Budget Management Officer

BUDGET MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Location: City of Long Beach, CA

Job Type: Unclassified - Full-Time, Permanent

Hybrid

Salary: $121,200.38 - $171,702.98 Annually

Job Number: FM25-056

Department: Financial Management - (UC)

Division: FM-BUDGET-BUDGET DEVELOPMENT

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Financial Management, with 272 authorized permanent positions, oversees the City’s financial and fleet services operations (each constituting about half of the department’s employees) and serves as a financial adviser to the City Manager and City Council. The Department is organized into the following bureaus: Administration, City Controller/Accounting, Budget Management, Business Services, Commercial Services, Fleet Services, and City Treasurer. The Department’s mission is to help the City Manager, Mayor and City Council keep the City financially strong, and to provide high quality fleet operations. The Department has an informal/relaxed personable work environment, but one expecting high productivity, dedication with integrity, and the best interests of the City always in mind. The City’s Hybrid Work Program allows many Department employees, including this position, to work remotely.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

THE POSITION 

The Budget Development Officer is an at-will management position that reports to the Manager of the Budget Management Bureau. The Budget Management Bureau is a high-performing, engaging, and collaborative team environment. This position leads the coordination and implementation of the City's annual budget development process, including the development of procedures, schedules, and instructions. The successful applicant will strategically oversee all internal review and budget decision meetings. As part of the budget process, this will include the management of budget proposal entries into the budget system, the development and production of the City's proposed budget book. In partnership with the Budget Manager, this position will coordinate budget-related public hearings and presentations, the coordination of the Budget Oversight Committee meetings, and follow-up responses. The Budget Development Officer will manage all documentation and ordinances needed for the Council to adopt the annual budget as well as manage validation of entries into the system for changes to lead to the development of the final adopted budget book. This Officer will provide significant oversight and guidance for the various financial systems (BPREP, Munis) and the development and maintenance of the reporting interface for departments (Simpler Reporting).

As a core member of the Budget Management Bureau leadership team, the position will not only be responsible for day-to­ day duties as assigned but is expected to be an active and engaged participant in robust and lively discussions regarding City issues and concerns, often providing insight and offering ideas for areas of improvement to processes, policies, and overall Citywide strategies as it relates to budget. Finally, the position will not only directly supervise Budget Management Bureau staff across various functions but will also provide consistent support to grow and develop the capabilities of budget staff.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving and interpersonal/communication skills to navigate through political and practical citywide issues and challenges, as well as be a self-starter with strong critical and analytical abilities.  As part of the leadership team, the Officer will serve as a key resource to support budget staff and departments as they navigate various budget processes and special projects throughout the year. The ideal candidate will work to create a sense of trust, effective communication, and foster strong team dynamics through building strong employee morale.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Manage the Base Budget process, the start of the budget development cycle, which involves working with payroll and city consultants to establish the proper starting point in BPREP for the personnel records.
• Develop proposed budget strategy, procedures, and instructions to distribute tothe  department and Budget Staff.
• Manage and coordinate meetings for the citywide personnel, benefits, and other centralized cost updates (i.e. paid time off, health care, insurance, interdepartmental charges, etc.).
• Establish the process to analyze department budget proposals and coordinate proposed budget decision-making meetings and strategic approach with the City Manager Executive Team.
• Coordinate, analyze, and validate the City's interdepartmental MOUs and its impact on current and proposed budget.
• Validate information entered into the budget system throughout budget development process to ensure accurate entry and tying it to the budgeting system.
• Manage the legacy financial system BPREP, for entry and tracking of various points of the budget process and development and ongoing maintenance of reporting interface for departments known as Simpler.
• Engage as the liaison with the Technology and Innovation Department and city consultants to oversee and make decisions on all aspects of Munis as it relates to budget management work and other technical systems.
• Work closely with Human Resources staff to continue the maintenance and discussions on Position Control, while participating in extensive discussions on various new process changes to keep Position Control relevant.
• Manage and support special analysis needed for out-year forecasting, including the City's pension costs.
• Provide support and facilitation of various reports/presentations, including the coordination of departmental budget hearings, and City Council and Budget Oversight Committee presentations.
• Directly supervise budget staff assigned to the position, as well as guide other staff on relevant analysis and projects.
• Review Council letter fiscal impacts to ensure content is politically sensitive, accurate, and comprehensive.
• Oversee highly complex special projects.
• Develop the capabilities of budget staff.
• Work closely with City staff across all levels of the organization, including department and executive management.
• Develop and conduct training on various budget topics such as, but not limited to: BPREP system, BEAR database, Position Control.
• Create and make presentations to City Council, commissions, and committees when appropriate.
• Represent the Budget Manager and the Director of Financial Management at various public and interdepartmental meetings dealing with critical City issues and concerns.
• May assume primary responsibility for one or more department budgets.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

EDUCATION

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field (Proof of education is required at time of submission).

EXPERIENCE

• Three years of increasingly responsible experience performing budget development or finance duties in the related field: collecting, compiling, and analyzing financial, statistical, and technical data.
• Must have at least one year of supervisory or managerial level experience in the related field.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Three years of experience working effectively with senior management, in the public sector, elected officials, outside agencies, and the general public.
• A master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field is preferred.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM on Saturday, June 14, 2025. To be considered, applicants must complete the online application and submit a cover letter, resume, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. 

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.  You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision.