciliation of funding calculations, formulas, data inputs, reports, communications, and statewide distributions.
• Run data queries and provide school finance, pupil count, and financial information to CDE staff, state agencies, school districts and other authorized stakeholders.
• Support implementation and testing of statutory, formula, system, and reporting changes and identify opportunities to automate processes, strengthen internal controls, and improve data quality.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, calculation documentation, and supporting records for assigned funding and operational responsibilities.
• Provide timely technical assistance and guidance to districts regarding school finance calculations, categorical funding, pupil counts, mill levies, data collections, and related requirements.
• Develop and deliver training, presentations, tools, and written resources for district business officials and other stakeholders.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, public policy, education, data analysis, or a related field.
• Relevant professional experience may substitute for education as permitted by CDE and State of Colorado personnel requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Qualifications for Success in the Position:

• One (1) to three (3) years of experience working with complex data sets and in
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience working in a financial setting
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience working in governmental accounting, finance, public policy, auditing, or a related field.
• Intermediate to Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience working with financial or other complex datasets.
• Experience performing financial, fiscal, data, and/or policy analysis.
• Ability to learn and apply complex financial formulas and statutory requirements.
• Capacity to work independently and without supervision
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, recommending, or implementing policies and procedures.
• Experience or interest in creating, developing or refining standard operating procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify inconsistencies in data and calculations.
• Ability to perform calculations, reconciliations, projections, and data quality reviews accurately.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, recurring processes, and quickly changing priorities.
• Strong customer service skills and professional communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to explain complex financial or technical topics to non-financial audiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to independently research and resolve issues.

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required)

• Experience with Colorado public school finance, K-12 education funding, or governmental financial programs.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, complex formulas, and data analysis functions.
• Experience performing financial calculations, reconciliations, projections, and quality assurance reviews.
• Experience using SQL, Power BI, Tableau, or similar data analysis and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting principles, education funding legislation, or Colorado school finance statutes.

Conditions of Employment (Required)

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently determine, obtain means