Financial Program Manager II - Budget Office

Job Summary

The Budget Office is dedicated to ensuring the budget process is transparent. We promote open communication with all departments and elected officials and strive to provide outstanding customer service.

The Clark County Budget Office is responsible for making data-driven recommendations that support the development of a strategic, fiscally responsible, long-term county budget following state requirements specified by RCW 36.40. The Budget Office promotes open communication with all departments and elected officials' offices and strives to find solutions within existing resources that comply with Clark County Council-directed policies and guidance.

Clark County’s budget process follows state requirements specified by RCW 36.40. The council is the county’s legislative authority and implements policy by allocating funding to county departments and elected offices. The county manager takes policy directions from the council and guides the Budget Office, which is responsible for coordinating, preparing, and updating the county budget. The county manager recommends a balanced budget to the council that fulfills their policy direction and is within the resources available to the county.

The Budget Office is integrally involved in each step of the fundamental processes of local government budgeting including planning, budgeting, and monitoring. The Budget Office leads many countywide financial projects, plays a key role in the development and adoption of financial policies, leads the formal budget development process to include several funding advisory committees, monitors and forecasts revenues and expenses, provides support to departments and elected officials for budget preparation and submission, manages budgeting software, develops forms and procedures as needed, ensures compliance with all state and local budget requirements, and reports updates and findings to the county manager and to the council.

The budget preparation process includes four typical steps followed by public officials, both elected and appointed. These steps include the administrative preparation of the budget, the legislative approval of the budget, the financial implementation of the budget and the annual year-end accounting and financial reporting. This position serves as a bridge position between the budget adoption/financial strategic plan and the actual financial performance of the organization.

This position is required to work in-person at the Budget Office and does not offer hybrid or remote work options.

Qualifications

As one of the key positions within the Clark County Budget Office, the Financial Program Manager II position is a vital part of the county’s overall budget cycle. 

This position is responsible for analyzing countywide financial reports and data to report actual financial performance and to predict future performance of: funds, departments, specific revenue streams and categories, programs, specific expense categories, etc. 

In addition, this position will be responsible for leading countywide financial projects in coordination with the Budget Director.  The Budget Office has implemented Questica Budget Software and a separate Capital Budget. Future goals for the office include the implementation of a digital budget book, program-based budgeting projects, aligning the budget process to align with strategic goals more closely, and developing countywide financial performance measures. Some examples of current and future projects are Program Budgeting Project, Budget Office Procedures Documentation, Development of the Questica Budget Performance and OpenBook Modules for county-specific use, County-wide Fund Management, Fund Balance Policies, Digital Budget Book, Funding Advisory Committee development and facilitation, and Fee Schedule projects.

Analysis and processes should be based on GFOA, MSRC, WFOA, PMI, and ICMA best practices as well as the following:

• Grow financial performance through analysis of financial results, forecasts, variances, and trends.
• Create recommendations to be presented to management and executives.
• Develop financial models to support monitoring, planning, and forecasting.
• Aid in the capital budgeting and expenditures planning process.
• Reconcile incoming and outgoing data.
• and economic research to support internal financial analysis.
• Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of financial instruments, economic conditions, and trends.

• Perform financial forecasting, reporting, and operational metrics tracking.
• Analyst financial data and create financial models for decision support.
• Report of financial performance and prepare for regular leadership reviews.
• Analyze past results, perform variance analysis, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvements.
• Evaluate financial performance by comparing and analyzing actual results with plans and forecasts.
• Provide analysis of trends and forecasts and recommend actions for optimization.
• Recommend actions by analyzing and interpreting data and making comparative analysis; study proposed changes in methods for impacts and conduct comparable analysis consequences.
• Identify and drive process improvement, including the creation of standard and ad-hoc reports, tools and Excel dashboards.
• Increase productivity by developing automated reporting/forecasting tools.
• Perform economic research, data mining, and business intelligence/data analysis.
• Maintain a strong financial analysis foundation creating forecasts and models.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with data query/data management tools (Access, SQL, Business Objects) is extremely helpful.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business/Public Management, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, or a closely related field is desired; plus five (5) years of professional administrative and budgetary experience involving responsibility for budget software administration and implementation, financial report development, monitoring, analyzing, reviewing and presenting budget, fiscal, economic and/or operational data.  Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have a background in data-driven and business analytics, administrative and fiscal analysis, financial policy development, and demonstrated experience in budgeting as well as strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills.  Successful candidates will possess a demonstrated track record of providing high-quality reports and analyses that synthesize and interpret data from a variety of sources.

The ideal candidate will also possess the following critical attributes:

• Local government budget requirements and processes (preferably county-specific experience)
• Knowledge of government accounting principles and financial reporting
• An understanding of how budgets are implemented and loaded in ERP systems, specifically Workday
• Knowledge of and experience with budgeting software, specifically Questica Budget
• Knowledge of and experience with auditing and financial statement software
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced proficiency and a minimum of five (5) years on the job experience with Microsoft Excel
• Ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts, apply logical thinking and quantitative methods of gathering and analyzing information, make decisions and exercise good judgment based on available data, design solutions to problems, formulate and articulate action plans proactively and collaboratively.
• A great communicator and listener, quick and clear thinking, calm under pressure.
• The ability to continue to be effective, proactive and innovative while dealing with changing priorities and deadlines.
• Highly focused, organized, and responsible, juggling a variety of projects and ensuring they are completed in a timely manner.
• Politically sensitive to the dynamics of the organization and the competing needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility; enthusiastically takes on new challenges in a dynamic County Budget Office.

Selection Process:

Resume and other documents must be attached together in the 'Resume Upload' section of the application.  Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application.

Application Review (Pass/ Fail) - An online application is required.  Resume and Cover Letter are required. Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Assessment Testing (Pass/Fail) - This recruitment may require assessment testing which will be job related and may include, but not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview - The interview will be job related and may include, not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment references will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

Examples of Duties

This position may be responsible for some, if not all the following general duties:

• Researches and analyzes data, provides recommendations on policy, administrative, organizational, fiscal and operating issues, challenges and impacts.
• Prepares written and verbal reports and presentations summarizing data and recommendations.
• Evaluates department/office budget requests and recommends budget adjustments based on historical financial research and comparison, resulting in detailed analysis and written communication to senior management.
• Builds rewarding relationships with departments/offices to assist with problem solving and process improvement.
• Identifies and resolves resolve budget problems for departments/offices.
• Informs appropriate staff about budget inefficiencies and work with them on installation, maintenance, and review of proper budgetary controls.
• Completes analysis or special projects on issues such as local impact of state or federal mandate.
• Assists in the preparation of the detailed budget documents through other departments/offices
• Reviews all changes to department/office budgets and staffing levels and prepares a written recommendation detailing how proposed changes satisfy County priorities.
• Uses multiple financial systems and databases to prepare comprehensive technical reports showing the status and projected impact of expenditures and revenues for County departments/offices.
• Develops and presents policy analysis to senior management using robust data analysis and visualization techniques.
• Monitors and analyzes capital project budget allocations as part of annual fund balance process.
• Manages and develops the County’s financial activities and programs and recommends financial/fiscal policies.
• Monitors and analyzes changes and conditions in the economic environment and financial markets.
• Ensures compliance with professional standards and legal requirements.
• Prepares and review work papers and consolidated financial reports.
• Initiates, reviews, and recommends countywide financial analysis and reports.
• Assists and counsels county departments with complex budgetary and accounting issues.
• Monitors department expenditures and financial status.
• Collects, compiles, and analyzes information from various sources on a variety of specialized topics related to programs administered.
• Assists in designing, coordinating, and implementing projects and programs as assigned.
• Participates or takes a lead role in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Budget Office as well as serving as a liaison and advisor for departments/offices as needed.
• Attends committee meetings and events on budget related issues.
• Supports management in the development and rollout of benchmarks and performance metrics.
• Drives continuous process improvement in financial reporting, monitoring and forecasting.
• Generates timely budget/forecast statements.
• Monitors budget performance to insure accuracy and create unique management reports as required.
• Independently analyzes, predicts, and solves problems.
• Conducts special studies affecting service area financial performance including fee analysis, overtime minimization, etc.
• Analyzes operational processes and procedures and recommends process and operational improvements.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Salary Grade

M2.203

Salary Range

$7,722.00 - $10,811.00- per month

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Recruiter

Rori Jones

Email:

Rori.Jones@clark.wa.gov

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services. Clark County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Employee Benefits and additional compensation

Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation.  Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation.  More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits. Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Retirement Information

All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF).Employee contributions begin the first day of work. Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice. 
 

For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site here: http://www.drs.wa.gov/

If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at (564) 397-2456; Relay (800) 833-6388.