Assistant County Budget Director

County of Monterey, CA; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Monterey’s Administrative Office seeks an experienced Assistant County Budget Director to lead the Budget and Policy Analysis Division. You will supervise analysts, oversee budget development, forecasts, and reporting, and ensure fiscal policy compliance in a complex local government environment.

We value strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to coordinate with department heads, elected officials, and community stakeholders to deliver timely, accurate budget

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of public budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Experience in personnel management and performance evaluation.
• Understanding of local government fiscal management and California laws.
• Familiarity with budgetary laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct the day-to-day operations of the Budget and Policy Analysis Division.
• Review and approve budget documents and forecasts for accuracy.
• Coordinate with department heads and Board on budget development and reporting.

Skills

Budget policy oversight

Financial forecasting

Personnel management

Strategic planning

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in public or

Job description

The County of Monterey is a diverse community set in a picturesque coastal location and offers tourists and residents alike the comfort of a moderate, Mediterranean climate, miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, groves of redwoods, low-rolling foothills, and scenic valleys. Boasting such world-renowned attractions as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Laguna Seca Raceway, 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the Steinbeck Center, the Monterey Jazz and Blues Festivals and Pebble Beach - possibly the world’s most famous golf course, it’s easy to see why over 450,000 residents choose to live here and an estimated four million visitors a year make the County of Monterey their destination of choice.

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

The Administrative Office oversees the planning, preparation, adoption, and administration of the County’s $2.35 billion budget and coordinates the activities of offices and departments to ensure the effective accomplishment of the Board’s directives and policies. The Administrative Office includes the divisions of Budget and Analysis, Contracts and Purchasing, Finance and Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs.

THE POSTION

Under general direction of the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal, the Assistant County Budget Director manages day-to-day operations of the Budget and Policy Analysis Division, including operational direction of the countywide budget development, monitoring, and forecasting process; provides first‑line management, work direction, training, and performance oversight of Principal Administrative Analysts and other Division professional staff; reviews and approves analyst work products and routine budget actions within delegated authority, and acts with the full authority of the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal in assigned budget and fiscal matters within delegated authority during their absence. Performs other related work as required.

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Budget and Policy Analysis Division; plans, assigns, and prioritizes the work of Principal Administrative Analysts and other Division staff to meet budget development, monitoring, and forecasting deadlines
• Supervises, trains, coaches, and evaluates the performance of Principal Administrative Analysts and other Division analytical staff; recommends hiring, promotion, discipline, and corrective action; leads recruitment and onboarding for Division analyst positions
• Reviews and approves budget documents, financial forecasts, staff reports, and analytical work products prepared by Division analysts prior to submission to the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal, ensuring technical accuracy, consistency, and compliance with budget policy
• Acts with the full authority of the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal during their absence, including representation before the Assistant County Administrative Officers, department heads, and, as delegated, the Board of Supervisors
• Directs the day-to-day preparation, coordination, and issuance of annual budget preparation instructions, schedules, and technical guidance to County departments/offices
• Approves routine budget transfers, adjustments, and technical corrections within delegated signing authority; refers significant, sensitive, or policy‑level matters to the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal
• Serves as the primary operational point of contact for department Finance Managers and Department Heads on day-to-day budget preparation, monitoring, and reporting matters
• Manages the Division’s use of budget development and financial forecasting software and systems, including maintenance, upgrades, staff training, and troubleshooting of the budget production process
• Directs the compilation and quality review of the County’s long‑term financial forecast of revenues and expenditures, and of contingency plans addressing changes in revenue and expenditure requirements; presents findings and recommendations to the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal
• Directs the operational monitoring of departmental budgets to ensure compliance with adopted budget requirements; leads meetings with department staff to resolve budget variances and operational issues, escalating unresolved or policy‑significant matters to the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal
• Plans and coordinates studies and analyses on resource allocation, organizational structure, and program evaluation conducted by Division staff; ensures studies are completed on schedule and meet quality standards before presentation to the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal and County Administrative Office leadership
• Establishes Division work standards, training curricula, and professional development programs for Principal Administrative Analysts and other analytical staff
• Directs Division‑level tracking and preliminary analysis of federal and state legislation with potential fiscal or programmatic impact on the County; prepares draft position papers and recommendations for the Deputy County Administrative Officer - Fiscal’s review
• Reviews departmental transmittals and reports headed to the Board and/or Board policy committees for accuracy, completeness, and fiscal/policy implications prior to Director or CAO-level review

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey Website: Assistant County Budget Director

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, abilities:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of financial and fiscal administration, including public budgeting, financial forecasting, and financial analysis
• Principles and practices of effective personnel management, including workload planning, recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and progressive discipline
• Functions and organization of local government
• Organizational structures; principles, programs, and practices of California local government fiscal management and budget control, including California budgetary laws and regulations
• Legal and regulatory impacts and constraints regarding revenues, expenditures, and the budget process
• Current and pending legislation which might impact county government; financial projecting and forecasting techniques

Skill and Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and direct the day-to-day operations of a professional analytical division, including workload distribution, priority-setting, and deadline management
• Supervise, train, and evaluate the performance of Principal Administrative Analysts and other assigned staff; establish standards and hold staff accountable; recommend hiring, promotion, and discipline
• Exercise delegated signature and approval authority over routine budget actions, applying sound independent judgment and escalating policy-significant matters appropriately
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, and regulations as they apply to assigned tasks
• Collect, interpret, and evaluate narrative and statistical data pertaining to administrative, fiscal, and management matters
• Direct and participate in the development of the County’s budget process
• Take initiative in determining issues of concern and executing an appropriate response
• Consistently meet deadlines while managing multiple projects and competing priorities across a professional staff
• Engage in a wide variety of administrative analysis and financial planning; define problems, collect, analyze, interpret, and evaluate data; define and select alternatives
• Communicate effectively for gathering, evaluating, and transmitting information, and for organizing and directing group discussions at all functional levels of the County and public
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, especially in sensitive relationships with government representatives, community groups, elected officials, department heads, and County executives
• Prepare and present concise, logical oral and written financial, statistical, and technical reports
• Maintain close contact with County departments/offices and confer with departmental officials to secure necessary information and gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public or