Rate / Budget Analyst

General Statement of Duties / Distinguishing Features of the Class

Play a key role in shaping the financial foundation of essential City-County services. In this position, you’ll partner with multiple departments to develop and administer rate structures for utilities including Landfill & Garbage Collection, Water, Metro-Sewer, Storm Water, and Special Improvement Districts. You’ll also support departments in building budgets, preparing rate resolutions, and presenting financial information to the Council of Commissioners. This role offers the opportunity to manage select budgets and contribute to meaningful, community-focused work that keeps our city running strong.

This position is responsible for analytical and professional work involving administrative and technical work related to the maintenance of the utility rates and assessment of various Special Improvement Districts. The work is performed under the general direction and supervision of the Finance & Budget Director with work also assigned by the Land System Administrator. Extensive leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgement and initiative. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with other department and division leaders, the Treasurer and Assessor, City-County employees, and general public.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Assists the Land Systems Administrator with utility Rates and SID fee allocations to property in the City-County;
• Assists with maintaining tax billing system and updating property files for utility rates and SID assessment rates; including Landfill & Garbage, Metro Sewer, Stormwater, Water Utility, Sidewalks, Roads, Lighting, Fire Hydrants, and new services.
• Assists the Assessor, Treasurer, and Land Systems Administrator with balancing of reports for tax purposes.
• Assists with the review of Commercial and Industrial users to determine appropriate programs
• Assists with the preparation of timely reports to the Finance & Budget Office related to Utility Rates and SID administration;
• Assists with maintaining accurate records for utility rates and SID assessment rates; including Landfill & Garbage Collection, Metro, Stormwater, Water Utility, Sidewalks, Roads, Lighting, Fire Hydrants, and new services.
• Drafts resolutions for the Council of Commissioners to implement rates and assessments for rate increases and SID Assessments;
• Receives tax appeals from property owners and completes analysis, including field work, to make recommendation to management on the determination of the appeal.
• Maintains a working knowledge and understanding of the Montana Code Annotated, City-County municipal code and other applicable rules and laws that govern public utilities and special improvement districts.
• Assists Public Works with sidewalk assessments for City-County properties;
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops as requested and authorized;
• Performs related work as required.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound manner. Specifically, complying with the Health & Safety Program; maintaining work areas in a safe and orderly manner; identifying and reporting unsafe conditions; reporting all accidents; wearing required personal protective equipment; and attending safety-related meetings, training sessions, fit testing, etc.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in compliance with project quality requirements.
• Acts responsibly and ethically, and in conformance with generally accepted business, occupational, and professional standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Experience, Training, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, activities and operations of the division or department;
• Knowledge of Special Improvement Districts organization and funding within the City-County;
• Knowledge of the public owned Utilities organization and funding within the City-County;
• Knowledge of accounting and finance
• Thorough knowledge of business arithmetic, financial record-keeping, statistics and English composition and spelling;
• Thorough knowledge in using Excel, Word and database applications.
• Good knowledge of construction bids and evaluation of bids;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City-County employees and supervisory personnel
• Ability to communicate well with the Council of Commissioners, other City-County employees and the general public both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports containing findings, and recommendations;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of administrative, clerical, and technical tasks with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from a college or university of recognized standing with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related field
• Considerable experience in utility administration, financial management, statistical analysis and budget preparation; or
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work.

Essential Physical Abilities

• Clarity of speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate well with other City-County employees and the general public both in person and over the telephone;
• Sufficient vision, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to read documents, to make and retrieve computer data and information entries, and to operate surveying equipment;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate a computer keyboard, to make handwritten notations and to move files as needed, and to operate surveying equipment;
• Sufficient personal mobility, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to inspect property at locations across the City-County, to transport and set up GPS surveying equipment, to attend meetings at locations across the City-County, and to access and transport files and materials in the office.

Additional City-County information

The City-County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical disability, or veteran status.

The job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities. Tasks and duties of the employee may differ from those outlined above.

ADA Accommodation Notice

The City-County of Butte–Silver Bow is committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process or participate in the hiring process, please contact us.

The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow offers a comprehensive employee benefits package to include:

• Low-cost health insurance plan with dental and vision coverage for employees and dependants
• No-cost life insurance
• No-cost, confidential employee assistance program
• Retirement savings accounts
• Permanent employees accrue vacation leave, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Voluntary supplemental coverages
• Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Medical flexible spending accounts
• Health savings accounts

Benefit eligibility may be determined by length of service and/or employment status.