Budget Managing Director (WMS 3)

Full Job Description

Budget Managing Director (WMS 3)
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.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Financial Services Division (FSD) is responsible for the Commerce Department’s consolidated Accounting and Budgeting functions, and for leading the agency’s fiscal policy. This position reports to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and leads the Central Budget Office (CBO) to provide high level technical expertise to guide budget operations and the implementation of Commerce’s financial health strategies. This role serves as leader of leaders responsible for budget operations, broad financial oversight, fiscal compliance, and the implementation of relevant Commerce initiatives at the division and agency level.

Position Objective:
Provide leadership and direction for agency budget operations. The budget director is accountable for leading effective, efficient and compliant budget operations and related processes. Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and guiding the management of agency-wide budget operations and financial health initiatives (both strategic and tactical). Outcomes, responsibilities and duties include:
• Recruiting, developing, and retaining professional staff necessary to deliver consistently effective and efficient budget services.
• Leading the development and implementation of various business processes that contribute to effective budget management, oversight, and minimizing non-compliance risk with applicable laws, rules, and policies.
• Providing input, analysis, and technical expertise to advise on agency-wide projects, initiatives, directives, and policies.
• Supporting the delivery of budget services in a manner that is customer service centered and align with customer expectations.

Deliver high-level technical expertise, direction, oversight, and innovative solutions.

As the senior most expert the budget director provides broad strategic and technical guidance impacting all Commerce operations.Outcomes, responsibilities and duties include:• Serving as the agency expert in the implementation, monitoring, and resolution of challenges related to the operating and capital budgets.

This includes budgets from all funding sources (state, federal, private/local) for Commerce’s over 150 different programs - including loan, grant, and contract driven programs.

• Assessing various scenarios, complex issues, and emerging matters to determine compliance with applicable budget laws, rules, regulations and policies.

Applies remedies to non-compliance scenarios timely and effectively. Substantial matters of non-compliance are reported timely to the Chief and Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

• Developing solutions and strategies while navigating a complex landscape with little to no precedent to facilitate the most effective, creative, and flexible use of available resources.

• Leveraging plain talk and advance communication skills to convey information and advise agency executive leadership on matters concerning budget, budget operations, and fiscal compliance.
• Seeking out and leveraging technology to minimize manual processes and realize operational efficiencies.

Serve as a member of the Financial Services Division Management Team. As a principal leader in the financial service division the budget director leads, directs, and supports activities and initiatives of the division.
Outcomes, responsibilities and duties include:
• Leading as assigned and contributing to division initiatives that include but are not limited to internal projects such as cross unit process improvements, employee engagement improvement efforts, and various projects impacting the strategic and tactical objectives of the division.
• Providing consultation, direction, institutional knowledge, technical expertise, and forward looking guidance regarding division activities.
• Contributing to culture building and developing effective working relationships among division leaders and teams through engagement, modeling best practices, and facilitating connections.

Requirements

Legislative Session:
o Develop, lead, coordinate, and maintain an effective fiscal note delivery process.
o Engage and collaborate with process partners both internal and external to Commerce to facilitate information gathering and sharing.
o Monitor and report challenges, successful task execution, and matters of material concern to the appropriate member of the agency executive leadership team.
o Regularly communicates with agency staff and participates in meetings related to budget version releases, status of high priority and/or sensitive issues.
o Analyze technical budget documents and related narratives and advise agency executive leadership on risks, operational impacts, and/or necessary corrective action.
o Collect, organize and distribute post session planning materials to support Commerce’s shared services and support units.
o Partner with division team members to provide resources and tools that aid in the timely and accurate complete of fiscal notes.

Budget Implementation:
o Coordinate reviews and analysis of 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.
o Collaborate and assist in the development of agency wide communications regarding budgets, budgetary impacts, and budget implementation process to Commerce staff.
o Evaluate and take appropriate action to implement enacted budgets. Includes coordinating with units and programs to identify accounting, contracting, internal control, staffing, technology, and other resource/monitoring needs.
o Lead, coordinate, and support the timely, accurate, and complete submission of agency spending plans (allotments) to the Office of Financial Management. Support technical experts in gathering required programmatic information to complete allotments. This task also includes the timely and accurate completion of the Compensation Impact Model (CIM) submissions.

Financial Reporting:
o Manage the collection, analysis, and distribution of budget, accounting, and statistical information to agency leaders with varying levels of financial management expertise – provide training and resources as deemed necessary.
o Assist and collaborate in the development of quality assurance processes that support accurate, timely, and complete reporting.
o Lead product development and delivery of monthly financial status report (MFSR) and/or quarterly financial status reports (QFSR) meetings with stakeholders.
o Generate adhoc reports and other informational materials at the request of stakeholders and agency executive leadership.
o Direct and assist when appropriate with completion of reports to external entities at both the State and Federal level.
o Responsible for effective and efficient fund resource maintenance, development of accurate projections for revenues, expenses, and fund balances for Commerce administrative accounts.

Budget Development:
o Co-create, train Commerce staff, and coordinate Commerce’s budget development processes.
o Develop criteria, timelines, presentations, and analysis following the direction of the agency strategic priorities to guide decision package development, review and submission. Leverage internal and external factors when providing guidance.
o Implement processes and procedures that support timely submission of high-quality, easy to understand decision packages.
o Provide resources, tools, and independent reviews to accurately capture costs and articulate complex dynamic situations.
o Monitor activity, communicate the status of, and provide strategic direction on all agency funding requests.

Budget Operations – Leadership and Management:
o Recruit, develop, and retain professional budget management staff to support Commerce programs. Limit operational impacts of vacant positions.
o Connect and build professional working relationships.
o Provide leadership, guidance, coaching, and counseling as necessary to direct and indirect reports. Holds team members accountable for outcomes.
o Provide teams with direction and insights for navigating complex matters, customer relations, and personnel management.
o Actively assess and develop effective and efficient processes, leveraging technology, talent of team members, executive leadership direction, and strategic objectives.
o Leads and manages budget operations with an emphasis on outcomes, compliance, and customer experience.

Qualifications

Required Education, and Experience:
10 years of combined experience and education as described below:
Experience: must include two or more of the following areas:
• Planning, developing, modifying, and monitoring a large, diverse and complex agency/company budget.
• Planning and directing major projects and work schedules.
• Understanding complex fiscal and budget information, and translating to actional insight for internal leadership, legislative partners and external stakeholders.
• Experience with Washington State budget concepts and processes, both Operating and Capital, including legislative processes and practices.
• Enterprise resource planning or financial system transformation/ modernization

A minimum of 2 years of supervisory or lead experience

Education
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance or public administration or closely aligned field

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

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:
• Navigating/ using Washington state budget and accounting systems, including the Agency Budget System (ABS), Capital Budget System (CBS), The Allotment System (TALS), the Salary Projection System (SPS), Enterprise Reports, Web Intelligence, and Agency Financial Reporting Systems (AFRS).

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.
• Ability to work effectively with OFM and legislative staff.
• Effective written, oral and public speaking skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and solve problems collaboratively and constructively with others.
• Ability to communicate complex budget issues to a variety of audiences, both internally and externally.

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.