Financial Analyst IV (ODFS DIVISION)

OFFICE OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - OFFICE OF DEPARTMENTAL FINANCIAL SERVICES

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The Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Office of Departmental Financial Services division is accepting applications for a Financial Analyst IV position.

Position Summary

Financial Planning and Analysis consists of three main areas: (1) performing the annual and long-term financial planning processes, including project management responsibilities, development and analysis of budgets and forecasts, and design and compilation of presentation materials for internal and external audiences; (2) conducting ongoing analysis of organizational, financial, and operational performance, analysis related to specific projections or initiatives (including restructuring or efficiency), and benchmarking performance against peer organizations; and (3) designing and producing a suite of reporting materials related to organizational financial and operational performance for both internal and external audiences.

Financial Analysts establish forecasts for the City and its Agencies by projecting future financial outcomes using historical financial and operational data, identified initiatives, external markets and economic conditions. Financial Analysts project revenues and expenditures for a series of years using a set of assumptions established by senior leadership.

Financial and operational performance is measured by analyzing Income Statements, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flow, general ledger accounts, cost center and other detailed financial and operational data. Financial Analysts use this data to evaluate, track, and report on the targets and measures of the City and its Agencies’ goals, objectives, and benchmarks.

Financial Analysts compare budget to actual data, calculate variances, ratios, and trends and identify performance of City Agencies in comparison to the City’s budget. Financial Analysts, utilizing operational metrics, charts, graphs and spreadsheets, present findings and recommendations to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and identify risks associated with a City Agency’s particular strategy or project.

Financial Analyst IV

This is the advanced level. The Financial Analyst may function as a lead analyst or head analyst. At this level, Financial Analysts are responsible for overseeing the work assignments of other professionals or have regular assignments which have been recognized as having significantly greater complexity than those assigned at the experienced level.

The duties and responsibilities specified below are representative of the range of duties and responsibilities assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

• Partners with City Agencies to oversee the development of multi-year operating and capital plans, reserve forecasts, and long range financial strategies

• Manages the strategic financial modeling, annual target setting, and annual business planning process for City Agencies to assess financial implications and support complex business decisions

• Informs investment decisions by analyzing financial information to forecast City, industry, or economic conditions

• Prepares plans of action for investment, using financial analyses

• Recommends, develops, implements, andmonitorsfinancial and operational policies, guidelines, processes, procedures, internal controls, and performance measures

• Analyzes and evaluates the financial and business operations and transactions engaged in by many different departments/agencies

  • Engages in all aspects of setting and refining strategy, major strategic analyses, and the operating budget for City Agencies

  • Performs cost-benefit analyses to compare operating programs, review financial requests, or explore alternative financing methods

• Evaluates monthly financial and operational performance against plan, prior year, and forecast

• Drives functional enhancements to planning and forecasting processes and activities and implements best practices

• Analyzes and reviews prior year expenditures, grant balances, and fund sources and prepares detailed financial forecasts, cost projections, and recommendations based on actual results

• Prepares, provides, reviews, and responds to requests and inquiriesregardingfinancial, expenditure, revenue/fund status, appropriation transfers, supplemental appropriations, and variance reports to management to enable financial and budgetary monitoring and control

• Prepares regular and ad-hoc financial and operational reports

• Consults with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are madein accordance withprogram changes

• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Education

• For all Financial Analysts it is a requirement to have completed a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, with major course of work in accounting, business, public administration, or a closely related field. Such education must include at least twenty-four (24) semester (36 terms) credits of coursework in accounting, finance, or economics.

In addition, Financial Analysts with a Master’s Degree, such as Master in Business Administration, Master in Finance, Masters in Economics, and other appropriate and related courses of study meet the minimum experience required for Financial Analyst II.

Experience

Forselection, appointment to a Financial Analyst level II or higher, in addition to the minimum education requirements, more progressive levels of experience arerequiredbased on the following:

• Financial Analyst IV – at least four (4) years of experience
• For Financial Analyst IV, the Financial Analyst must have two (2) years of verifiable experience leading teams and/or providing guidance and training to subordinate staff.

Licensing and Certifications

• Possession of a Certified Financial Planning and Analysis (CFPA) certificate sponsored by Association of Finance Professionals may be substituted for one year of Financial Analyst II experience.
• There may be a requirement for some positions to have or be working on achieving CFPA certification.

