Budget Manager - 2 Positions (WMS 2)

Full Job Description

This recruitment will be recruiting for two Budget Manager (WMS 2) positions to support the following divisions/offices:

• One Budget Manager - Community Services Division
• One Budget Manager – Program Support

At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact.

From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce, and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work.

We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes.

We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Department of Commerce is the one agency in state government that touches every aspect of community and economic development: planning, infrastructure, energy, public facilities, housing, public safety and crime victims, international trade, business services, and more.

We work with local governments, tribes, businesses, and civic leaders throughout the state to strengthen communities so that all residents may thrive.

The Financial Services Division’s (FSD) Central Budget Office (CBO) has direct responsibility to act as stewards of the department’s financial integrity and credibility. Provides budget and allotment development, economic and fiscal impact analysis, and financial monitoring services to the agency.

The Community Services Division (CSD) budget manager partners with local governments, tribes, community action agencies, community-based organizations and nonprofits to provide community assistance and services.

CSD’s primary goal is to promote individual and family self-sufficiency, reduce poverty, and address the causes and effects of systemic violence.

CSD is committed to equity and anti-racism by centering the voices of underserved communities and building a safer Washington for everyone.

This position works within the Budget Management Team of the Central Budget Office within FSD and is responsible for the following units within the Community Services Division (CSD):

• Community Reinvestment Program (CRP)
• Crime Victims Advocacy
• Community Economic Opportunities
• Community Safety
• Special Initiatives

The Program Support (PS) budget manager works within the Central Budget Office, managing the budget for the following divisions/offices:

• Communications
• Community Engagement & Outreach Team
• Compliance & Contracts
• Director’s Office
• Financial Services
• Government Affairs
• Human Resources
• Innovation & Technology
• Office of Tribal Affairs

This position, and the team it supervises, provides strategic budget leadership for Commerce, providing effective analysis that supports executive decision making and operations.

This position serves as a leader responsible for budget operations, broad financial oversight, fiscal compliance, and the implementation of relevant community services initiatives at the division level.

Requirements

Legislative Session

Lead, coordinate, and maintain an effective fiscal note process. Partner with division team members to provide resources and tools that aid in the timely and accurate complete of fiscal notes.

Create fiscal notes on behalf of the Program, and oversee fiscal notes drafted by others. Provide final quality control of fiscal notes and release fiscal notes on behalf of the agency.

Engage and collaborate with process partners both internal and external to Commerce to facilitate information gathering and sharing. Create, improve, and follow standard assumptions and procedures for budgetary analysis.

Review and analyze published budget documents from the Office of the Governor, Legislative chambers, and relevant subcommittees and/or agencies.

Seek feedback from programmatic and service delivery teams on impacts – communicating critical information as needed.

Promptly report findings, concerns, and potential solutions to the Budget Director and CFO.

Analyze technical budget documents and related narratives and advise division leadership on risks, operational impacts, and/or necessary corrective action.

Budget Implementation

Lead, coordinate, and support the timely, accurate, and complete submission of the division spending plans (allotments) to the Office of Financial Management.

Develop, improve, and implement standard assumptions to support consistency across divisions. Supports team members in gathering required programmatic information to complete allotments.

This task also includes the timely and accurate completion of the divisions staffing information for the Compensation Impact Model (CIM) submissions.

Evaluate and take appropriate action to implement enacted budgets. Coordinate with units and programs to identify accounting, contracting, internal control, staffing, technology, and other resource/monitoring needs.

Monitor and report challenges, successful task execution, and matters of material concern to the appropriate members of several divisions and FSD leadership teams.

Collaborate and assist in the development of communications regarding budgets, budgetary impacts, and budget implementation process to staff.

Financial Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and distribute budget, accounting, and statistical information to division leaders with varying levels of financial management expertise – provide training and resources as deemed necessary.
• Regularly hold financial status meetings with stakeholders.
• Recommend strategies to align resources with strategic objectives and optimize use of resources.
• Direct and assist when appropriate with completion of reports to external entities at both the State and Federal level for the division.
• Responsible for effective and efficient fund resource maintenance, development of accurate projections for revenues, expenses, and fund balances for community services related administrative accounts.

Budget Development

Partner with various divisionmanagementteamsonprocessesandproceduresthatsupporttimelysubmission of high-quality, easy to understand decision packages.

Preparepresentationsandanalysisfollowingthedirectionofthedivisionprioritiestoguidedecision package development, review and submission for the program support division.

Develop, or oversee development of, the agency’s indirect rate plan for federal approval.

Provide resources, tools, and independent reviews to accurately capture costs and articulate complex dynamic situations.

Monitor activity, communicate the status of, and provide strategic direction on all division funding requests.

Budget Operations–Leadership and Management

• Recruit, develop, and retain professional budget staff to support programs. Limit operational impacts of vacant positions.
• Connect and build professional working relationships.
• Provide leadership, guidance, coaching, and counseling as necessary to direct reports and holds team members accountable for outcomes.
• Hold respectful, difficult conversations about challenging subjects such as budget reductions, elimination of positions, and programmatic changes.
• Provide budget team with direction and insights for navigating complex matters, customer relations, and personnel management.
• Actively assess and develop effective and efficient processes, leveraging technology, talent of team members, division leadership direction, and strategic objectives.
• Manage budget operations with an emphasis on outcomes, compliance, and customer experience.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:
8 years of combined experience and education as described below:
Experience must include a minimum of 2 years of supervisory or lead experience and two or more of the following:
• Strategic Leadership and Planning Skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, collaborate and resolve complex issues
• Ability to understand complex fiscal and budget information, translate to actional insight for internal leadership, legislative partners and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of Washington State Operating and Capital budget process, legislative procedures, fiscal analysis and policy impacts.
• Knowledge of AFRS, Workday, and/or other related financial management tools
• Cultivate working relationships with Office of Financial Management partners, legislative fiscal committees, and other state agencies.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with ability to communicate financial information clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences.

Education
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or public administration or closely aligned field. Postgraduate education will be counted on a year for year basis.

Examples of how to qualify:
• 8 years of experience
• 7 years of experience and one year of education
• 6 years of experience and two years of education
• 5 years of experience and three years of education
• 4 years of experience and four years of education
• 3 years of experience and five years of education
• 2 years of experience and six years of education

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:
• Experience working with the Washington state budget cycle
• Experience working with the Washington state legislature
• Experience with Washington state financial applications such as Workday, AFRS, TALS, Enterprise Reports, Salary Projection System, Agency Budget System, Capital Budget System, etc.
• Advanced skills in standard Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Required Position Competencies:
• Strong interpersonal skills including relationship building, problem solving and teamwork
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, and to work effectively with staff, other divisions, stakeholders and public.
• Ability to intuitively anticipate problems and the impact of potential changes.

To be considered for this position the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.

Additional Information

Work from Anywhere in Washington State
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce 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, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.