Business Consultant I

Job Summary

The Planning and Budget Office facilitates the efficient and effective use of county resources for the community's benefit. The office works on planning, researching, and evaluating budgetary and policy issues, integrating county-wide spending and strategic plans, and prepares the County's annual budget. The work performed is fast-paced and often time-sensitive.

This posting reflects a pair of business consultant job classifications within the Planning and Budget Office (PBO).

Business consultant positions in PBO are the primary IT support for the department and main report writing and data analytics specialists. They are heavily involved in the creation and adoption of the budget, and calculation of countywide compensation estimates.

They function as liaisons for the Planning and Budget Office with other county departments and they design and support systems and forms for developing the countywide budget. They participate in county-wide support of SAP (and upcoming new) budgeting and accounting systems, including troubleshooting, development, testing, training and documentation of system requirements and procedures.

This position will provide IT technical support to department users, work and support to prepare and publish county budget, prepare budget reports using SAP and other systems, help with the implementation of software, create user training documents, train users and other assigned work.

This position will be considered for a Business Analyst if experience is not met for Business Consultant position

This position is eligible for telework, with in-office work as necessary from a central office location (700 Lavaca Street). Must live in or near Austin, Texas area or be willing to relocate. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the office, including possible night or weekend work.

Travis County offers a premier compensation and benefits package that includes a highly rated retirement plan, vacation and sick leave, personal holidays, longevity pay, tuition reimbursement, parental leave, medical, dental, and vision, and employee health care clinics.

If you're passionate about making a difference in your community, we want you on our team! If you are a good team player who is a self-starter and values a stable work environment, we want you on our team!

Distinguishing Characteristics

Provides complex technical consulting and support services for defining, developing and improving functional or business processes to meet user and organizational needs. The Business Consultant I serves as a senior technical expert in analyzing high-level business process needs and designing advanced solutions to meet these needs with an emphasis on strategic technical solutions.

This classification typically supervises or leads subordinate Information Technology staff and/or teams performing high-level technical business problems. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Coordinate all technical aspects of the budget. This includes all the forms, reports, databases, web portals, performance measures, file management systems, and other miscellaneous tasks related to the budget.
• Maintain and support departmental hardware/software. Make recommendations and aid in purchasing new hardware/software, including installation, training, troubleshooting, and implementation.
• Support multiple collaboration platforms. Including training, design, implementation. Publish and maintain outward facing county documents and webpages.
• Monitor and build reports on countywide expenditure budgets on a monthly basis with multi-year historical components.
• Develop and support forecasting of compensation expenses for the next fiscal year.
• Participate in county-wide support of budgeting and accounting system, including troubleshooting, development, testing, training and documentation of system requirements and procedures.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

Candidates must possess Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration or a directly related field AND:

Business Consultant I $ 80,745.60 to $ 104,998.40

Seven (7) years of relevant work experience, including one (1) year of team lead, supervisory or management, experience;

Business Analyst III $ 75,483.20 to $ 98,134.40

Five (5) years of relevant work experience;

Business Analyst II $ 70,532.80 to $ 91,686.40

Three (3) years of relevant work experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Extensive experience with Microsoft Office applications, including foundational Visual Basic programming skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong experience with databases and query development.
• Solid understanding of IT diagnostics and general networking concepts.
• Knowledge of collaboration tools and industry best practices.
• Experience implementing and/or supporting budgeting or financial systems such as SAP, preferably within the public sector.
• Experience developing reports and supporting system integrations between budgeting software and other enterprise systems.

Skill in

• Analyzing technical challenges and delivering solutions aligned with current and future business needs.
• Managing and maintaining network infrastructure and administration.
• Installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting hardware, software, and peripheral devices.
• Designing, developing, and maintaining databases using tools such as Microsoft Access and SQL Server.
• Creating and managing database queries, Visual Basic scripts, and macros in Microsoft Access and Excel.
• Developing dashboards, charts, graphs, and reports using Excel and other reporting platforms.
• Supporting system integration through API connectivity and data exchange.
• Providing user training and support for various computer applications.
• Communicating complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences through verbal, written, and presentation skills

Ability to

• Identify and analyze highly complex end-user problems and develop strategic, practical technological solutions.
• Work independently and efficiently and as part of a team.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies and providers, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-15 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.

Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing, crawling, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with nights and/or weekends as needed.

Department: Planning & Budget

Location: 700 Lavaca, Austin, TX 78701 Telework available.

Criminal and Education Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions about this posting, contact: debra.garcia@traviscountytx.gov