Senior Analyst

Overview

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Senior Analyst for the Facilities Services office. 

  
The Senior Analyst in the Program Accountability unit plays a critical and highly specialized role in the development, management, and oversight of the Facilities Services budget.  This position is responsible for advanced, complex analytical and technical budget support, ensuring accurate reconciliation, analysis, and preparation of budget, accounting, and procurement adjustments.   The Senior Analyst also develops and maintains automated reporting tools to track funding sources, ensuring compliance with financial standards. A critical aspect of the role is maintaining accuracy and integrity of all reporting tools used within Facilities Services, including CAFM, FI$CAL, JPIC, FileMaker and other systems, which are crucial to effective financial management and decision-making.  

The Senior Analyst is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations into complex financial issues and providing strategic recommendations to improve financial processes. The incumbent will oversee the preparation of specialized fiscal reports, presenting these to the Council, Committees, Management, and other agencies while ensuring the accuracy of all financial data. Additionally, the Senior Analyst ensures that budget allocations remain within authorized limits, supports budget planning and forecasting, and monitors project budgets and contracts. With high degree of autonomy and often in a leadership capacity, the Senior Analyst plays a key role in driving the fiscal success and operational integrity of the unit.

The Judicial Council 

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.
By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance, including substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package, including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations.
 

Responsibilities

Leads budget development and management, monitor ongoing budget appropriations, and ensure departments adhere to approved budgets:

• Monitors budget performance throughout the year, identifying potential shortfalls or areas for cost savings. Provide advanced and specialized level of analysis in the areas of budget and financial management, expenditure forecasting, position, and appropriation control.
• Reviews monthly office and unit budget reports prepared by Analysts and update financial forecasts based on actual performance and changing business conditions.
• In coordination with Fiscal Supervisor, lead development and preparation of annual budget preparation, analyzed proposed legislation for financial impact, working with department heads to gather relevant data.
• Reviews proposed legislation to evaluate its potential impact on Facilities funding. Verify budget allocations provided by Budget Services by examining and reconciling funding allocations with the approved state budget, including any adjustments arising from enacted budget changes.
• Coordinate and lead the Facilities Services’ BCC and BCP processes, ensuring all milestones and deadlines are met. This includes maintaining the BCC/BCP Target Date Calendar and regularly updating instructions to align with current DOF Budget Letters and regulations.

Perform financial analysis and reporting, resolving complex budgetary and financial transaction issues to ensure accurate reporting and alignment of expenditures with forecasts:

• Oversees the reconciliation of the Contracts Tracking Form (CTF) to ensure encumbrance and liquidation for resource optimization. Collaborate with associate analysts to track progress and recommend funding adjustments, including increased reimbursement authorities, extended liquidations, or extended encumbrance periods.
• Provides guidance and support to associate analyst on quarterly reviews of counties annual cost estimates and true ups to ensure alignment with financial forecasts. Work closely with the associate analyst to identify and resolve any discrepancies. 
• Conducts a comprehensive audit to facility modification obligations across multiple platforms, identify discrepancies, and provide actionable recommendations for corrective measures.
• Conducts expenditure analysis to assess compliance and alignment with the terms of Facilities Services Agreements, including capital project contracts, service agreements, MOUs, JOAs, and IBAs. Ensures that expenditures adhere to relevant policies and guidelines, including verifying that JCC and county share percentages match the agreed-upon allocations.

In coordination with Fiscal Supervisor, develop and implement tools for statewide use for contract compliance including cost reconciliation reports, vendor cost auditing processes, and invoice reports:

• Develops automated reports and guide Analysts in managing and interpreting these, particularly in complex areas like Facility Modifications, Revenue and Shared Cost tracking to reduce the need for manual entries and tracking.
• Provides direction and training for staff on financial policies and procedures such as invoice processing, contract requests, and expenditure monitoring.
• Provide training on financial reports available in tools like FI$CAL, JPIC, CAFM, and File Maker Pro.
   

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree, and four (4) years of analytical experience in program analysis, development, implementation, research, and/or evaluation.  

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline such as political science, public administration, statistics, mathematics, etc., may be substituted for one of the years of required experience. An additional four years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Master’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline such as political science, public administration, statistics, mathematics, etc. that included qualitative and quantitative research, and one (1) year of analytical experience in program analysis, development, implementation, research, and/or evaluation.

OR

One year in the Analyst classification with the Judicial Council of California or one year of experience performing the duties of a class comparable in the level of responsibility to that of an Analyst in a California Superior Court or California state-level government entity.
 

Other Information

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment authorization to work in the United States will be required.

How To Apply

To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on January 21, 2025. This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions. 

To complete an online application, please click the Apply for Job button.
 

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation.  Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. 

Pay and Benefits

$7,710.00 - $11,565.00 per month
(Starting salary will be $7,710.00 per month)

Some highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flex Elect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, please provide a response to the following questions:

1. Describe your experience in financial analysis, budget development, and managing complex financial systems. 

2. Describe your experience where you conducted advanced financial analysis and resolved complex budgetary or financial transaction issues. 

3. Describe your experience where you utilized and maintained automated financial reporting tools or systems (e.g., FI$CAL, JPIC, CAFM, FileMaker Pro) to enhance accuracy and decision-making. 

4. Describe your experience where you collaborated with cross-functional teams to prepare budgets, analyze proposed legislation for financial impacts, or recommend adjustments to funding allocations. 

5. Describe an example where you developed or improved financial processes, such as cost reconciliation, expenditure monitoring, or contract compliance, and provided training to staff on financial tools and policies.