Equivalency

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Evaluation Plan

• Interview:70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience &Personal Qualifications:30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P:100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points

LRD: 10/16/2025

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

At the entry-level, knowledge requirements might include basic professional knowledge of:

• Financial theory and principles of business management operations and practices
• Concepts, principles, practices, and methods of budget formulation, enactment and execution, accounting and finance functional area(s)
• Obtaining, compiling, and summarizing narrative information and quantitative data for use by others
• Detailed financial modeling and analysis
• Standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, generally-accepted accounting procedures (GAAP), accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations
• Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources
• Economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data
• The prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
• Standard procurement policies and practices
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmentalfinancial management
• Enterprise resource planning systems for finance, budget, general ledger, human resources, and other management systems and software programs

At the intermediate level knowledge requirements might include detailed, intensive knowledge of:

• Standardized bookkeeping processes, accounting terminology, generally-accepted accounting procedures (GAAP), accounting techniques, and other financial rules and regulations

• Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources
• Economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data

• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
• Standard procurement policies and practices
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmentalfinancial management
• Enterprise resource planning systems for finance, budget, general ledger, human resources, and other management systems and software programs

At the advanced level knowledge requirements might include comprehensive knowledge of:

• Financial theory and principles and of business management operations and practices
• Concepts, principles, practices, and methods of budget formulation, enactment and execution, accounting and finance functional area(s)
• Obtaining, compiling, and summarizing narrative information and quantitative data for use by others
• Economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data
• Federal, state, and local legislation, regulations and ordinances affecting preparation, review, and implementation of operating and capital budget requests and financial analysis
• Established work methods and procedures
• Pertinent regulatory or statutory provisions in performing assigned financial and operational analysis and evaluation work
• Operation and organization of the Departments and Agencies appropriate to the affected position
• Techniques commonly used in locating errors in financial and operational reports and statements
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmentalfinancial management
• Mathematical and statistical procedures generally employed in the fields of financial asset investment, accounting, and budgeting to verify data, to project costs, to budget, etc.
• Enterprise resource planning systems for finance, budget, general ledger, human resources, and other management systems and software programs

Skill in:

• Identifying, synthesizing, and evaluating complex budget related issues and assignments, consolidating information from a variety of sources, and selecting appropriate analytical approaches
• Presenting concise financial and operational information (orally, written, and/or using PowerPoint or Word) to a variety of audiences
• Use of Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and / or other office suite software packages)

• Use of Excel (e.g. Pivot Tables, Vlookup, Hlookup, charts, tables, and / or other related software packages) functionality
• Communicating in writing clearly and effectively, demonstrate this skill by rendering technical details and reports in a form readily understandable to management and the public

• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Talking to others to convey information effectively
• Establishing and maintaining good working relationship with other City employees and the public

Ability to

• Collect, quickly interpret, and analyze information from a variety of sources, apply criteria, draw conclusions and develop recommendations, guidelines, and policies
• Read, interpret, and effectively analyze professional and technical reports
• Choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
• Plan, coordinate, set priorities, and supervise staff and others engaged in diversified fiscal analysis and forecasting activities
• Develop cost-benefit and business case analyses by consolidating information, identifying relevant data, and making logical assumptions to provide insight and recommendations with minimal errors regarding cost savings, optimal organization and financial structure, and program offering
• Participate in decision-making sessions, provide guidance, and advisea number of program managers on legal and regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, potential roadblocks, and program improvements through analysis of fund requests, program operations, monthly reports, and special analysis
• Communicate information and ideas clearly and effectively both orally and in writing so they can be understood
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
• Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
• Work tactfully and effectively with employees, supervisors and managers, taxpayers, and with elected and appointed officials and senior staff in assigned Departments and Agencies
• Take initiative to acquire additional knowledge and education to remain current in field
• Work as part of a team

Physical Demands

• The work is characterized as sedentary. Typically, Financial Analysts sit comfortably to do their work, interspersed by brief periods of walking, standing, bending, carrying of papers and books, and extended periods requiring the use of computer terminals to accomplish work objectives.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in a comfortable office environment which is appropriately lighted, heated and cooled.
• The work environment contains no significant hazards.
• Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site.
• The Financial Analyst may encounter individuals that are upset.

Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position. The City of Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other criteria prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.