Budget Officer

Job Description:

Budget Officer

Description

Description

DEFINITION

Under administrative direction, the Budget Officer provides financial and budget leadership working in collaboration with County departments, the County Administrative Officer, and his/her staff. The incumbent prepares the single or multi-year budget models with budget assumptions, forecasts, estimates and narrative justifications, budget presentations/ enactments, and implementation. The incumbent provides expert level authority and consultative services on budget and fiscal issues to elected officials, department heads, departments' managerial, budget, analytical, and accounting staffs.

The Budget Officer is a single-position class located within the County Administrator's Office. It receives broad administrative and policy direction from the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer. This is an at-will position serving at the pleasure of the County Administrative Officer.

The Budget Officer provides technical oversight to all professional and management staff performing budget development and administration, and financial analysis and projections for line departments. The incumbent may provide direct supervision to the analysts, technical, and clerical- support staff assigned to County Administrator's Office.

Successful performance requires the highest degree of ingenuity, judgment, independence, expert level skill, and full management authority in applying budget-related laws, regulations, policies, procedures, methods, and techniques and in carrying out the County's complex budgetary and financial assignments. This

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This class differs from the:

Deputy County Administrative Officer, who assists the County Administrative Officer in the management of County policy, operations and human resources activities and may supervise a professional staff that provides consultation on fiscal management, program development, and evaluation to County managers.
Management Analyst III, who performs complex analysis in a variety of functions such as finance, operations, project management, human resources and administration for the Administrative Office.

REPORTS TO

County Administrative Officer

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED

May supervise professional, technical, and support staff, as assigned.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an office environment; continuous contact with other staff, other agencies, and the public.

Example of Duties

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES
(The following is used as a partial description and is not restrictive as to duties required.)

• Establishes and directs the preparation implementation and evaluation of the County's budget models in conjunction with proposed and final budgets;
• Develops budget assumptions, forecasts, detailed estimates, and narrative and statistical justifications;
• Develops and submits proposals and recommendations for appropriations, re-apportionments, deferrals, rescissions, and borrowing;
• Develops and implements County specific budget policy statements, regulations, instructions, financial reporting standards, analytical methods, regulatory procedures, and monitoring systems for mandatory use;
• Analyzes and consolidates budget estimates received from departments and other budget units into the final annual budget document to create the County's balanced, single or multi-year budget with revenue sources and funding needs.
• Plans and conducts complex budgetary, financial, and operational analyses and studies. Develops recommendations while dealing with uncertainty due to short and rapidly changing program and financial/budgetary deadlines and objectives; gaps and conflicts in program and financial/budgetary information; lack of predictive data; conflicting program and financial/budgetary objectives; and changing guidelines.
• Monitors and reviews operations of departments for fiscal, operational and political implications;
• Adjusts and modifies long-range budget plans to reflect feedback from the budget execution process and in accordance with changes in the goals of County's projects and programs.
• Provides technical authority expertise and services to line departmental staff to analyze, advice, and recommends specific solutions to budget formulation, justification, presentation, and execution issues related to multi-year appropriations and other budgetary processes.
• May represent the County in meetings with public officials, other public agencies, and civic groups in order to gather input, assess needs, develop priorities, and implement and maintain effective countywide projects and programs. Presents findings and recommendations to line management, labor organizations, media, community groups and the public in lay terms; and responds to questions.

Minimum Qualifications

Training and Experience

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in public or business administration, accounting, finance, or a closely related field. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis).

AND

Three years of broad responsible experience for the budgetary process of a California County or a complex public agency including independently performing budget analyses, preparation, and control; analyses and development of fiscal and budgetary policies and procedures which includes experience in organizational finance including principal involvement in the development and administration of an organization's overall budget

Other Requirements
Possession of or ability to obtain a California Driver's License Class C
Professional certifications, such as the Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM), are desirable

Knowledge Of/Ability To

Knowledge of

• Applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and procedures affecting local government's budget and fiscal activities; auditing; investment; debt management and issuance; and contract and grant administration
• Principles and practices of financial analyses; budget planning, developing, implementing, record- keeping, reporting, and controlling within local government; long-range fiscal planning and management; revenue forecasting; and funding sources
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and procedures affecting local governmental operations
• California State guidelines and standards in the County Budget Act; generally accepted accounting principles; guidelines and standards of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• Philosophy, objectives, trends, techniques and principles of public administration, organization and management
• Practices and techniques of administrative analyses and procedures, statistical methodologies, and report preparation
• Relationship between local, state and federal governments, public interest groups and private enterprise as they affect local government

