Senior Budget & Performance Analyst

First-5-Alameda; Alameda (CA); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Commuter benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

First 5 Alameda County is seeking a Senior Budget & Performance Analyst for our Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team. This newly formed group partners with stakeholders across the agency to conduct strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis.

The ideal candidate will develop budgets and models, monitor program performance, design dashboards, and translate analyses into clear recommendations for leadership.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible budgeting and financial analysis experience; relevance to public sector preferred.
• Experience with project management and cross-functional coordination.
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, cost modeling, and quantitative analysis.
• Experience building and maintaining dashboards and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop agency budgets, forecasts, financial models, and analyses to support planning and decision‑making.
• Partner with program and policy teams to assess financial implications of options.
• Design dashboards and reporting systems to improve transparency and performance.
• Translate analyses into actionable recommendations for leadership.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Cost analysis

Data dashboards

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Policy/Public Administration/Business Administration/Finance/Accounting/Economics

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

First 5 Alameda County is seeking a Senior Budget & Performance Analyst for our Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team. This is a new team that will partner with stakeholders across First 5 to conduct strategic financial planning, budgeting, cost modeling, forecasting, and performance analysis. The team’s work will guide organizational decision-making, fiscal sustainability, operational performance, and the impact of major initiatives serving children and families across Alameda County.The ideal candidate is adaptable, curious, and eager to develop new approaches, tools, and processes in collaboration with the FP&A team and organizational partners.Financial planning and analysisDevelop agency-wide budgets, forecasts, financial models, and fiscal analyses to support strategic planning, resource allocation, and executive decision-makingPartner with Program, Fiscal Policy, Data, and other teams to assess the financial and operational implications of program and policy options throughout design, implementation, and refinementAnalyze funding requirements, cost drivers, and revenue and expenditure patterns to inform budgets, forecasts, and revenue maximization strategiesPerformance monitoringMonitor the financial and operational performance of programs and contracts, including expenditures, spend rates, budget variances, unit costs, and utilizationDesign and maintain dashboards, analytical tools, and performance-reporting systems that improve transparency, accountability, and program alignmentIdentify trends, risks, opportunities, and analysis gaps requiring additional studyReporting and recommendationsTranslate complex analyses into clear, actionable recommendations for agency leadership and other stakeholdersPrepare executive-level reports and presentations that clearly communicate findings and recommendationsProcess improvementImprove budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analytical processes to support accuracy, consistency, and efficiencyDevelop data-driven solutions that enhance agency-wide financial and operational performanceMinimum QualificationsAny combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Experience and/or education can be substituted to meet qualifications. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in roles involving budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, or public sector finance, including at least one (1) year of experience involving project management and cross-functional coordinationA bachelor’s degree* in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field*A degree is not required and relevant experience may substitute for education requirement.Knowledge of:Principles and practices of budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, cost modeling, and quantitative analysisAdvanced techniques in Microsoft ExcelTools for building and managing reporting dashboards (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)Early childhood systemsPublic agency funding structures, revenue sources, government budgeting, public policy, and grant requirementsSocial impact and equity principlesAbility to:Analyze financial and other dataBuild and maintain budgets and financial models with attention to detailBlend varied financial, programmatic, and other data to meet analysis needsGround analysis in relevant policy contextConduct quality checks for accuracyBuild and maintain data dashboardsUse AI tools to support analysis (or an eagerness to learn)Manage projects with independence and flexibilityManage multiple analytical workstreams and deliverablesWork independently with a high degree of ownershipProvide thought partnership and backup to teammatesHold ambiguity and operate flexibly in dynamic environments where needs evolve and timelines shiftCommunicate effectively and build trusting relationshipsProduce high-quality written communications and deliverablesClearly present findings to varied audiences, including agency leadersBuild trust and credibility with internal and external stakeholdersPartner effectively with Program, Fiscal Policy, Data, and other teams on deliverables and cross-functional workNavigate political complexity with maturity, discretion, sound judgment, and a commitment to equityPlease note:We are currently working a hybrid 2 day per week in-office schedule; employees also come to the office to attend meetings on additional days as requested.All First 5 employees must live and work in California.The salary range for this position is $104,000 – $150,000 and as an independent government agency, the posted salary is the set salary range for this position. We cannot offer salaries above this posted range.We conduct reference and background checks for all potential employees.About First 5 Alameda CountyFirst 5 Alameda County believes every child in Alameda County should have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential. Through innovative programs and policy advocacy, we help provide children and their families access to resources that support their first five years of development.Join our mission-driven team that in partnership with the community, supports a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves peak years of child development.First 5 Alameda County BenefitsWe offer a comprehensive benefits package with health care options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. These benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage, $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Plan and more.We also offer paid vacation, paid time off and sick time. We have 17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off.