Senior Financial Analyst

Senior Financial Analyst

The Senior Financial Analyst provides comprehensive financial analysis, budget management, and strategic financial planning support with a strong focus on public funding, particularly related to local ballot measures and Early Childhood Education (ECE) initiatives. This role assesses and monitors the impact of federal and state ECE funding on local funding streams, developing financial models, and applying advanced data-analysis techniques to guide decision-making processes. The Senior Financial Analyst works closely with the Finance leadership and other departments to ensure the agency’s financial health, legislative compliance, and strategic goal alignment.

Examples of Typical Job Functions

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Perform detailed financial analysis, including variance analysis, trend analysis, and forecasting.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support strategic initiatives and long-term planning.
• Develop and analyze cost allocation plans to ensure fair distribution of costs across programs and funding sources, aligning with organizational goals and compliance requirements.
• Assess, monitor, and report on the impact of federal and state Early Childhood Education (ECE) funding initiatives on local funding streams, ensuring alignment with strategic financial goals.
• Leverage advanced data-analysis techniques to evaluate the budgetary implications of funding changes and to identify emerging trends in public and educational funding streams, guiding strategic decision-making.
• Works closely with Agency financial operations including contracts, accounting, and budget to ensure appropriate leveraging, fiscal monitoring, and auditing of ECE resources, including support of the year-end close and cost modeling for requisite Alameda County Board of Supervisor and Alameda County First 5 Commission fiscal plans and annual programmatic budget appropriations.
• In coordination with the program, data, technology, and finance teams, oversees, conducts, and reviews analysis that informs financial modeling, program design, and budget allocations.
• Works in close alignment with internal and external ECE partners and related stakeholders, including ECE Quality Counts team, Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Alternative Payment Agencies, state ECE Title 5 contractors, and others.
• Keeps abreast of and anticipates proposed federal and state budget implications. Coordinates with First 5 budget and policy staff in tracking policy priorities of Title 5 providers, ECE Planning Council, Alternative Payment Agencies, provider networks, and other stakeholder concerns that have system implications for the budget and program.
• Assist in preparing annual budget and monitor budget performance throughout the fiscal year.
• Analyze and interpret financial data to provide insight and support decision-making processes.
• Prepare and present financial reports to senior management, highlighting key insights and recommendations.
• Conduct financial reviews and audits to ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Collaborate with various departments to gather financial information and ensure accuracy in financial reporting.
• Monitor and analyze key financial metrics and provide regular updates to the finance leadership.
• Support the preparation for annual financial audits and assist with auditor inquiries.
• Assist in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Participate in special finance projects as assigned by the finance leadership.
• Additional projects and duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Minimum eight years full-time progressively responsible relevant experience preferably in a non-profit or public sector environment including:
• Minimum of three years of verifiable experience in complex budget and fiscal analysis within a public agency or non-profit organization, with a focus on public funding mechanisms.
• Proven experience in interpreting, analyzing, and implementing complex legislation, including local and federal measures, with a direct impact on budget allocations and spending within public or educational sectors.
• Experience building, stress testing and using financial modeling for complex public finance system building and forecasting.
• Minimum of five years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and financial planning
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field may be substituted for 4 years of experience. A Master’s degree or CPA certification may be substituted for an additional year of experience.

Additional Requirements:

Travel within Alameda County as necessary to carry out job duties. Some travel outside Alameda County occasionally required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); strongly prefer knowledge of practices for municipal governments.
• Principles of municipal investment accounting.
• Internal control mechanisms.
• Familiarity with common accounting software; prefer knowledge of Abila MIP Fund Accounting.
• General knowledge of payroll processing; prefer knowledge of Paycom payroll software.
• Processes and procedures for accounts payable and 1099 preparation.
• Principles of public administration.
• Principles of research and report preparation.
• Principles and practices of management, supervision, training, and team leadership.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Principles and practices of contract negotiation, development, and management.
• Budgetary and contract administration practices.
• Principles and practices of planning and project management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced level Excel; Office 365 preferred.

Ability to:

• Serve effectively as a member of the Finance Leadership Team.
• Provide leadership and effectively organize, coordinate, and supervise professional and administrative staff.
• Establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with a wide range of professionals, including but not limited to agency staff and financial institutions.
• Work with and safeguard confidential information.
• Exercise sound judgment within generally established policies and procedures to select appropriate strategies and make and carry out effective decisions.
• Think proactively, anticipate and identify problems, gather information/data to analyze situations, and develop effective recommendations and solutions.
• Organize and implement a variety of financial operations; maintain accurate work records and files.
• Complete complex financial calculations accurately and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Verify the accuracy of accounting, banking, investment, payroll, and financial data.
• Review documents for completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorization, and compliance with regulations and procedures.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, including the ability to write reports.
• Read, analyze, and interpret common professional publications; policy documents; financial statements, reports, transactions, and records; and related business documents and information.
• Demonstrate initiative and work independently with little supervision.
• Plan and organize work to ensure organizational and finance goals are achieved.
• Meet attendance requirements of the position; be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements for work performance.
• Adapt with minimal or no advance notice to changes in agency operations and work assignments or procedures.
• Promote teamwork and integration within and across the agency.
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in a variety of contexts.
• Plan and project manage work to ensure organizational goals are achieved.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to work remotely and in a standard office environment; use standard office equipment and handle documents; read handwritten, printed materials and computer screen; communicate in person, before groups, by telephone, and email.
• Occasionally lift and/or push, pull, and carry materials and objects up to 15 pounds.
• Frequently type and/or enter data for approximately 5 to 7 hours per day.
• The work environment may have a moderate noise level 

Please note:

• We are currently working a hybrid 2 day per week in-office schedule and employees also come to the office to attend meetings and as requested.
• All First 5 employees must live and work in California.
• The salary range for this position is $111,000 to $154,000 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.

Equal Opportunity Employment

First 5 Alameda County is an equal opportunity employer. The Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion (including religious dress or grooming), creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions) or gender, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disabilities, color, marital status, registered domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status, exercise of rights under the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law or the California Family Rights Act, or any other basis protected by applicable law.