Ability to

• Plan, perform and/or direct the performance of complex financial, budget, revenue, and strategic planning analysis, budget preparation, implementation, and monitoring
• Direct work consistent with goals and priorities
• Use modern office equipment, and computers and related software applications
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Analyze problems and data, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and implementing recommendations in support of goals
• Communicate information and ideas clearly and concisely orally and in written formats
• Prepare narrative, fiscal and statistical reports, records, correspondence, and proposals
• Develop timetables for obtaining needed funding for new or modified substantive government programs
• Work with financial authorities and commissions, bond issuers, underwriters, credit rating agencies, investors and others
• Utilize spreadsheets and financial, budget, and statistical software packages to analyze financial data, spot trends, and develop forecasts
• Prepare logical, accurate, comprehensive, and legally sound narrative and statistical analyses, reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials; presenting complex financial and budget concepts and strategies in easy-to-understand language
• Establish and maintaining cooperative working relationships with the Board of Supervisors, County Administrative Officer, elected officials, staff and a variety of citizens and public and private organizations

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of San Benito assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a "meet and confer" process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect .

Selection Process: All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%) which may include a written practical component to determine placement on the eligible list.

In accordance with California Government Code section 3100, et., seq., all County of San Benito employees are considered disaster service workers who may be required to report for duty, or remain on duty to address disaster service activities in the event of an emergency or disaster and are required to undertake an applicable loyalty oath.

SAN BENITO COUNTY BENEFITS FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
(This is meant to be an overview of benefits only. For full benefit terms and conditions, please see MOU)

Employees in regular, full-time positions will be eligible to participate in the following employee benefits:

Pay Day: Employees are paid bi-weekly.

Insurance Deductions: The insurance and benefits deductions will take place bi-monthly, normally the first two pay periods of the month. Bank/Credit union and 457 Retirement Deferrals deductions will take place bi-weekly.

Vacation: Based on continued years of service. Newly hired MEG employees may be eligible for higher vacation accrual rate for previous public sector experience (verification required). Maximum accruals may apply depending on the bargaining unit.

• 5 to 9 years of service = 15 days per year
• 10 to 14 years of service = 18 days per year
• 15 + years of service = 20 days per year

Administrative Leave: Management employees receive 80 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Forty (40) unused hours can be paid out at the end of the calendar year. Administrative leave is pro-rated.

Holidays: 13.5 holidays (including 3 floating) for most employees. Safety officers and dispatchers receive approximately 5% holiday pay in addition to their base pay in lieu of paid holidays off.

Sick Leave: 15 days per year. Maximum accruals apply.

Medical Plan: Comprehensive CalPERS medical plans available for full-time employees. Employees appointed to a regular position at a time base of 50% or higher are eligible to participate.

Increase County contributions to medical effective January 2024.

a. Employee Only: $750.00, which would include the PEMHCA Minimum
b. Employee Plus One: $1,250.00, which would include the PEMHCA Minimum
c. Family: $1,515.00, which would include the PEMHCA Minimum

The County's contribution above shall be prorated for positions that are less than .90 FTE rounding to the nearest one-quarter time.

HRA: Employee Only Medical Plan: $1,500 maximum
Employee Plus One Medical Plan: $3,000 maximum.
Employee Plus Family Medical Plan: $4,000 maximum.

Employees who are eligible to receive a "cash in lieu of' enrollment in the County's medical plan shall receive a taxable payment of $150 monthly (pro-rated into biweekly installments of $69.23).

Dental Plan: County contributes $30 to Delta Dental plan for full-time employees and their families.

Vision Plan: The County pays for employee coverage and the employee can pay for dependent coverage. This benefit is available to full-time employees only.

Employee Assistance Program: The County provides confidential short-term counseling services to employees and dependents.

Life Insurance/AD&D: County pays for a $20,000 BASIC life insurance policy for each employee. Voluntary life insurance plans available.

Disability Insurance: Confidential and Management groups participate in the State Disability Insurance.

Credit Union: Membership to the Santa Clara Federal Credit Union is available to San Benito County employees.

Deferred Compensation: Employees may participate in tax-deferred retirement savings. Three 457 plans are available. Employees may rollover funds from prior 401k or 457 accounts. IRS limits apply.

Retirement: Regular employees will be enrolled into the CalPERS retirement system in accordance with the Public Employees' Retirement Law. Employee contributions vary according to bargaining unit.

All New Miscellaneous (non-Safety) employees enrolled into the CalPERS retirement system participate in the full formula of 2% at 62. Miscellaneous employees participate in Social Security in addition to CalPERS.

Supplemental Insurance: Employees may participate in various AFLAC plans such as accident, disability, and cancer insurances.

Flexible Spending Accounts: Health and Dependent Care available, pre-tax deductions.

Closing Date/Time: 1/30/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$124,966.40 - $167,481.60 Annually