Senior Economist

POSITION PURPOSE: Reporting to the Program Manager, Fiscal Planning and Partnerships is responsible for providing quantitative analysis, research and advice to assist management in making department strategic fiscal policy, including major initiatives, multi-year fiscal impacts of operating and capital budgets, departmental asset management strategies, program and performance metrics; and developing updating, maintaining financial models for all programs areas in the department including water, wastewater, roads, transit, waste management, forestry, corporate energy management and corporate asset management.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides policy advice to senior management with respect to department fiscal strategy.
• Conducts economic, statistical and quantitative research and analysis in support of developing fiscal forecasting and policy strategies.
• Designs and/or operates computer models to estimate the economic and financial impacts of high-profile departmental initiatives, forecast the cost of new and existing department services and their tax levy/user rate impacts, and assess the funding needs/implications of the corporate asset management plan.
• Performs economic analysis for key department strategic initiatives, advises on appropriate analytical approaches consistent with needs, performs quantitative simulations and uses effective techniques to display data and summarize results for decision makers.
• Prepares briefing notes and written summaries of analytical and/or model results.
• Prepares reports and presentations to Committee and Council summarizing analysis of long-term fiscal planning issues and other performance analytics.
• Ensures information is accurate and implements procedures to validate and confirm data integrity and accuracy.
• Assists with the implementation of process improvements and special projects for the department.
• Develops key elements of the departments’ long-term fiscal strategy to inform on the multi-year budget.
• Supports the budget process by assisting management in conducting detailed analysis on major strategic issues included in the departments’ business plan and budget.
• Provides guidance to other staff and monitors work as it pertains to the prioritization of project tasks to ensure that progress is consistent with estimated timelines to meet required deadlines.
• Prepares or provides input to reports, briefing notes, presentations, statistics and analysis for management.
• Presents and defends recommendations to all levels of staff and/or members of Council, as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Successful completion of a Masters Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Mathematics, or a related discipline or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in the analysis, design, and creation of computerized economic and financial forecasting models incorporating econometric analysis such as multiple and non-linear regression methods.
• Demonstrated experience in writing analytical reports/studies, including the ability to identify problems, research, analyze and interpret data, and make and defend evidence-based recommendations from the results of studies.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in quantitative and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to interpret and explain relevant regulations, guidelines, procedures, standards and legislation.

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