Budget Analyst

About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis

There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county’s government. Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents the constituents of Precinct One.

With approximately 1.17 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles. Precinct One’s multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 33 percent African American, 38 percent Latino, 21 percent Anglo, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent other or multiple races. Precinct One stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct’s territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium. Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex and the renowned Texas Medical Center. The Precinct is also the higher educational home to Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas. Precinct One manages more than 21 parks, 10 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents. 

Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Office Mission Precinct One:

Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Office, is committed to becoming a national model for delivering responsive public service that utilizes inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approaches to improve the quality of life, advance equality of opportunity, and promote the fair treatment of all people in Harris County. Key Ares of focus for our organization include, but are not limited to:

• Advancing more effective, fair and equitable criminal justice system.
• Furthering economic justice, equity, and opportunity for all Harris County residents, especially those often and historically left behind by government programs.
• Ensuring equitable outcomes in health and access to quality, affordable healthcare
• Fighting for environmental and climate justice that keeps all communities safe and healthy.
• Equitably investing in developing and maintaining resilient infrastructure and transportation for the 21st century
• Building and defending voting rights and a democracy that ensures equitable representation.
• Progressing equity and social and racial justice as common threads through all areas of public policy and public service.

What you will do at Precinct One:

Serves as the lead capital budget strategist, guiding complex budget analysis and resource allocation across the organization. Oversees the development of executive-level financial insights, identifies key performance variances, and drives data-informed decisions. Partners with Division leadership to align fiscal strategies with organizational goals, providing expert leadership in forecasting, reporting, and long-term financial sustainability. Position requires minimal oversight, demonstrates effective decision-making, and time management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads financial data analysis to identify discrepancies and ensure fiscal accuracy. Oversees fund disbursement processes, applying advanced analytics to guide budget decisions and drive continuous improvement in financial strategy.
• Oversee funding compliance and develop solutions to ensure effective capital
• improvement project financial execution. Provides strategic direction and cross- functional coordination of capital funding sources.
• Leads the development of financial forecasts to produce high-impact budget reports. Provides strategic guidance and analytical leadership to recommend executive-level insights that inform resource allocation, financial evaluation, and long-term planning across the organization.
• Prepares and monitors the annual operating and maintenance budget, creates monthly financial reports, identifies and researches anomalies, and provides insight and recommendations based on financial data.
• Advises on utilization of debt instruments, non-debt funding sources, funding availability, and ensures compliance with Debt Policy and funding restrictions.
• Serves as backup to Budget Management as needed. Delegates and oversees financial projects and analysis. Trains new staff on County and department processes and policies.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or other related degrees from an accredited college or university

Experience:

• Five (5) years of experience in an Accounting or finance position
• Five (5) years of experience in budgeting, financial analysis, or related fields such as Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
• Five (5) years of experience in forecasting

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and mathematical skills, proficiency in financial software and spreadsheets, and a solid understanding of government regulations regarding budgeting and financial management. 
• Effective written and verbal communications, strong decision-making and critical thinking skills, and effective time and project management abilities. 
• Able to build effective and trusting relationships with key stakeholders.
• Capital Budgeting. • Cost Allocation: Allocating costs accurately across various programs, departments, or projects across various programs, departments, or projects. • Financial Management Software: Proficiency in systems like PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP, or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. • Financial modeling: Build financial models to forecast budgets and simulate different financial scenarios.
• Policy Knowledge: Master fund accounting principles for government entities. Master the GASB standards that govern how public sector budgets and financial reports should be prepared and presented. Master the Texas state regulations and laws related to budgeting, finance, and public expenditures. Master Financial Compliance: Ensuring that budgets and expenditures comply with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards. Master Internal Controls: Knowledge of financial controls and audit processes to ensure the integrity of budget execution.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Certification:

• Professional finance designation/licenses from one or more of the following or similar designations or entities: CPA, IPMA, CMFOA, or GFOA. (preferred)

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Full-time | Regular

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and copiers
• This role is a standard office role which requires remaining stationary for long periods of time. At times files or boxes must be transported weighing up to 15lbs

What You Get in Return

You will be surrounded by coworkers who bring their best daily. Passionate people who want to make a difference in the communities Precinct One serves and Harris County as a whole. You will be in a mission-driven organization surrounded by colleagues who bring their best to work each day and collaborate to make a difference in the communities Precinct One serves along with Harris County as a whole.

Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of full-time continued employment. Vacation, sick time and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program allows employees to save for retirement. Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees.