Salary: $91,083.20 - $115,440.00 Annually
Location : Des Moines, IA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: X5384-08-2026
Department: Finance
Division: FN083000 - FN Research & Budget
Opening Date: 08/27/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 4:00 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Non
Occupational Group: Civil Service
Location of Vacancy: Finance
Recruitment: Entrance
Selection Method: Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be referred to the hiring department for consideration. Applicants deemed most qualified based on qualifications may be contacted for an interview. Qualified applicants who need a reasonable accommodation must inform this office at [redacted] or TTY at Iowa Relay at 711 or [redacted] prior to closing date.

General Statement of Duties
Performs professional research and development activities in the preparation and administration of the City's annual operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program; performs research and analysis affecting one department, the entire organization, or the City by using methods associated with higher level research; performs directly related work as required.
Alternative Work Arrangements
Volunteer Time
Parental Leave
Vacation and Sick Leave Accruals
12 Paid Holidays
Health/Dental/Life Insurance
Wellness Programs
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Public Administration; or
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or related fields, or CPA certification, and
• Three (3) years directly related experience in public sector research and budgetary development; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.

NOTE: Transcripts verifying degree conferred must be submitted to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department by the application deadline to receive credit. Please send electronically to [email protected], by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1200 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Required Special Qualifications

• Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post employment offer physical examination and drug screen.
• Possession of a valid Iowa driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Utilizes research methodologies, statistical techniques and the compilation of empirical data to perform budget analysis for the purpose of designing, planning and developing the operating budget of several municipal departments;
• Develops capital budgets in assigned areas;
• Coordinates the work of and provides technical assistance to professional staff in the monitoring and managing of budgeted resources;
• Develops long-range budget plans in coordination with departmental staff;
• Analyzes departmental budget requests and makes recommendations based on the results;
• Assists departments in the development and preparation of policy options for consideration by the City Manager or City Council;
• Performs fiscal, statistical and personnel staffing studies;
• Conducts internal audits on budget implementation and related financial activities;
• Monitors departmental revenues and expenditures to ensure compliance with City policies and procedures, state and federal requirements and related guidelines;
• Conducts research and analysis on subjects and issues that impact the organization or the citizens of Des Moines;
• Coordinates and administers grants within municipal departments as required;
• Assists departments in research projects, grant writing, development of requests for proposals, or other activities designed to improve operating efficiency or effectiveness;
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens' and other organizations questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.

01

I understand that such responses as "see resume", "see application", etc. to the following supplemental questions are not acceptable. Responses must be thorough, clear and concise to receive credit.

• I understand responses must be thorough, clear and concise to receive credit.

02

Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Public Administration; or a Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance or related? If yes, submittal of college transcripts is required by application deadline to receive credit. Please submit to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department; electronically to [email protected], by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1200 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309 by the application deadline date.

• I understand college transcripts are required by the application deadline and I have attached my transcripts to my application.
• I understand college transcripts are required by the application deadline and I have requested my transcripts. I further understand that it is my responsibility to make sure the transcripts are received by the application deadline.
• I have not taken college course work and do not have college transcripts to provide.

03

Do you have a or CPA certification? If yes, submittal of proof of certification is required by application deadline to receive credit. Please submit to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department; electronically to [email protected], by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1200 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309 by the application deadline date.

• Yes, I have a CPA Certification and have attached proof of certification to my application.
• Yes, I have a CPA Certification and will submit proof of certification to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department by application deadline; electronically to [email protected], by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1200 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309.
• No, I do not have a CPA certification.

04

Describe in detail your work experience in governmental budget administration. Include where experience was obtained and duration of experience. If no work experience, indicate "none".
05

Describe in detail your work experience in budget research. Include where this experience was obtained and duration of experience. If no work experience, indicate "none".
06

Describe in detail your experience in supporting internal colleagues, executive level staff, or organizational leadership. Include where this experience was obtained and duration of experience. If no work experience, indicate "none".
07

Describe in detail your experience with developing and preparing of policy options for consideration by upper management, research projects, or activities designed to improve operating efficiencies or effectiveness. Include where experience was obtained and duration of experience. If no work experience, indicate "none".
08

Describe any work-related experience you may have in the areas listed below. For each one also include where this experience was obtained and duration of experience. If no experience, indicate "none".
A. Financial information including but not limited your work with analytics;
B. Databases;
C. Enterprise financial systems;
D. Microsoft Office tools such as Excel or Access, or other pertinent software.
09

Describe a situation where you had to use critical thinking skills to analyze data to make a decision. What tools or methods did you use?
Required Question