Full Job Description
Description
WASHINGTON STATE SENATE
EXEMPT RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
FISCAL ANALYST
Senate Ways & Means Committee
Senate Committee Services (SCS) provides professional nonpartisan research, fiscal and policy analysis, and administrative support services to each member of the Washington State Senate and its committees. For more information on SCS, please visit our website at:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/Pages/default.aspx.
SCS is seeking candidates for a Fiscal Analyst position with the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The specific assignment is likely to include general government related agencies, statewide elected officials, and the judicial branch. This is a full-time, nonpartisan position, exempt from civil service.
Duties
SCS provides nonpartisan staff support to the members and committees of the Washington State Senate in Olympia, Washington. Duties include:
- Reviewing and evaluating operating budget requests submitted by state agencies and the Governor.
- Creating and manipulating complex fiscal models to assess costs and alternatives of budget proposals.
- Developing thorough understanding of agency revenues and expenditures using tools and reports to extract data from statewide accounting and budgeting systems.
- Being an expert-level resource to Senators on assigned agency programs, activities, and budgets.
- Analyzing legislation with fiscal impact and following the progress of bills through the legislative process.
- Drafting bills, amendments, and other legislative documents.
- Developing and evaluating policy alternatives to assist Senators in meeting their goals.
- Presenting legislation and other budgetary matters to the Committee.
- Developing appropriate professional relationships with state agency staff and interest groups.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Desirable qualifications include:
- Experience with or knowledge of public sector budgeting and procedures is desired but not required.
- Excellent analytical, quantitative, writing, problem solving, and oral communication skills.
- A creative, flexible, and service-oriented approach to work.
- Capability to handle the complex, difficult situations that are common in the fast-paced, results-oriented, high-pressure legislative environment.
- Proficiency in multiple computer applications, including applications involving complex spreadsheets and databases for fiscal/budget modeling purposes, word processing software, presentation applications, and online research.
- Ability to develop methods or models to analyze and evaluate fiscal impacts of policy proposals using available information and data. Ability to understand and assess the quality and methodology of fiscal analyses created by others.
- Knowledge of the legislative process.
- Proven ability to perform high-quality, objective research and analysis in a position requiring high levels of self-direction.
- Willingness to work the long, irregular hours that are common during a legislative session.
EDUCATION
A master’s degree in public administration, business administration, political science, economics, or allied field is desirable but not required.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The Legislature meets annually on the second Monday in January in the Capitol Building in Olympia. Regular legislative sessions take place January through March in even-numbered years and January through April in odd-numbered years. Special legislative sessions occur as needed. Permanent staff work year-round supporting the Senate and its members.
- Long and irregular hours are required during the legislative session, including evening and weekend work. When the Legislature is not in session, flexible schedule options are available.
- This position works in-person in Olympia during the legislative session. When the Legislature is not in session, remote work is supported, except when needed to be in-person for training or legislative meetings.
Supplemental Information
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salaries for professional legislative staff are competitive. The salary range for this position is $75,000 – $113,000 annually depending on experience and qualifications. The Senate offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; vacation, sick, military, bereavement, and civil leave; ten paid holidays per year; a state retirement plan; deferred compensation; healthcare flexible spending account; dependent care assistance; infant at work policy, optional credit unions and savings bonds; and tuition reimbursement.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the application form accessed on the Senate Committee Services Employment and Intern Opportunities webpage. All application materials should be submitted by Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as soon as possible as screening, interviewing, and selection will begin immediately. Phone contact: Liza Weeks at (360) 786-7716.
Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the Senate Human Resource Officer at (360) 786-7583 or Senate.HRO@leg.wa.gov.
The Senate is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability.