Budget Advisor

Full Job Description

Please note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the budgeted salary range of $108,000-$134,000 annually. However, there is the potential for longevity, growth, and salary progression for the individual once employed.

Hybrid Schedule: This position is eligible to frequently telework the majority of the time and is typically not required to report on-site. If on-site is required, your supervisor will make every effort to notify you at least 1 week in advance, except in emergency or urgent situations.

Why work for the Office of Financial Management (OFM)?

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our vision at OFM is to work together for the equitable future of all Washingtonians.

Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature.

We’re also committed to creating an environment that fosters our core values – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Integrity, Innovation, Collaboration and Operational Excellence.

All staff are expected to embed these values in their team and work.

Join us in filling a key role in enhancing how state government serves its citizens, making a meaningful difference and taking public service to another level.

The job opportunity:

As a Budget Advisor, you will be responsible for analyzing budget requests and developing budget proposals to meet the Governor’s objectives. You will monitor agencies and collaborate with them to ensure policies and budget activities are implemented efficiently and effectively. You will coordinate with various legislative and executive branch counterparts, Governor’s policy staff, and other external partners.

It’s a great fit for detail-oriented professionals who want to make a real impact while growing their career in a supportive and dynamic environment. Join us and be part of a team that values critical thinking, teamwork and creative problem-solving!

Requirements

What you’ll work on:

• Monitor and support state agencies in budget development, budget implementation, program performance, and other fiscal matters.
• Develop and present detailed fiscal analysis, recommendations, and additional options to the executive team and the Governor for decisions on budget-related fiscal and policy proposals related to child welfare and economic assistance programs.

• Perform independent research and analysis of policies and proposals including expected outcomes, state and local costs, implementation strategies, and positions of internal and external partners.
• Work with budget analysts, Governor policy staff, legal counsel, agencies, and legislative counterparts to develop estimates for forecasted and non-forecasted caseloads and other budget drivers for child welfare and economic assistance programs.
• Develop and implement models for analyzing fiscal impacts.
• Develop budget provisos, public communications, summary texts, and backup documentation to clearly communicate the intent of the Governor’s budget proposal to legislators, legislative staff, and other interested parties.
• Analyze legislative bills and budget proposals and communicate impacts to decision makers and senior-level staff.
• Review and approve the fiscal impact estimates for bills within short timelines during the legislative session.
• Prepare analysis and recommend gubernatorial action on enrolled bills.
• Make presentations, attend meetings, and respond to inquiries on budget and fiscal matters to the Governor, senior staff, legislators, and other interested parties .
• Represent OFM on internal and external workgroups or other group assignments related to child welfare, economic assistance programs, and other human services topics.
• Evaluate patterns and trends in data, and identify other factors affecting budget drivers.

Qualifications

What we need you to bring

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of state budget processes, fiscal policy, and financial management principles.
• Ability to perform complex fiscal analyses, including developing estimates for program costs and/or savings.
• Proficiency in developing models and tools to analyze fiscal impacts and policy options.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and communicate legislative proposals, fiscal notes, and policy impacts to executive leadership, legislators, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skill in preparing clear, concise written materials, presentations, and budget documentation that convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, state agencies, legislative counterparts, legal counsel, and other stakeholders on sensitive and complex fiscal issues.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate program performance data, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations for resource allocation and efficiency improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including the ability to engage respectfully with diverse communities and incorporate equity considerations into budget analysis and recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle politically sensitive issues with professionalism.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, public administration, political science or similar field.
• Experience working on public assistance, child welfare, and/or other human services related budgets and policy.

We are invested in acquiring the best and most innovative candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

Additional Information

What we offer:

At OFM, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• A culture that values and strives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications.

Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application.

Please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews.

If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Questions: OFM's Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at Lori.Leiter@ofm.wa.gov

The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer.

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.