Fiscal Analyst

Are you interested in joining a team where everybody “counts”, “talking trash” is highly encouraged, and “differences” are always “reconciled”? Puns intended! ;) If so, the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department is seeking an ambitious, detail-oriented, self-starter for our Fiscal Analyst position! Our ideal candidate has skill and experience in discovering and analyzing correlations between financial and operational data sets to craft insightful visualizations, inform our decisions, and unveil our untold stories.

The Fiscal Analyst will be responsible for preparing and maintaining a variety of financial reports that create insightful correlations between the department’s revenues and expenses and operational processes. This complex analysis work will require a high level of critical and strategic thinking and the ability to work independently through ambiguous situations. This role will also support the department’s annual budget process and aide in the daily monitoring and maintenance of a $49.2 million operating budget.

The Fiscal Analyst will join the Fiscal Services Program within the department’s Administrative Division. The Fiscal Services Program is responsible for overseeing all fiscal, capital improvement planning, and business plan functions for the Solid Waste Services Department. The fiscal team consists of: (1) Fiscal Supervisor, (2) fiscal analysts, (1) fiscal specialist, and (1) inventory technician.

About Solid Waste Services – More Than What Meets the Eye!

The waste management and collection business has never been known for its glamour and allure, however, there is much more to its operation than what meets the eye. This multi-faceted industry is responsible for much more than just managing waste. As society evolves toward a more circular economy and landfill space concerns grow, more emphasis is placed on environmentally conscious and sustainable waste management. As a result, municipal solid waste programs play an integral role in the preservation and protection of the community’s natural resources and sustainable growth. Despite the stigma, the waste management and collection industry offer many of the same opportunities as others: advanced technology and innovation, budget management, capital improvement planning, outreach, and communications.

The City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department is responsible for the collection and processing of household garbage, recycling, and yard waste materials our 125,000 valued customers. As an essential and critical service, we take great pride in our role in the preservation and protection of the community’s natural resources and sustainable growth.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for analyzing, preparing, and distributing a range of financial and fiscal reports and statements for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Conducts research and analysis of financial accounts, transfers, contract expenditures, and other complex fiscal data to support the development of SWS's budget and monitor actuals and future expenditure requirements.
• Develops financial forecasts by analyzing programmatic needs, expenditure patterns, funding trends, and anticipated economic changes.
• As a key member of the team, the finance resource is essential to the group's mission, serving as the primary point of contact for all budget-related inquiries. This role involves advising both internal and external stakeholders on financial matters.
• Advises the Fiscal Supervisor on discrepancies, variances, and financial irregularities, with a focus on those impacting significant expenditure accounts, and provides recommendations for resolution.
• Collaborates with department staff to identify, analyze, and prioritize operational needs. Evaluates these needs during the budget cycle and monitors them throughout the year.
• Recommends approaches for linking strategic objectives to performance targets.
• Acts as the departmental liaison to internal and external customers, working closely with assigned staff to ensure deadlines are consistently met and requested information is provided promptly.
• As the primary point of contact for departmental contracts, this position is responsible for drafting, maintaining, and overseeing all contractual agreements.
• Special projects may involve developing a capital improvement plan, training staff on monitoring and evaluating division budgets, and managing contracts. This includes writing requests for proposals (RFPs), reviewing submissions, participating on evaluation committees, and overseeing contract performance post-award.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration and two years of professional finance, budget analysis or accounting experience. Some assignments may require experience with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and/or public sector accounting and budgeting.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Unsure about your experience? If you are a proactive and fast learner, don’t worry. We are looking for candidates with transferrable financial processing experience/education and a keen ability to analyze data OR candidates with extensive experience and skill in data analysis and visualization with a conceptual understanding of financial processes.

No solid waste experience? No problem, we will teach you! The selected candidate must have the tenacity and initiative to fully embed themselves into the operation of the department and take a proactive and aggressive approach to learning on the job.