A Day In The Life Of A Budget Analyst At The State Of California
A budget analyst's daily life at the Public Budgeting Agency in California varies significantly depending on the season; the fall involves extensive work in Excel, "collecting data" and "putting it all together" for the governor's budget, while the spring is more dynamic, involving testifying at hearings, meeting with stakeholders, and participating in team meetings to discuss budget changes. They described a day in the spring as "a lot more varied".
Budgeting, Data Analysis, Communication, Government, Legislation
Advizer Information
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Justin Hurst
Budget Analyst
Public Budgeting Agency for the State of California
UC Davis
Sac State - Master's of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)
Biology & Related Sciences, International Relations & Affairs
Education, Government & Public Sector
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Budget analysts work extensively with Excel, importing, collecting, and compiling data to determine funding needs and inform decision-making.
2. The role involves significant communication, including corresponding with data providers, consulting with leadership on priorities, and engaging with stakeholders to gather feedback and address concerns.
3. The responsibilities of a budget analyst vary significantly depending on the time of year. In the fall it is focused on information gathering and in the spring involves testifying in front of the legislature and attending stakeholder meetings.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a budget analyst look like?
I'll give you two examples because it's very different depending on the time of year. I'll do one for the fall process and one for the spring.
In the fall process, when we're putting together the governor's budget, a day in the life involves living on email. I'll also be working a lot in Excel, importing and collecting data, and corresponding with people to get information. Then, I put it all together in a giant spreadsheet.
This spreadsheet is used to determine funding needs, other projections, and what information is still required for more informed decisions. I often talk with leadership about priorities or necessary meetings. The fall process is simpler because it's focused on gathering and organizing information.
Conversely, in the spring, a day in the life is much more varied. If I have a hearing, my morning involves dressing in a suit and preparing talking points in a binder we call a hot book. Then, I go to a hearing and testify in front of the legislature about the budget and the decisions made.
The second half of the day usually involves returning to the office for a team meeting to discuss budget changes. There might also be meetings with stakeholders or individuals affected by the budget who want to give opinions, lobby for decisions, or ask for specific feedback.
Therefore, the spring is a more dynamic process. Of course, you're still answering emails and working in Excel when possible. There are almost two different sides to this job, depending on the time of year.