Senior Education Budget Research Analyst
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
Full-Time
Location: MANHATTAN
No Exam Required
Department: Fiscal & Budget Study
Salary Range: $85,000.00 – $108,000.00
Job Description
The New York City Comptroller’s Office works to promote the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of New York City government, in order to strengthen trust, secure a thriving future for all New Yorkers, and build a more just, equitable, and resilient city. Led by an independently elected citywide official, the comptroller’s office provides checks and balances needed to hold City government accountable for budgeting wisely, investing responsibly, operating efficiently, acting fairly, living up to its obligations and promises, and paying attention to the long-term challenges we face together.
The Bureau of Budget evaluates New York City’s fiscal, cash, and economic position by analyzing revenue collections, expenditures, the capital program, and the condition of the local economy. The Bureau uses its charter-mandated responsibilities to promote transparency and accountability in financial reporting and budgeting. In addition to reviewing and commenting on the City’s Financial Plan and issuing reports on the City’s cash balances and debt capacity, the Bureau oversees an independent actuarial audit to review the assumptions underlying the City’s pension contributions. The Bureau also conducts regular assessments of the City’s economic outlook and revenue performance and strives to lead the dialogue on the City’s fiscal state through reliable and thought-provoking economic and budget research.
Reporting to the Director of Budget Research, the Senior Education Budget Research Analyst will support both quick turnaround projects and longer-term research on a variety of topics that pertain to funding the education of young children to young adults in the City of New York. The position requires both strong analytic capability as well as the ability to distill quantitative and qualitative results into clear findings and recommendations.
The duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to, the following:
- Monitor the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) budget as well as fiscal impacts on public schools, early childhood education and child care initiatives as well as the City University of New York (CUNY).
- Review budget documents, follow current events and legislative actions, and engage with the DOE, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other City/State Agencies on education.
- Interpret developments at the State level (including School Aid Runs, Foundation Aid for education, public university funding, legislative policy changes, and capital financing for education) and assess fiscal implications for the City.
- Identify timely and salient issues for analysis and research.
- Create and maintain datasets related to educational budget topics.
- Contribute to Charter-mandated reports with a keen eye to potential risks and unaccounted costs and impacts in relevant areas.
- Collaborate with other members of the Bureau of Budget, the Bureau of Public Policy and Organizing and other Bureaus within the office; contribute information in response to external inquiries (e.g., from press or advocacy organizations) and attend meetings and public hearings, prepare briefing notes, help develop testimony, and interact with external partners.
- Perform other related work and assignments including supervision of one or more projects as may be required.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:
(1) Master's degree in Public Policy Analysis/Administration, Urban Studies, Economics, Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field and three or more years of professional experience in budgetary planning/management, financial analysis, public policy analysis, and/or administration in a government agency or non-profit; or, (2) Combined education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above.
Minimum Qualifications
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of full-time experience in budgetary planning, financial analysis, management, or engineering. Work toward a Law degree or toward a Master's degree in business, public administration, economics, engineering or a related field may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Skills
- An eagerness to understand NYC’s educational budget and policy landscape and clarify its impact on New York’s students.
- Interest in the City’s budgetary framework, particularly as it relates to NYC’s public education system, and a desire to promote more effective and equitable government services and policies.
- Ability to analyze and distill large data sets, format spreadsheets, and effectively communicate research (especially to non-researchers).
- Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills.
- Financial modeling, statistical, and/or mapping ability.
- Knowledge of and experience with NYC’s Financial Management System as well as publicly available government data.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Openness to learning new data tools and new subject matters.
Note: We will consider all qualified applicants meeting the job requirements, regardless of an individual’s experience in specific substantive areas. However, applicants with experience working in New York City government on budgetary issues are strongly encouraged to apply.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
