Agency Information:
The Kansas Office of Early Childhood exists to strengthen Kansas’s early childhood system by improving efficiency, transparency, and safety in state programs, funding, and policy implementation. KOEC oversees over 20 early childhood care and education programs including childcare licensing and subsidy, home visiting, and grant programs funded through the Children’s Initiatives Fund. We envision an early childhood system where:
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Every child is supported and equipped with the foundations for necessary lifelong success;
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Families have access to early childhood programs and services through a coordinated, easy-to-navigate system that reduces fragmentation and administrative burden;
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Providers across the mixed-delivery system are supported, well-prepared, and have the resources necessary to deliver high-quality experiences for children; and
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Communities and businesses are strengthened through a coordinated approach that supports workforce participation and enables families to thrive.
Following the application period, KOEC leadership will review applications and invite chosen candidates to interview. The individual selected for this position will not begin the new role until the Office is formally opened but would be expected to support the KOEC transition efforts.
About the Position
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Who can apply: Anyone
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Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
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Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-time
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Regular/Temporary: Regular
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Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
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Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
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Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes
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Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Compensation:
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Annual Salary Range: $72,000 - $75,000
*Note: *Note: This role will have a salary set by the Director of Early Childhood and be commensurable with experience.
Employment Benefits:
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Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
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Sick & Vacation leave
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Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
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Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
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Fitness Centers in select locations
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Employee discounts with the STAR Program
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Retirement and deferred compensation programs
Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information
Position Description:
The Budget Analyst, reporting to the Deputy Director of Operations and Fiscal Affairs, provides budget development, monitoring, and analytical support to advance the Kansas Office of Early Childhood's (KOEC) fiscal strategy and operational effectiveness. This role is responsible for preparing, analyzing, and maintaining KOEC's budget across all assigned program areas and funding streams, ensuring resources are appropriately allocated, monitored, and reported in accordance with state and federal requirements.
The Budget Analyst works closely with program staff, fiscal leadership, and external partners, including the Kansas Division of Budget and the Legislature, to provide accurate, timely budget information that supports sound fiscal decision-making. This position plays a key role in ensuring KOEC's financial resources are deployed efficiently and transparently in service of the agency's mission.
Job Responsibilities:
Budget Development and Planning
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Budget preparation for assigned programs: Lead or support the preparation of the budget for assigned KOEC divisions and program areas. Develop base budgets, reduced resource requests, and supplemental and enhancement requests in accordance with agency and state timelines.
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Budget narratives and documentation: Develop clear, accurate budget narratives in the required Office format. Assist in the preparation of applicable performance and outcome measures to support budget justifications.
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Fund allocation and management: Develop and manage allocations of State General Fund, federal funds, and other funding sources across assigned programs. Adjust allocations as necessary based on budget appeal outcomes and in-year developments.
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IBARS integration: Integrate assigned program budgets into the state budget system (IBARS), ensuring compliance with the Governor's budget allocations, legislative appropriations, federal mandates, and agency guidelines.
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Agency budget documents: Set up and prepare needed schedules to manage budget decisions. Assist in compiling budget documents into the new single agency budget document and in preparing final summary reports that identify expenditures by program and funding source, as well as revenue estimates.
Budget Monitoring and Analysis
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Expenditure monitoring and reporting: Prepare, analyze, and evaluate financial reports comparing expenditures and encumbrances to budget limitations. Ensure year-end reports and close outs are completed with accuracy. Provide recommendations to the Director, Deputy Director and program directors to minimize potential financial problems at the earliest opportunity.
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Monthly expenditure analysis: Examine and analyze monthly expenditures against agency estimates, identify variances, and provide updates to program directors on a regular basis.
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Fund balance oversight: Monitor fund balances for assigned divisions, ensuring compliance with statutory limits and applicable law. Establish and maintain appropriate state accounting codes in coordination with the Division of Budget and Accounts and Reports.
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Revenue estimates: Develop and monitor revenue estimates for funds utilized in assigned program areas.
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Caseload and position tracking: Track and monitor positions, caseloads, and operating expenditures to ensure they are properly budgeted and within approved limits.
Legislative and Stakeholder Coordination
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Response to budget requests and adjustments: Examine, evaluate, and prepare responses to the Governor's Budget Amendments, appeals, and legislative budget reductions. Coordinate, prioritize, and recommend responses as appropriate.
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Legislative requests: Provide necessary data and analysis for legislative committees as requested. Prepare and evaluate fiscal notes within assigned divisions.
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Division of Budget Coordination: Serve as a point of contact with the Division of Budget and the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD), ensuring timely and accurate responses to requests. Track legislative and Division of Budget adjustments.
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Program area fiscal support: Provide fiscal advice, financial information, and reports to program areas to assist in daily operations. Assist in grant and contract development and monitoring as needed.
Research, Reporting, and Decision Support
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Policy and decision support: Assist in the analysis of proposed policy decisions and revisions. Conduct research and build models to answer leadership questions and evaluate alternatives.
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Federal budget monitoring: Monitor and report on federal budget changes and their implications for KOEC program areas and funding. Work with federal grant management teams to discuss and/or negotiate the agency’s position on issues.
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State plan and federal reporting: Prepare state plan documents, federal reports, and other required reports for assigned programs.
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Analytical tools development: Assist leadership, program staff, and fiscal staff in developing tools for scoring alternative proposals, explaining caseload changes, evaluating programs, and determining correlations.
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of experience in budget development, financial analysis, or closely related fiscal work. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency.
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience working with state budget systems (e.g., IBARS), accounting systems (SMART) or comparable platforms.
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Strong analytical abilities and experience with budgeting, accounting, and building financial models and reports.
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Knowledge of state and federal budget processes, including experience interfacing with the Division of Budget or legislative bodies.
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Experience in early childhood, education, human services, or a similarly complex program environment is a plus.
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Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex fiscal information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law. Please be encouraged if you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you. The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas. The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue - Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions
Recruiter Contact Information:
Name: Sarah Aasen
Email: [email protected]
Job Application Process:
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First Sign in or register as a New User.
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Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
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Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page.
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Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.
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Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.
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Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
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Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page
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Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page
Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions"
Required Documents for this Application to be Complete:
Upload these on the Careers - My Job Applications page
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DD FM 214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)
Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application
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Resume
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Letter of Interest / Cover Letter
How to Claim Veterans Preference:
Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.
Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference
How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference
Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.
Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference
PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to [email protected], or can be mailed/delivered in person to:
ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Street, Ste 260,
Topeka, KS 66612
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.
