Senior Legislative Analyst (#MABZ43)
$75,286.00 Yearly Min / $94,107.00 Yearly Mid / $112,928.00 Yearly Max

A class incumbent performs advanced level fiscal and policy analysis.  Work involves performing financial and policy analysis of budgets, organizational, and management problems statewide; preparing fiscal notes for Bills or Resolutions; and proposing expenditure of funds or decreasing revenue.

• Works with agencies' fiscal, policy, and management issues as they relate to the annual state budget process.
• Maintains a continuous contact with Legislative, Executive, and Judicial officials and other officials from federal, local and state governments.

A class incumbent works under the direction of the Controller General and is involved in the preparation and administration of complex and varied fiscal/management studies or projections. An incumbent participates in the development of fiscal policies for departments throughout the state and develops and makes policy recommendations for legislative consideration. In addition, an incumbent makes recommendations and reports, both verbally and in writing, to the Controller General, Joint Finance Committee, other legislative committees, and individual legislators. The incumbent coordinates and participates in studies of pertinent legislation from state and federal governments to determine fiscal, policy and/or organizational impact on existing or proposed state programs. Work is performed in a legislative environment. A significant aspect of this work involves working with administrative and legislative officials to initiate, adopt, and implement effective and efficient statewide budget and management policies and procedures. Work is carried out in accordance with Controller General directives, functional precedents, practices and policies. At this level an incumbent "takes the lead" in a specific area or areas of major significance to the State. Activities are frequently sensitive and confidential in nature and have significant impact on the policy and operation of State government. An employee in this class participates in advisory committee deliberations regarding federal block grants and reviews and comments on applications from agencies for federal funding prior to action by the State Clearinghouse Committee. In addition, the incumbent may serve as a designee of the Controller General at policy making meetings. The incumbents work closely with principle administrators or Department/Agency Heads to assist in coordinating statewide budget and management programs, to include interpreting statues, development of legislation and assisting agencies in implementing new and revised legislation.  Incumbents monitor the execution of the annual operating and capital budgets to insure proper program performance in line with decisions made by the Governor and Legislature. A class incumbent may perform management and programmatic studies or analysis of state programs. Additional responsibilities shall include the formulation of fiscal notes on bills or resolutions.  Negotiation of issues, analysis of situations, the ability to make immediate decisions/recommendations, and identification of emerging issues of major importance to the general assembly or functions of major significant to this class.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides complete financial analysis and forecasting for the Controller General and Joint Finance Committee and legislature in the area of revenue and expenditures.
   
• Provides draft legislation and includes estimated fiscal impact of such legislation.
   
• Provides the Controller General and Joint Finance Committee with complete analysis of departmental operating budget and capital budget requests.
   
• Provides specialized and technical research projects at the request of the Controller General and/or General Assembly.
   
• Provides legislative expertise and insight to state agencies in their formulation of the annual budget and/or supplementary budgetary requests.
   
• Oversees and provides direction and guidance to new or lower level staff.
   
• Interprets statutes, develops legislation, and assists agencies in implementing legislation.
   
• Monitors the execution of the budget for proper program conformance in line with the intent of the decisions made by the General Assembly.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of governmental budgetary control and public administration accounting.
• Knowledge of the objectives, principles and practices of public administration, management and supervision and techniques used in the analysis of related problems.
• Knowledge of statistics and evaluation design.
• Knowledge of the purpose, preparation and effective use of departmental fiscal/management programs.
• Skill in the use of interviewing, observing and reporting techniques as analytical tools.
• Skill in fiscal policy analysis and in the analysis of budgetary and management operations in the public sector.
• Ability to work in a legislative environment.
• Ability to prepare and analyze complex reports, financial statements and other materials pertinent to the determination of budget and accounts matters.
• Ability to analyze complex programs with statewide or multi-departmental breath including policy implementations.
• Ability to lead in analysis of programs, development of alternatives, and program decision-making under general policy outlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with state agencies, legislative leadership and the public.
• Ability to serve for the Controller General in his/her absence.
• Ability to recognize and maintain the sensitivity of non public assignments in the legislative process.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Senior Legislative Analyst
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Public Administration, Business, Accounting, Economics or related field.
2. Three years experience in financial administration such as comprehensive analysis of programs, budgets, projects, services, alternatives, and costs; financial planning, revenue generation, revenue forecasting, expenditure forecasting, cash flow management and establishing internal control.
3. Three years experience in developing solutions and providing recommendations, guidance and direction to management/officials in accomplishing organizational and operational goals and objectives and identifying and resolving issues.
4. Three years experience in developing, reviewing and analyzing public policies.
5. Six months experience in analyzing legislation.
6. Six months experience in narrative report writing.