Budget Assistant to the Governor

Full Job Description

Please note: The starting salary offer will be determined by the successful candidates’ qualifications within the range of $108,000 - $131,004 annually. Please note that the successful candidate can expect career salary growth beyond this starting range.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position in which most of the work can be done remotely. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events as needed for business purposes.

Why work for OFM
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian.

If you want to play a key role in enhancing how state government serves its citizens, you’ve found the right place. Join us in making a meaningful difference for every Washingtonian!

The job opportunity
We're seeking a Budget Advisor to play a vital role in shaping Washington’s operating budget. In this position, you will analyze agency budget requests, develop data-driven recommendations, and help craft budget proposals that advance the Governor’s priorities. You will present budget information to leadership, state agencies, stakeholders, and the Legislature, ensuring complex financial information is clear and actionable. You will engage in continuous collaboration with executive and legislative partners, oversee agency performance, and help ensure public resources are used effectively and efficiently. If you are motivated by public service, strategic analysis, and cross-government collaboration, this is an opportunity to contribute directly to statewide fiscal decision-making in a meaningful and visible way.

Requirements

What you’ll work on

• Prepare detailed fiscal analyses and budget recommendations related to general government issues.
• Communicate complex financial and policy information in “plain talk.”
• Perform independent research and analysis of policies and proposals, including expected outcomes, state and local costs, implementation strategies, and stakeholder positions.
• Evaluate patterns and trends in data and identify other factors affecting budget drivers.
• Develop and present recommendations to the executive team and the Governor concerning the costs and effects of budget-related fiscal and policy proposals.
• Clearly communicate the intent of the Governor’s budget proposal to legislators, legislative staff, and other stakeholders.
• Make presentations, attend meetings, and respond to inquiries on budget and fiscal matters to the Governor, senior staff, legislators, and stakeholders.
• Review and approve fiscal notes within short timelines during the legislative session.
• Monitor and support state agencies in budget development, budget implementation, program performance, and other fiscal matters.
• Work with budget advisors, Governor policy staff, legal counsel, agencies, legislative counterparts, and stakeholders to develop estimates of revenues, expenditures, and caseloads as relevant to the assigned issues.
• Participate in studies, committees, and work groups as needed.

Qualifications

What you need to bring
Required Qualifications:

• Experience as a state or local government fiscal or public policy analyst.
• Knowledgeable in state budgeting practices and procedures, and a general understanding of accounting concepts. Other relevant work experience may substitute for this requirement.
• Ability to research and analyze budgets, financial models, and legislation.
• Understanding of policy and budgetary systematic context.
• Experience in monitoring evolving issues and the fiscal status of agencies and programs.
• Proficient in or demonstrates an ability to become proficient in Excel and related tools for modeling, analyzing, tracking, and reporting information.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience adapting to ambiguity, changing demands, and political realities.
• Ability to prepare high-quality visuals and summaries to support decision-making.
• Proactively seeks information and solutions.

We are most interested in finding the best 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 share it with us or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience aligns with 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 employee benefits. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• 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 will read it. We do not use AI or any other technology to screen your application and reject it.

Please ensure you provide clear, 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 require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Your application will not be considered complete and sent to the hiring teams for review unless you 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 current 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 TalentAcquisition@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 with 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.