Budget and Research Manager (AM)

City of Santa Ana; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Ana seeks a Budget and Research Manager to lead the Budget Office and drive the development, administration, analysis, and monitoring of the City’s operating and capital budgets.

The role requires strong municipal finance knowledge, budgeting, forecasting, and organizational analysis, with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear recommendations for executive management and elected officials.

Qualifications

• Minimum four years of professional and administrative budget/finance experience.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree in public/business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the City budget.
• Oversee Budget and Research Office operations.
• Analyze department budgets for accuracy and impact.
• Present budget material to City Council and committees.
• Provide recommendations to city leadership on budget requests.
• Coordinate preparation of proposed budget documents.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Strategic budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

Under the direction of the Executive Director and Assistant Director of the Finance and Management Services Agency, the Budget and Research Manager is a key management position responsible for leading the Budget Office and overseeing the development, administration, analysis, and monitoring of the City’s operating and capital budgets. The position provides strategic direction for the City’s budget process and long-term financial planning and serves as a key advisor on complex budgetary and financial matters. The position requires a strong understanding of municipal finance, budget development, financial forecasting, and organizational analysis, as well as the ability to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations for executive management and elected officials.

Candidates must possess a minimum of four years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis, including two years of supervisory experience, supplemented with at least a Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field.

This recruitment is continuous with a first review of applications deadline of 11:59pm, Wednesday, October 14, 2026. This recruitment can close at any time without notice after this deadline.

• Responsible for the development and management of the City budget.
• Manages the Budget and Research Office.
• Analyzes proposed department budgets for accuracy, impact on City resources, and adherence to established budget and financial policy.
• Attends and makes presentations at City Council, Council Committee, and community budget outreach meetings, as needed.
• Provides direction and makes recommendations to the City Manager Budget Team (City Manager, Executive Director and Assistant Director of Finance and Management Services Agency) regarding budget requests.
• Coordinates the preparation of proposed budget documents for presentation to the City Council.
• Conducts complex research and prepares reports on financial matters, including the City’s forecasts and projections.
• Recommends and implements procedures related to monitoring and budgeting for Citywide projects.
• Tracks and researches current and future legislation that may affect the City’s budget and finances, management methods, and administrative and operating systems and procedures.
• Oversees department budget request preparation and approval process.
• Analyzes and provides fiscal control of budgetary expenditures.
• Analyzes organizational issues, structure, staffing, operations, procedures, and policies to establish best practices.
• May serve as part of a labor relations team.
• Conducts budget team conferences.
• Performs other related functions as assigned.

Four years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis, including two years of supervisory experience. Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field. Possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: principles and practices of public administration, municipal finance, budgeting and budget procedures, research techniques, forecasting, cost recovery methods, and procedures and organizational structure; principles and practices of effective supervision.

Ability to: gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data; draw sound conclusions from assembled information; develop alternative solutions to problems; present research findings and ideas concisely and effectively orally and in writing; utilize Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access) and related software; understand systems analysis related to the automation process of budget administration; exercise resourcefulness in addressing and resolving problems; establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, managers, employees, and the general public.

Applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department. Those applicants possessing the most pertinent qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include:

Writing Skills Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 16, 2026)

Qualifying will evaluate the candidate's subject matter knowledge, analytical and writing aptitude. The areas that will be evaluated may include: analytical thought process and proper English and grammar usage, clarity, conciseness, organization, content, and logical progression from one idea to the next. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to continue in the selection process.

Oral Interview Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 28, 2026)

Weight of 100% will evaluate the candidates' experience, training, education, and abilities in relation to those factors which are essential for successful performance on the job. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates must achieve a passing score in every component of the selection process in order to be placed on the eligible list. The Human Resources Department may waive one or more examination components. When one weighted examination component is waived, the remaining section will receive a weight of 100%.

The City of Santa Ana is an equal opportunity employer. If you consider yourself a person with a disability, you may contact us regarding providing reasonable accommodation.