DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

The work involves responsibility for assisting the Director of Fiscal Services and Chief Financial Officer of the Syracuse City Schools with the organization and planning of budget and related accounting and fiscal matters for the district. The employee in this classification assists in the coordination of the budget process by analyzing budget projections and forecasts against the various sources of educational funding to ensure that anticipated needs are met. The Assistant Director will represent the Director of Fiscal Services in his/her absence. Work duties include assisting in budget preparation, control and maintenance, as well as providing staff support to education administrators in the control of fiscal expenditures. Work is performed independently with work being reviewed through conferences and written and oral reports. Considerable latitude is allowed for the exercise of independent judgment in all areas of concern within established guidelines and policies of the City School District and State Education Department An employee in this class exercises supervision over a number of budget analysts and support paraprofessional and clerical staff. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Assists the Director in planning, preparing, controlling and administering the Syracuse City School District’s budget.
Reviews and assesses current funding and makes recommendations to address unanticipated changes.
Ensures that all financial statements and records are properly maintained and available for review.
Ensures that all budgeting functions remain consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices.
Coordinates and supervises the work of professional staff in reviewing requests, analyzing operations, controlling budgets and preparing reports.
Analyses the impact of the New York State budget on the Syracuse City Schools budget and prepares a written impact statement for the Chief Financial Officer.
Develops strategies to minimize or accommodate the impact of the State budget package on the district within the current year’s resources.
Analyzes and forecasts State and Federal mandates on a monthly and quarterly basis.
Assists with departmental initiatives designed to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness of services; assists with departmental reallocations of resources upon request.
Analyzes, reviews and develops alternative streams of revenue for school district programs.
Provides support to administrators by recommending alternative fiscal plans and forecasting availability of resources to meet long-range needs.
Supervises and monitors the position control system which includes the authorization and slotting process for staff allocation district wide.
Participates in district management team meetings that deal with the formulation of school district fiscal policy.
Participates in and supports implementation of labor management contract negotiations.
Confers with administrative officials on budget funding and expenditures.
Makes proposals of allocation of resources in accordance with priorities, needs and consequences.
Supervises and compiles studies and cost analyses.
Assists in the organization and preparation of the budget for a fiscal year, meeting with administrators to revise or finalize projected expenditures, cuts or revisions.
Reviews budget procedures and makes recommendations for changes to improve efficiency and cost control.
Recommends and coordinates the preparation of special reports, studies and analyses as needed.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern public education budgeting including budget preparation, cost analysis, monitoring and forecasting of expenditures and program evaluation.
Thorough knowledge of the educational programs, operations, goals and objectives of the District.
Good knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration as applied to the budget process.
Good knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.
Good knowledge of the techniques and methods used in productivity measurement, information systems design and data gathering techniques.
Working knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations that govern the operation of a public education system in a large city that may impact and effect budgetary expenditures
Ability to gather and analyze program and fiscal information and draw logical conclusions.
Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to prepare reports of studies and budget analyses for use in the budget process.
Ability to recognize the implications of present and projected resources in evaluating existing and proposed programs.
Ability to review, analyze and make recommendations on budget issues.
Ability to identify existing and anticipated budget problems and recommend appropriate solutions.
Ability to support written reports orally at conferences.
Ability to relate well with others in working relationships.
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:
One (1) year of permanent competitive class status as a Budget Analyst III or two (2) years of permanent competitive class status as a Budget Analyst II.

Open-Competitive

A. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university of one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a baccalaureate degree and three (3) years of professional level work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in budget administration; financial administration, personnel or organization management; program planning or development in government, of which one (1) year must have been in a supervisory capacity in financial administration, budget administration; or budget analysis, or,
B. Seven (7) years of paraprofessional or professional level work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in budget administration; financial administration; personnel or organization management; program planning and development in government; or in business organization and methods planning; three (3) years of which must have been in a professional level capacity including one (1) year in a supervisory capacity in financial administration, budget administration; or budget analysis; or,
C An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of A. and B.

NOTE: Successful completion of graduate semester hours in finance, economics, accounting, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees may be substituted for work experience as follows: Thirty (30) graduate semester hours is equivalent to one (1) year of non-supervisory work experience; Sixty (60) graduate semester hours is equivalent to two (2) years of non-supervisory work experience.

11/2004 Date of Original Composition